Marvin Mandel, Governor                        1441

Board shall be authorized to extend the period of filing any of the
documents to accompany the notice upon proper cause.

(b) The Commissioner, the provisions of any other law relating
to the confidential nature of any reports or information furnished
to or filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles notwithstanding,
may furnish the Board upon its request, for such use, utilization,
and purposes as the Board deems reasonably appropriate to admin-
ister this part and discharge its functions hereunder, any reports
or information filed by any person or persons claiming benefits under
the provisions of this part, that the Commissioner has with regard
to any accident, any operator or owner of a motor vehicle involved
in any accident, and as to any automobile or motor vehicle liability
insurance or bond carried by any operator or owner of any motor
vehicle.

§ 7-607. Investigation and defense of claims.

(a)    The Board shall assign to insurers for investigation and de-
fense, all default actions described in Section 7-616 and all actions
against the Board brought under Section 7-620 through 7-628 of this
Article.

(b)    Any time after the receipt of notice of intention to make a
claim as provided in Section 7-606, the Board also may assign those
of the claims as in the judgment of the Board it is advisable to
investigate, to insurers for the purpose of making investigation. At
any time after receipt of notice of the institution of any action
against the operator or owner of a motor vehicle as provided in
Section 7-606, the Board also may assign the actions in its judg-
ment it is advisable to defend, to insurers for the purpose of conduct-
ing the defense.

(c)    All assignments made under this section shall be made to
insurers in proportion to their premium writings subject to assess-
ment hereunder. Each insurer at its own expense shall (1) make such
investigation as may be appropriate of any claim or action and (2)
cause to be conducted on behalf of the fund the defense of any
action assigned to it.

(d)    After consultation with insurers the Commissioner of Insur-
ance shall approve a reasonable plan for an equitable apportionment
among the insurers of claims against operators and owners of motor
vehicles, for investigations and defense, in accordance with this sub-
title. When the plan has been approved all insurers shall subscribe
thereto and participate therein.

(e)    If, in the opinion of the Board, any insurer fails or neglects
to provide a prompt and adequate investigation of claims or actions
assigned, or fails or neglects to provide an adequate defense or
otherwise fails to act in the public interest in handling assignments,
not less than thirty days after written notice to the principal office
of such insurer it may designate an alternate insurance company
from the Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund's regular insurance
company assignment list to make the investigation and also desig-
nate an attorney to conduct the defense, all at the expense of the
first designated insurer. Upon making the designation, the Board
shall notify the first designated insurer as to the name and address
of the alternate insurer and attorney, and shall advise the first desig-