(a) A fee shall not be charged, except as included in the application for certificate of authority fee provided by Article 3 (commencing with Section 699) of Chapter 1, for filing the initial appointment of an agent for service of process under this article by an applicant for admission.
(b) Thereafter, the commissioner shall require the payment of seventy-two dollars ($72), in advance, as a fee for filing the appointment of an agent for service of process, or stipulation, or both by every admitted foreign or alien insurer pursuant to this article.