Initiation and commencement of delinquency proceeding.

(1) Upon a determination by the office that one or more grounds for the initiation of delinquency proceedings exist pursuant to this chapter and that delinquency proceedings must be initiated, the Director of the Office of Insurance Regulation shall notify the department of such determination and shall provide the department with all necessary documentation and evidence. If the director must notify the department of a determination regarding a property insurer, the notification must include an affidavit that identifies the grounds for rehabilitation pursuant to s. 631.051; the date that each insurer was deemed impaired of capital or surplus, as the terms impairment of capital and impairment of surplus are defined in s. 631.011, or insolvent, as the term insolvency is defined in s. 631.011; a concise statement of the circumstances that led to the insurer’s delinquency; and a summary of the actions taken by the insurer and the office to avoid delinquency. The department shall then initiate such delinquency proceedings.

(2) The department may commence any such proceeding by application to the court for an order directing the insurer to show cause why the department should not have the relief prayed for. On the return of such order to show cause, and after a full hearing, the court shall either deny the application or grant the application, together with such other relief as the nature of the case and the interests of the policyholders, creditors, stockholders, members, subscribers, or public may require. The department may also commence any such proceeding by application to the court by petition for the entry of a consent order of conservation, rehabilitation, or liquidation.

(3) An insurer subject to an order to show cause entered pursuant to this chapter must file its written response to the order, together with any defenses it may have to the department’s allegations, no later than 20 days after service of the order to show cause, but no less than 15 days before the date of the hearing set by the order to show cause.

(4) A hearing held pursuant to this chapter to determine whether cause exists for the department to be appointed receiver must be commenced within 60 days after an order directing an insurer to show cause.