Cal. Ins. Code § 826
"Insurer" for the purposes of this article includes every organization organized for the purpose of assuming the risk of loss under contracts of insurance or reinsurance, and also includes any of the following organizations:
"Insurer" shall not include, unless specified in subdivisions (a) through (f), inclusive, an organization, which though required to obtain a certificate or license from the commissioner, is organized or to be organized primarily for purposes other than assuming the risk of loss under contracts or agreements of insurance.
The amendments of this section by the Legislature at the 1965 Regular Session, except as they relate to underwritten title companies, attorneys in fact, and exclusive managers, shall be construed as a restatement and continuation of the law existing prior to such amendment. Every permit issued by the commissioner or the Commissioner of Corporations to an insurer as defined in this section prior to its amendment by the Legislature at 1965 Regular Session shall be valid and effective for all purposes stated therein, from the date of its issuance until the date of expiration stated therein.
Every permit issued by the commissioner under the authority of former subdivision (g) of this section from the date such subdivision became effective in 1965 until the effective date of the amendment to this section at the 1970 Regular Session of the Legislature shall be valid and effective for all purposes stated therein, from the date of its issuance until the expiration date specified therein.
Ca. Ins. Code § 826