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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| SENATE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY D. WHITE AND STACK, MARCH 29, 2012 |
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| REFERRED TO BANKING AND INSURANCE, MARCH 29, 2012 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), entitled "An |
2 | act relating to insurance; amending, revising, and |
3 | consolidating the law providing for the incorporation of |
4 | insurance companies, and the regulation, supervision, and |
5 | protection of home and foreign insurance companies, Lloyds |
6 | associations, reciprocal and inter-insurance exchanges, and |
7 | fire insurance rating bureaus, and the regulation and |
8 | supervision of insurance carried by such companies, |
9 | associations, and exchanges, including insurance carried by |
10 | the State Workmen's Insurance Fund; providing penalties; and |
11 | repealing existing laws," further providing for definitions, |
12 | for acquisition of control of or merger or consolidation with |
13 | domestic insurer, for acquisitions involving insurers not |
14 | otherwise covered, for registration of insurers, for |
15 | standards and management of an insurer within a holding |
16 | company system and for examination; providing for supervisory |
17 | colleges and for group-wide supervision for internationally |
18 | active insurance groups; further providing for confidential |
19 | treatment, for rules and regulations, for injunctions and |
20 | certain prohibitions and for sanctions. |
21 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
22 | hereby enacts as follows: |
23 | Section 1. The definitions of "control" and "NAIC" in |
24 | section 1401 of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known |
25 | as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, added December 18, 1992 |
26 | (P.L.1519, No.178), are amended and the section is amended by |
27 | adding definitions to read: |
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1 | Section 1401. Definitions.--As used in this article, and for |
2 | the purposes of this article only, the following words and |
3 | phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this section: |
4 | * * * |
5 | "Company action level event." As defined in section 501-A or |
6 | 501-B of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.789, No.285), known as |
7 | "The Insurance Department Act of 1921." |
8 | "Control," "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common |
9 | control with." The possession, direct or indirect, of the power |
10 | to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies |
11 | of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, |
12 | by contract other than a commercial contract for goods or |
13 | nonmanagement services or otherwise, unless the power is the |
14 | result of an official position with or corporate office held by |
15 | the person. Control shall be presumed to exist if any person, |
16 | directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to |
17 | vote or holds proxies representing ten per centum (10%) or more |
18 | of the [voting securities of any other person] votes that all |
19 | shareholders would be entitled to cast in the election of |
20 | directors. This presumption may be rebutted by a showing that |
21 | control does not exist in fact. The Insurance Department may |
22 | determine, after furnishing all persons in interest notice and |
23 | opportunity to be heard and making specific findings of fact to |
24 | support such determination, that control exists in fact, |
25 | notwithstanding the absence of a presumption to that effect or |
26 | that another person has control. |
27 | * * * |
28 | "Enterprise risk." An activity, circumstance, event or |
29 | series of events involving one or more affiliates of an insurer |
30 | that, if not remedied promptly, would likely have a material |
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1 | adverse effect on the financial condition or liquidity of an |
2 | insurer or its insurance holding company system, including, but |
3 | not limited to, anything that would: |
4 | (1) trigger a company action level event for the insurer or |
5 | (2) cause the insurer to be deemed to be in hazardous |
6 | financial condition under: |
7 | (i) Article V of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.789, No.285), |
8 | known as "The Insurance Department Act of 1921." |
9 | (ii) 31 Pa. Code Ch. 160 (relating to standards to define |
10 | insurers deemed to be in hazardous financial condition). |
11 | "IAIS." The International Association of Insurance |
12 | Supervisors or successor organization. |
13 | * * * |
14 | "NAIC." The National Association of Insurance Commissioners |
15 | or successor organization. |
16 | * * * |
17 | "SEC." The Securities and Exchange Commission of the United |
18 | States. |
19 | * * * |
20 | Section 2. Section 1402(a)(2), (b)(12), (f)(3), (h) and (j) |
21 | of the act, amended July 9, 2008 (P.L.885, No.62), are amended |
