A. To qualify for authority to incorporate an insurance company or to transact any one or more kinds of insurance an insurer shall possess and maintain, after the effective date of this act,¹ surplus in regard to policyholders, which is defined as the aggregate of the capital and surplus, in an amount not less than One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00).

B. Any domestic insurer lawfully authorized to transact the business of insurance in Oklahoma immediately prior to the effective date of this act shall not be required to increase its capital or surplus to meet increased requirements of this act,² provided, however, that in no event shall such insurer reduce its capital or surplus below the figure required of such insurer on October 31, 2002.

C. Wherever the language paid-in capital, capital, capital stock or a similar term (if a stock company) or surplus, expendable surplus or a similar term (if a mutual or reciprocal insurer) is used elsewhere in this code, the term surplus in regard to policyholders may be used interchangeably when applicable.