§ 17:45-9 — Benefit fund; use; additions; transfer of excess

Every such association shall establish a benefit fund into which shall be placed a specified percentage, not less than fifty per centum (50%), of all dues and contributions collected by the association or by an agent thereof on sickness and accident disability benefit certificates hereafter issued, except dues and contributions for the first year following issue of such certificates. There shall also be placed into such fund a similar percentage of all dues and contributions hereafter collected on all death benefit certificates and sickness and accident disability benefit certificates issued prior to January second, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven, except dues and contributions for the first year following issue of such certificates. Into such fund shall be placed all investment accretions thereon and from such fund shall be paid all benefits except benefits incurred during the first year following issue of such certificates and costs of prosecuting or defending suits under such benefit certificates specified above in this section. When the association shall have accumulated the minimum guarantee fund required by this chapter it shall place into the benefit fund a specified percentage, not less than five per centum (5%), of all dues and contributions thereafter collected on death benefit certificates issued after the aforementioned date. Whenever the benefit fund shall equal or exceed in amount one-half of one annual contribution on all its outstanding sickness and accident disability benefits together with a reserve on death benefits issued prior to the aforementioned date according to the reserve basis described in section 17:45-5 of this Title, the association may transfer to the reserve fund hereinafter referred to the amount of reserve applicable to the death benefit certificates issued prior to the aforementioned date; provided, it shall have first received the consent of the commissioner to such transfer. Thereafter, no contribution to the benefit fund will be required on account of death benefit certificates and the benefit fund shall be maintained as above provided but only for certificates providing for sickness and accident disability benefits; provided, however, whenever the amount in the benefit fund shall exceed one-half of one annual contribution on all outstanding sickness and accident certificates, such excess or any part thereof may be transferred with the consent of the commissioner to the minimum guarantee fund or to the reserve fund or to the expense fund but in no event shall any such association be required to maintain in the benefit fund an amount in excess of three-fourths of one annual contribution on all outstanding sickness and accident certificates. Amended by L.1950, c. 148, p. 307, s. 4.