22 | and subsections (a), (b) and (f) are amended by adding |
23 | paragraphs to read: |
24 | Section 1402. Acquisition of Control of or Merger or |
25 | Consolidation with Domestic Insurer.--(a) * * * |
26 | (2) [For purposes of this section, a "domestic insurer" |
27 | shall include any person controlling a domestic insurer unless |
28 | such person as determined by the department is either directly |
29 | or through its affiliates primarily engaged in business other |
30 | than the business of insurance. Such person shall, however, file |
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1 | a preacquisition notification with the department containing the |
2 | information set forth in section 1403(c)(2) thirty (30) days |
3 | prior to the proposed effective date of the acquisition. Failure |
4 | to file is subject to section 1403(e)(3). For purposes of this |
5 | section, "person" shall not include any securities broker |
6 | holding, in the usual and customary manner, less than twenty per |
7 | centum (20%) of the voting securities of an insurance company or |
8 | of any person which controls an insurance company.] For purposes |
9 | of this section: |
10 | (i) "Domestic insurer" includes a person controlling a |
11 | domestic insurer unless the department determines that the |
12 | person is primarily engaged in business other than the business |
13 | of insurance either directly or through its affiliates. |
14 | (ii) "Person" does not include a securities broker who |
15 | holds, in the usual and customary manner, less than twenty per |
16 | centum (20%) of the voting securities of an insurer or of a |
17 | person that controls an insurer. |
18 | (3) A controlling person of a domestic insurer seeking to |
19 | divest its controlling interest in the insurer in any manner |
20 | shall file with the department, with a copy to the insurer, a |
21 | notice of the proposed divestiture at least thirty (30) days |
22 | prior to the cessation of control except that notice under this |
23 | paragraph is not required if a statement is filed under |
24 | paragraph (1). The notice must contain information sufficient |
25 | for the department to determine if the proposed divestiture |
26 | requires filing and approval under paragraph (1). Information |
27 | obtained by or disclosed to the department under this paragraph |
28 | shall be given confidential treatment as provided under section |
29 | 1407. |
30 | (4) The acquiring person for transactions subject to this |
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1 | section must file a preacquisition notification as required |
2 | under section 1403(c) or be subject to a penalty as provided |
3 | under section 1403(e)(3). |
4 | (5) A person seeking to rebut the presumption of control |
5 | under this article shall file with the department, with a copy |
6 | to the insurer, a rebuttal filing containing information |
7 | sufficient for the department to determine whether control |
8 | exists in fact. The filing is not effective unless the |
9 | department finds that control does not exist or accepts a |
10 | disclaimer of control. Information obtained by or disclosed to |
11 | the department under this subsection must be given confidential |
12 | treatment as provided under section 1407. |
13 | (b) The statement to be filed with the department under this |
14 | section shall be made under oath or affirmation and shall |
15 | contain the following information: |
16 | * * * |
17 | (11.1) An agreement by the person required to file the |
18 | statement referred to in subsection (a) that it will provide the |
19 | annual enterprise risk report specified in section 1404(k.1) as |
20 | long as control exists. |
21 | (11.2) An acknowledgment by the person required to file the |
22 | statement referred to in subsection (a) that the person and the |
23 | subsidiaries within its control in the insurance holding company |
24 | system will provide information to the commissioner upon request |
25 | as necessary to evaluate enterprise risk to the insurer. |
26 | (12) Such additional information as the department may by |
27 | [rule or] regulation prescribe as necessary or appropriate for |
28 | the protection of policyholders of the insurer or in the public |
29 | interest. |
30 | * * * |
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1 | (f) * * * |
2 | (2.1) If the proposed acquisition of control requires the |
3 | approval of more than one commissioner, the public hearing under |
4 | paragraph (2) may be held on a consolidated basis upon request |
5 | of the person filing the statement under subsection (a). He |
6 | shall file the statement under subsection (a) with the NAIC |
7 | within five (5) days of making the request for a public hearing. |
8 | A commissioner may opt out of a consolidated hearing, and shall |
9 | provide notice to the applicant of the decision to opt out |
10 | within ten (10) days of the receipt of the statement under |
11 | subsection (a). A hearing conducted on a consolidated basis must |
