§33-20A-3. West Virginia essential insurance association.

(a) The commissioner shall establish a nonprofit unincorporated legal entity to be known as the West Virginia essential insurance association to make fire and extended coverage insurance available to any person having an insurable interest in habitational or commercial property situated in this state who is equitably entitled to but unable to secure such insurance in the voluntary insurance market. Participation shall be required of all insurers doing any insurance business in this state of the kinds covered by the association as a condition of their authority to transact insurance in this state.

(b) The association shall perform its functions under a plan of operation established by regulation promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to chapter twenty-nine-a, article three of this code.

(c) If the commissioner finds after a public hearing that in any part of this state any other kind of essential insurance coverage is not readily available in the voluntary insurance market and that the public interest requires such availability, he may by regulation promulgate plans to provide such coverage through the association for any risks in this state which are equitably entitled to but unable to secure such insurance in the voluntary insurance market. Participation shall be required of all insurers doing any insurance business in this state of the kinds covered by the association as a condition of their authority to transact insurance in this state.