RCW 48.36A.010 Fraternal benefit society defined. Any incorporated society, order, or supreme lodge, without capital stock, including one exempted under the provisions of RCW 48.36A.370(1)(b) whether incorporated or not, conducted solely for the benefit of its members and their beneficiaries and not for profit, operated on a lodge system with ritualistic form of work, having […]
RCW 48.36A.020 Lodge system—Lodges for children. (1) A society is operating on the lodge system if it has a supreme governing body and subordinate lodges into which members are elected, initiated, or admitted in accordance with its laws, rules, and ritual. Subordinate lodges shall be required by the laws of the society to hold regular […]
RCW 48.36A.030 Representative form of government. A society has a representative form of government when: (1) It has a supreme governing body constituted in one of the following ways: (a) The supreme governing body is an assembly composed of delegates elected directly by the members or at intermediate assemblies or conventions of members or their […]
RCW 48.36A.040 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise: (1) “Benefit contract” means the agreement for provision of benefits authorized by RCW 48.36A.160, as that agreement is described in RCW 48.36A.190(1). (2) “Benefit member” means an adult member who is designated by the […]
RCW 48.36A.050 Beneficial operations—Laws and rules. (1) A society shall operate for the benefit of members and their beneficiaries by: (a) Providing benefits as specified in RCW 48.36A.160; and (b) Operating for one or more social, intellectual, educational, charitable, benevolent, moral, fraternal, patriotic, or religious purposes for the benefit of its members, which may also […]
RCW 48.36A.060 Membership classes, rights, grievances. (1) A society shall specify in its laws or rules: (a) Eligibility standards for each and every class of membership, provided that if benefits are provided on the lives of children, the minimum age for adult membership shall be set at not less than age fifteen and not greater […]
RCW 48.36A.070 Location of office and meetings—Official publications, annual statement. (1) The principal office of any domestic society shall be located in this state. The meetings of its supreme governing body may be held in any state, district, province, or territory where the society has at least one subordinate lodge, or in such other location […]
RCW 48.36A.080 Immunity of officers—Indemnification of person responsible—Insurance for liability. (1) The officers and members of the supreme governing body or any subordinate body of a society shall not be personally liable for any benefits provided by a society. (2) Any person may be indemnified and reimbursed by any society for expenses reasonably incurred by, […]
RCW 48.36A.090 Nonwaiver provisions. The laws of the society may provide that no subordinate body, nor any of its subordinate officers or members shall have the power or authority to waive any of the provisions of the laws of the society. Such provision shall be binding on the society and every member and beneficiary of […]
RCW 48.36A.100 Formation of domestic society—Procedures and requirements. A domestic society organized on or after January 1, 1988, shall be formed as follows, but not until it has and continues to maintain unimpaired surplus in the minimum amount of total capital and surplus required by RCW 48.05.340: (1) Seven or more citizens of the United […]
RCW 48.36A.110 Amendment of society’s laws. (1) A domestic society may amend its laws in accordance with the provisions thereof by action of its supreme governing body at any regular or special meeting thereof or, if its laws so provide, by referendum. The referendum may be held in accordance with the provisions of its laws […]
RCW 48.36A.120 Not-for-profit institutions authorized—Funeral homes prohibited. (1) A society may create, maintain, and operate, or establish organizations to operate, not-for-profit institutions to further the purposes permitted by RCW 48.36A.050(1)(b). The institutions may furnish services free or at a reasonable charge. Any real or personal property owned, held or leased by the society for this […]
RCW 48.36A.130 Reinsurance. (1) A domestic society may, by a reinsurance agreement, transfer any individual risk or risks in whole or in part to an insurer, other than another fraternal benefit society, having the power to make such reinsurance and authorized to do business in this state, or if not so authorized, one which is […]
RCW 48.36A.140 Consolidation and merger. (1) A domestic society may consolidate or merge with any other society by complying with the provisions of this section. It shall file with the commissioner: (a) A certified copy of the written contract containing in full the terms and conditions of the consolidation or merger; (b) A sworn statement […]
RCW 48.36A.150 Conversion to mutual life insurance company. Any domestic fraternal benefit society may be converted and licensed as a mutual life insurance company by compliance with all the requirements of the insurance laws of this state for mutual life insurance companies. A plan of conversion shall be prepared in writing by the board of […]
RCW 48.36A.160 Contractual benefits. (1) A society may provide the following contractual benefits in any form: (a) Death benefits; (b) Endowment benefits; (c) Annuity benefits; (d) Temporary or permanent disability benefits; (e) Hospital, medical, or nursing benefits; (f) Monument or tombstone benefits to the memory of deceased members; and (g) Such other benefits as authorized […]
RCW 48.36A.170 Designation of beneficiary—Funeral benefits. (1) The owner of a benefit contract shall have the right at all times to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the laws or rules of the society unless the owner waives this right by specifically requesting in writing that the beneficiary designation be irrevocable. A society […]
RCW 48.36A.180 Protection of benefits. No money or other benefit, charity, relief, or aid to be paid, provided or rendered by any society, shall be liable to attachment, garnishment, or other process, or to be seized, taken, appropriated, or applied by any legal or equitable process or operation of law to pay any debt or […]
RCW 48.36A.190 Benefit certificates—Impaired reserves. (1) Every society authorized to do business in this state shall issue to each owner of a benefit contract a certificate specifying the amount of benefits provided. The certificate, together with any riders or endorsements attached thereto, the laws of the society, the application for membership, the application for insurance […]
RCW 48.36A.200 Paid-up nonforfeiture benefits and cash surrender values. (1) For certificates issued prior to one year after January 1, 1988, the value of every paid-up nonforfeiture benefit and the amount of any cash surrender value, loan, or other option granted shall comply with the provisions of law applicable immediately prior to January 1, 1988. […]