12 | be public and held in the United States before the commissioners |
13 | of the states in which the insurers are domiciled. The |
14 | commissioners shall hear and receive evidence. A commissioner |
15 | may attend the hearing in person or participate using |
16 | telecommunication. |
17 | (3) The department may retain at the acquiring [person's] |
18 | party's expense any attorneys, actuaries, accountants and other |
19 | experts not otherwise a part of the department's staff as may be |
20 | reasonably necessary to assist the department in reviewing the |
21 | proposed acquisition of control. |
22 | * * * |
23 | (h) The following shall constitute a violation of this |
24 | section: |
25 | (1) the failure to file any statement, amendment or other |
26 | material required to be filed pursuant to subsection (a) or (b); |
27 | (2) the effectuation or any attempt to effectuate an |
28 | acquisition of control of or divestiture of or merger or |
29 | consolidation with a domestic insurer unless the department has |
30 | given its approval thereto; or |
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1 | (3) a violation of section 819-A. |
2 | * * * |
3 | (j) [As used in this section, the term "annual statement" |
4 | shall mean the annual report of the financial condition required |
5 | to be filed under 40 Pa.C.S. § 6331 (relating to reports and |
6 | examinations)] (Reserved). |
7 | Section 3. Section 1403(b)(2)(ii) and (vii) of the act, |
8 | amended July 9, 2008 (P.L.885, No.62), are amended to read: |
9 | Section 1403. Acquisitions Involving Insurers not Otherwise |
10 | Covered.--* * * |
11 | (b) * * * |
12 | (2) This section shall not apply to any of the following: |
13 | * * * |
14 | (ii) A purchase of securities solely for investment purposes |
15 | so long as such securities are not used by voting or otherwise |
16 | to cause or attempt to cause the substantial lessening of |
17 | competition in any insurance market in this Commonwealth. If a |
18 | purchase of securities results in a presumption of control as |
19 | described in the definition of "control" in section 1401, it is |
20 | not solely for investment purposes unless the [insurance |
21 | department of the insurer's state of] chief insurance regulatory |
22 | official in the jurisdiction of the insurer's domicile accepts a |
23 | disclaimer of control or affirmatively finds that control does |
24 | not exist and such disclaimer action or affirmative finding is |
25 | communicated by the domiciliary insurance [department to the |
26 | Insurance Department of the Commonwealth] regulator to the |
27 | department. |
28 | * * * |
29 | (vii) An acquisition of an insurer whose domiciliary |
30 | insurance [department] regulator affirmatively finds that such |
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1 | insurer is in failing condition; there is a lack of feasible |
2 | alternative to improving such condition; the public benefits of |
3 | improving such insurer's condition through the acquisition |
4 | exceed the public benefits that would arise from not lessening |
5 | competition; and such findings are communicated by the |
6 | domiciliary insurance [department to the Insurance Department of |
7 | the Commonwealth] regulator to the department. |
8 | * * * |
9 | Section 4. Section 1404(a)(2), (b) introductory paragraph, |
10 | (d), (j), (k), and (l) of the act, added December 18, 1992 |
11 | (P.L.1519, No.178), are amended, subsection (b) is amended by |
12 | adding paragraphs and the section is amended by adding a |
13 | subsection to read: |
14 | Section 1404. Registration of Insurers.--(a) * * * |
15 | (2) Any insurer which is subject to registration under this |
16 | section shall register within fifteen (15) days after it becomes |
17 | subject to registration, and annually thereafter by the thirty- |
18 | first day of March of each year for the previous calendar year, |
19 | unless the department for good cause shown extends the time for |
20 | registration, and then within such extended time. The department |
21 | may require any insurer authorized to do business in this |
22 | Commonwealth which is a member of [a] an insurance holding |
23 | company system and which is not subject to registration under |
24 | this section to furnish a copy of the registration statement, |
25 | the summary specified in subsection (c) or other information |
26 | filed by such insurance company with the insurance regulatory |
27 | authority of its domiciliary jurisdiction. |
28 | (b) Every insurer subject to registration shall file the |
29 | registration statement with the department on a form and in a |
30 | format prescribed by the NAIC, which shall contain all of the |
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1 | following current information: |
2 | * * * |
3 | (4.1) If requested by the department, the insurer shall |
4 | include financial statements of an insurance holding company |
5 | system, including its affiliates. Financial statements may |
6 | include, but are not limited to: |
