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Bill > AB107


WI AB107

WI AB107
Conversion of cooperative associations organized to establish and operate nonprofit plans or programs for health care into service insurance corporations.


summary

Introduced
03/11/2025
In Committee
06/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill allows a health care cooperative to convert into a service insurance corporation. Under current law, a cooperative may be formed by filing articles of incorporation with the Department of Financial Institutions. A cooperative is organized and owned by its members and managed by a board of directors. Under current law, a cooperative may be organized primarily to establish and operate nonprofit plans or programs for health care for their members and their members[ dependents. Also under current law, a service insurance corporation, sometimes referred to as a Xnonprofit service plan,Y may be formed by following many of the same procedures that apply to nonstock corporations, like filing articles of incorporation and bylaws, except that service insurance corporations are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance instead of DFI. A service insurance corporation is a corporation incorporated in this state to provide insured service benefits, like health care, to consumers within a flexible legal framework. Under this bill, a health care cooperative may convert into a service insurance corporation. To convert into a service insurance corporation, a health care cooperative seeking conversion must adopt a plan of conversion, obtain the commissioner[s approval of the plan of conversion, have the members of the health care cooperative agree to the conversion as provided under current law, and submit evidence to the commissioner that the members of the cooperative association approve of the plan of conversion. The bill requires the commissioner to approve any submitted plan of conversion unless the commissioner concludes, after a hearing, that the plan is contrary to law, the surplus of the resulting service insurance corporation or the contracts that the resulting service insurance corporation possesses with providers are inadequate to support the plan, or the plan is contrary to the interests of members of the health care cooperative seeking conversion or to the interests of the public. If all requirements for conversion are met, the bill provides that the commissioner must issue a certificate of authority to the new service insurance corporation and that, immediately after issuing the certificate of authority, the legal existence of the health care cooperative ceases. The bill provides that the new service insurance corporation has all the assets and is liable for all of the obligations of the converted health care cooperative.

AI Summary

This bill provides a detailed process for health care cooperatives to convert into service insurance corporations, which are regulated differently and offer more flexible health care coverage. The bill outlines a multi-step conversion process that requires approval from both the state insurance commissioner and the cooperative's members. Specifically, the cooperative must first develop a comprehensive conversion plan detailing the reasons, terms, and proposed structure of the new service insurance corporation. The commissioner must then review and approve the plan, ensuring it is lawful, financially sound, and in the best interests of members and the public. After commissioner approval, the plan must be submitted to the cooperative's members for their vote. If approved, the cooperative will file articles of conversion and transition into a service insurance corporation, with its existing officers becoming the initial leadership of the new entity. Upon receiving a certificate of authority, the cooperative will cease to exist, and the new service insurance corporation will assume all assets and obligations of the original cooperative. The bill includes provisions limiting conversion-related expenses and allows the commissioner to grant a grace period for adjusting to new regulatory requirements, providing a structured and controlled pathway for this type of organizational transformation.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (14)

Last Action

Laid on the table (on 06/24/2025)

bill text


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