7 | (i) annual audited financial statements filed with the SEC |
8 | under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933 (48 Stat. 74, 15 |
9 | U.S.C. § 77a et seq.); or |
10 | (ii) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (48 Stat. 881, 15 |
11 | U.S.C. § 78a et seq.). |
12 | An insurer required to file financial statements under this |
13 | paragraph may satisfy the request by providing the department |
14 | with the most recent parent corporation financial statements |
15 | filed with the SEC. |
16 | (4.2) Statements that the insurer's board of directors |
17 | oversees corporate governance and internal controls and that the |
18 | insurer's officers or senior management have approved, |
19 | implemented and continue to maintain and monitor corporate |
20 | governance and internal control procedures. |
21 | * * * |
22 | (6) Other necessary or appropriate information as required |
23 | by the department by regulation. |
24 | * * * |
25 | (d) No information need be disclosed on the registration |
26 | statement filed pursuant to subsection (b) if such information |
27 | is not material for the purposes of this section. Unless the |
28 | department by [rule,] regulation or order provides otherwise, |
29 | sales, purchases, exchanges, loans or extensions of credit, |
30 | investments or guarantees involving one-half of one per centum |
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1 | (0.5%) or less of an insurer's admitted assets as of the thirty- |
2 | first day of December next preceding shall not be deemed |
3 | material for purposes of this section. |
4 | * * * |
5 | (j) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any |
6 | insurer, information or transaction if and to the extent that |
7 | the department by [rule,] regulation or order shall exempt the |
8 | same from the provisions of this section. |
9 | (k) Any person may file with the department a disclaimer of |
10 | affiliation with any authorized insurer or such a disclaimer may |
11 | be filed by such insurer or any member of an insurance holding |
12 | company system. The disclaimer shall fully disclose all material |
13 | relationships and bases for affiliation between such person and |
14 | such insurer as well as the basis for disclaiming such |
15 | affiliation. [After a disclaimer has been filed, the insurer |
16 | shall be relieved of any duty to register or report under this |
17 | section which may arise out of the insurer's relationship with |
18 | such person unless and until the department disallows such a |
19 | disclaimer. The department shall disallow such a disclaimer only |
20 | after furnishing all parties in interest with notice and |
21 | opportunity to be heard and after making specific findings of |
22 | fact to support such disallowance] A disclaimer of affiliation |
23 | is deemed granted unless the department notifies the filing |
24 | party the disclaimer is disallowed within thirty (30) days |
25 | following receipt of a complete disclaimer. In the event of |
26 | disallowance, the disclaiming party may request an |
27 | administrative hearing under the provisions of 2 Pa.C.S. |
28 | (relating to administrative law and procedure), which must be |
29 | granted. If the commissioner approves the disclaimer or if the |
30 | disclaimer is deemed approved, the disclaiming party is relieved |
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1 | of the duty to register under this section. |
2 | (k.1) The ultimate controlling person of every insurer |
3 | subject to registration shall also file an annual enterprise |
4 | risk report. The report must, to the best of the ultimate |
5 | controlling person's knowledge and belief, identify the material |
6 | risks within the insurance holding company system that could |
7 | pose enterprise risk to the insurer. The report must be filed |
8 | with the lead state regulator of the insurance holding company |
9 | system as determined by the procedures within the Financial |
10 | Analysis Handbook adopted by the NAIC. |
11 | (l) The failure to file a registration statement [or], any |
12 | summary of the registration statement [thereto] or enterprise |
13 | risk report required by this section within the time specified |
14 | for such filing shall be a violation of this section. |
15 | Section 5. Section 1405(a)(1), (2) and (3), (b)(1) and (c) |
16 | (5) of the act, amended February 17, 1994 (P.L.92, No.9), |
17 | December 20, 2000 (P.L.967, No.132) and July 9, 2008 (P.L.885, |
18 | No.62), are amended and subsection (a) is amended by adding a |
19 | paragraph to read: |
20 | Section 1405. Standards and Management of an Insurer within |
21 | [a] an Insurance Holding Company System.--(a) (1) Transactions |
22 | within [a] an insurance holding company system to which an |
23 | insurer subject to registration is a party shall be subject to |
24 | all of the following standards: |
25 | (i) The terms shall be fair and reasonable. |
26 | (ii) Charges or fees for services performed shall be |
27 | reasonable. |
28 | (iii) Expenses incurred and payment received shall be |
29 | allocated to the insurer in conformity with customary insurance |
30 | accounting practices consistently applied and all cost-sharing |
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1 | or expense allocation arrangements must be formalized in writing |
2 | and authorized by the board of directors of the domestic |
3 | insurer. |
4 | (iv) The books, accounts and records of each party to all |
5 | such transactions shall be so maintained as to clearly and |
6 | accurately disclose the nature and details of the transactions, |
7 | including such accounting information as is necessary to support |
8 | the reasonableness of the charges or fees to the respective |
9 | parties. |
10 | (v) The insurer's surplus as regards policyholders after any |
11 | material transaction with an affiliate and after any dividends |
12 | or distributions to shareholder affiliates shall be reasonable |
13 | in relation to the insurer's outstanding liabilities and |
14 | adequate to its financial needs. |
15 | (2) The following transactions involving a domestic insurer |
16 | and any person in its insurance holding company system, |
17 | including an amendment or modification of affiliate agreements |
18 | previously filed under this section that are subject to |
19 | materiality standards contained in subparagraphs (i), (ii), |
20 | (iii), (iv) and (v), may not be entered into unless the insurer |
21 | has notified the department in writing of its intention to enter |
22 | into such transaction at least thirty (30) days prior thereto or |
23 | such shorter period as the department may permit and the |
24 | department has not disapproved it within such period: |
25 | (i) Sales, purchases, exchanges, loans or extensions of |
26 | credit, guarantees, investments, pledges of assets or assets to |
27 | be received by the domestic insurer as contributions to its |
28 | surplus, provided that, as of the thirty-first day of December |
29 | next preceding, such transactions are equal to or exceed the |
30 | lesser of [five per centum (5%)] three per centum (3%) of the |
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1 | insurer's admitted assets or twenty-five per centum (25%) of |
2 | surplus as regards policyholders. |
3 | (ii) Loans or extensions of credit to any person who is not |
4 | an affiliate, where the insurer makes such loans or extensions |
5 | of credit with the agreement or understanding that the proceeds |
6 | of such transactions, in whole or in substantial part, are to be |
7 | used to make loans or extensions of credit to, to purchase |
8 | assets of or to make investments in any affiliate of the insurer |
9 | making such loans or extensions of credit provided that, as of |
10 | the thirty-first day of December next preceding, such |
11 | transactions are equal to or exceed the lesser of [five per |
12 | centum (5%)] three per centum (3%) of the insurer's admitted |
13 | assets or twenty-five per centum (25%) of surplus as regards |
14 | policyholders. |
15 | (iii) Reinsurance agreements or modifications thereto [where |
16 | either], including: |
17 | (A) [the reinsurance premium] agreements where the |
18 | reinsurance premium or the projected reinsurance premium in any |
19 | of the next three twelve-month periods equals or exceeds five |
20 | per centum (5%) of the insurer's surplus as regards |
21 | policyholders as of the thirty-first day of December next |
22 | preceding; [or] |
23 | (B) agreements where the change in the insurer's liabilities |
24 | or any transfer of assets required to fund the transaction in |
25 | any of the next three twelve-month periods equals or exceeds |
26 | twenty-five per centum (25%) of the insurer's surplus as regards |
27 | policyholders as of the thirty-first day of December next |
28 | preceding, including those agreements which may require as |
29 | consideration the transfer of assets from an insurer to a |
30 | nonaffiliate, if an agreement or understanding exists between |
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1 | the insurer and nonaffiliate that any portion of such assets |
2 | will be transferred to one or more affiliates of the insurer. |
3 | Nothing in this paragraph shall affect or limit the requirements |
4 | and applicability of section 3 of the act of July 31, 1968 |
5 | (P.L.941, No.288), entitled "An act providing for reporting to |
6 | the Insurance Commissioner by domestic insurance companies, |
7 | associations, or exchanges, of certain conveyances of interests |
8 | in the assets of such companies, associations, or exchanges[.]"; |
9 | or |
10 | (C) reinsurance pooling agreements. |
11 | (iv) Any material transactions, specified by regulation, |
12 | which the department determines may adversely affect the |
13 | interests of the insurer's policyholders. |
14 | (v) Management agreements, service contracts, tax allocation |
15 | agreements, guarantees and cost-sharing arrangements. |
16 | The notice for amendments or modifications must include the |
17 | reasons for the change and the financial impact on the domestic |
18 | insurer. |
19 | Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to authorize or permit |
20 | any transactions which, in the case of an insurer not a member |
21 | of the same holding company system, would be otherwise contrary |
22 | to law. |
23 | (2.1) Within thirty (30) days after termination of an |
24 | agreement previously filed in accordance with paragraph (2), a |
25 | domestic insurer shall provide notice of the termination to the |
26 | department. |
27 | (3) A domestic insurer may not enter into transactions which |
28 | are part of a plan or series of like transactions with persons |
29 | within the insurance holding company system if the purpose of |
30 | those separate transactions is to avoid the statutory threshold |
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1 | amount and thus avoid the review that would occur otherwise. If |
2 | the department determines that such separate transactions were |
3 | entered into over any twelve-month period for such purpose, it |
4 | may exercise its authority under section 1410. |
5 | * * * |
6 | (b) (1) No domestic insurer shall pay any extraordinary |
7 | dividend to its [stockholders] shareholders until: |
8 | (i) thirty (30) days after the commissioner has received |
9 | written notice from the insurer of the declaration of the |
10 | dividend and has not within such period disapproved the payment; |
11 | or |
12 | (ii) the commissioner shall have approved the payment within |
13 | such thirty-day period. |
14 | * * * |
15 | (c) * * * |
16 | (5) The provisions of paragraphs (3), (4) and (4.1) shall |
17 | not apply to a domestic insurer if the person controlling such |
18 | insurer is an insurer [or another business entity], an attorney |
19 | in fact for a reciprocal exchange, a mutual insurance holding |
20 | company or a publicly held corporation having a board of |
21 | directors and committees thereof which already meet the |
22 | requirements of paragraphs (3), (4) and (4.1). |
23 | * * * |
24 | Section 6. Section 1406 of the act, added December 18, 1992 |
25 | (P.L.1519, No.178), is amended to read: |
26 | Section 1406. Examination.--(a) Subject to the limitation |
27 | contained in this section and in addition to the powers which |
28 | the department has under law relating to the examination of |
29 | insurers, the department shall also have the power to [order any |
30 | insurer registered under section 1404 to produce such records, |
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1 | books or other information papers in the possession of the |
2 | insurer or its affiliates as are reasonably necessary to |
3 | ascertain the financial condition of such insurer or to |
4 | determine compliance with this article. In the event an insurer |
5 | fails to comply with such order, the department shall have the |
6 | power to examine affiliates to obtain this information.] examine |
7 | an insurer registered under section 1404 and its affiliates to |
8 | ascertain the financial condition of the insurer, including the |
9 | enterprise risk to the insurer by: |
10 | (1) the ultimate controlling person; |
11 | (2) an entity or combination of entities within the |
12 | insurance holding company system; or |
13 | (3) the insurance holding company system on a consolidated |
14 | basis. |
15 | (a.1) The department may order an insurer registered under |
16 | section 1404 to produce records, books or other information |
17 | papers in the possession of the insurer or its affiliates as are |
18 | reasonably necessary to ascertain the financial condition of the |
19 | insurer or to determine compliance with this article. To |
20 | ascertain the financial condition of the insurer, including the |
21 | enterprise risk to the insurer by: |
22 | (1) the ultimate controlling person; |
23 | (2) an entity or combination of entities within the |
24 | insurance holding company system; or |
25 | (3) the insurance holding company system on a consolidated |
26 | basis, |
27 | the department may order an insurer registered under section |
28 | 1404 to produce information not in the possession of the insurer |
29 | if the insurer can obtain access to the information under a |
30 | contractual relationship, a statutory obligation or other |
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1 | method. If the insurer may not obtain the information requested |
2 | by the department, the insurer shall provide the department a |
3 | detailed explanation of the reason the insurer may not obtain |
4 | the information and the identity of the holder of information. |
5 | If the insurer fails to comply with this subsection or the |
6 | department determines that the detailed explanation is without |
7 | merit, the department may suspend or revoke the insurer's |
8 | license or require the insurer to pay an administrative penalty |
9 | of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day until the information |
10 | is produced. The proceeding for suspension, revocation or |
11 | imposition of a penalty shall be conducted pursuant to 2 Pa.C.S. |
12 | (relating to administrative law and procedure). |
13 | (b) The department may retain at the registered insurer's |
14 | expense such attorneys, actuaries, accountants and other experts |
15 | not otherwise a part of the department's staff as shall be |
16 | reasonably necessary to assist in the conduct of the examination |
17 | under [subsection (a)] subsections (a), (a.1) and (a.2). Any |
18 | persons so retained shall be under the direction and control of |
19 | the [commissioner] department and shall act in a purely advisory |
20 | capacity. |
21 | (c) Each registered insurer producing for examination |
22 | records, books and papers pursuant to [subsection (a)] |
23 | subsections (a), (a.1) and (a.2) shall be liable for and shall |
24 | pay the expense of such examination as provided for in Article |
25 | IX of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.789, No.285), known as "The |
26 | Insurance Department Act of one thousand nine hundred and |
27 | twenty-one." |
28 | (d) If the insurer fails to comply with an order issued |
29 | under this section, the department has the power to examine the |
30 | insurer's affiliates to obtain the information necessary to |
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1 | determine an insurer's compliance with this section. The |
2 | department also has the power to: |
3 | (1) issue subpoenas; |
4 | (2) administer oaths; and |
5 | (3) examine under oath any person as to any matter pertinent |
6 | to determining compliance with this section. |
7 | Upon the failure or refusal of a person to obey a subpoena, the |
8 | department may petition a court of competent jurisdiction and, |
9 | upon proper showing, the court may enter an order compelling the |
10 | witness to appear and testify or produce documentary evidence. |
11 | Failure to obey the court order shall be punishable as contempt |
12 | of court. When subpoenaed, a person shall attend as a witness at |
13 | the place specified in the subpoena. Witnesses shall be paid the |
14 | same fees and mileage as are paid to witnesses in the courts of |
15 | this Commonwealth. Fees, mileage and expense necessarily |
16 | incurred in securing the attendance and testimony of witnesses |
17 | shall be itemized, charged against and paid by the person being |
18 | examined. |
19 | Section 7. The act is amended by adding sections to read: |
20 | Section 1406.1. Supervisory Colleges.--(a) A supervisory |
21 | college may be convened as a temporary or permanent forum for |
22 | communication and cooperation between the regulators charged |
23 | with the supervision of the insurer or its affiliates. |
24 | (b) The department may participate in a supervisory college |
25 | with other regulators charged with supervision of the insurer or |
26 | its affiliates, including international, Federal and other state |
27 | regulatory agencies, for any of the following reasons: |
28 | (1) To assess the enterprise risk, business strategy, legal, |
29 | regulatory and financial position, risk exposure, risk |
30 | management and governance processes of the insurer or its |
|
1 | affiliates. |
2 | (2) As part of the examination of individual insurers in |
3 | accordance with section 1406. |
4 | (c) The department shall have the power to participate in a |
5 | supervisory college for a domestic insurer, registered under |
6 | section 1404, that is part of an insurance holding company |
7 | system with international operations in order to determine |
8 | compliance by the insurer with this article. |
9 | (d) The powers of the department regarding supervisory |
10 | colleges include, but are not limited to, the following: |
11 | (1) Initiating the establishment of a supervisory college. |
12 | (2) Clarifying the membership and participation of other |
13 | supervisors in the supervisory college. |
14 | (3) Clarifying the functions of the supervisory college and |
15 | the role of other regulators, including the establishment of a |
16 | group-wide supervisor. |
17 | (4) Coordinating the ongoing activities of the supervisory |
18 | college, including planning meetings, supervisory activities and |
19 | processes for information sharing. |
20 | (5) Establishing a crisis management plan. |
21 | (e) The department may enter into agreements in accordance |
22 | with sections 1406.2, 1407 and Article II-A of the act of May |
23 | 17, 1921 (P.L.789, No.285), known as "The Insurance Department |
24 | Act of 1921," to provide the basis for sharing information |
25 | between the department and other regulatory agencies. The |
26 | department may also enter into agreements to share information |
27 | and further coordinate the activities of the supervisory college |
28 | pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section shall delegate |
29 | to the supervisory college the authority of the department to |
30 | regulate or supervise the insurer or its affiliates within its |
|
1 | jurisdiction. |
2 | (f) A registered insurer subject to this section shall be |
3 | liable for and shall pay the reasonable expenses of the |
4 | department's participation in a supervisory college, including |
5 | reasonable travel expenses. |
6 | Section 1406.2. Group-wide Supervision for Internationally |
7 | Active Insurance Groups.--(a) (Reserved). |
8 | (b) The department is authorized to act as a group-wide |
9 | supervisor for any internationally active insurance group. |
10 | (c) The department may determine that it is an appropriate |
11 | group-wide supervisor for an internationally active insurance |
12 | group or it may acknowledge that another chief insurance |
13 | regulatory official is an appropriate group-wide supervisor for |
14 | the internationally active insurance group. The relevant factors |
15 | to be considered by the department when making a determination |
16 | or acknowledgment under this subsection include: |
17 | (1) The place of legal residence of the ultimate controlling |
18 | person of the internationally active insurance group. |
19 | (2) The place of origin of the insurance business of the |
20 | members within the internationally active insurance group. |
21 | (3) The location of the capital supporting the operations of |
22 | the internationally active insurance group. |
23 | (4) The location of the insurance business operations |
24 | supporting the internationally active insurance group. |
25 | (5) The location of employees of the insurance business |
26 | operations within the internationally active insurance group. |
27 | (6) Whether another chief insurance regulatory official is |
28 | acting or seeking to act as lead group supervisor under a |
29 | regulatory system that the commissioner determines to be: |
30 | (i) substantially equivalent to that provided under the laws |
|
1 | of this Commonwealth; or |
2 | (ii) otherwise sufficient in terms of provision of group- |
3 | wide supervision, enterprise risk analysis and cooperation with |
4 | other chief regulatory officials. |
5 | (7) Whether a chief insurance regulatory official acting or |
6 | seeking to act as lead group supervisor provides the department |
7 | with mutual equivalency or sufficiency recognition. |
8 | (d) Pursuant to section 1406, the department is authorized |
9 | to collect from any insurer registered pursuant to section 1404 |
10 | all information necessary to determine whether the department |
11 | may act as the group-wide supervisor or if the department may |
12 | acknowledge another insurance regulatory official to act as the |
13 | group-wide supervisor. Prior to issuing a determination that an |
14 | internationally active insurance group is subject to group-wide |
15 | supervision by the department, the department shall notify the |
16 | insurer registered pursuant to section 1404 and the ultimate |
17 | controlling person within the internationally active insurance |
18 | group. The internationally active insurance group shall have not |
19 | less than thirty (30) days to provide the department with |
20 | additional information pertinent to the pending determination. |
21 | The department shall publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and on |
22 | its Internet website the identity of internationally active |
23 | insurance groups that it has determined are subject to its |
24 | group-wide supervision. |
25 | (e) If the department is the group-wide supervisor for an |
26 | internationally active insurance group, the department is |
27 | authorized to engage in conducting and coordinating any of the |
28 | following group-wide supervision activities: |
29 | (1) Assess the enterprise risks within the internationally |
30 | active insurance group, pursuant to section 1406, to ensure |
|
1 | that: |
2 | (i) The material financial condition and liquidity risks to |
3 | the members of the internationally active insurance group which |
4 | are engaged in the business of insurance are identified by |
5 | management. |
6 | (ii) Reasonable and effective mitigation measures are in |
7 | place. |
8 | (2) Request, from any member of an internationally active |
9 | insurance group subject to the department's supervision, |
10 | information necessary and appropriate to assess enterprise risk, |
11 | including, but not limited to, information about the members of |
12 | the internationally active insurance group regarding: |
13 | (i) Governance, risk assessment and management. |
14 | (ii) Capital adequacy. |
15 | (iii) Material intercompany transactions. |
16 | (3) Compel development and implementation of reasonable |
17 | measures designed to assure that the internationally active |
18 | insurance group is able to timely recognize and mitigate |
19 | material risks to members that are engaged in the business of |
20 | insurance. |
21 | (4) Communicate with other insurance regulatory officials |
22 | for members within the internationally active insurance group, |
23 | and share relevant information subject to the confidentiality |
24 | provisions of section 1407, through supervisory colleges as set |
25 | forth in section 1406.1 or otherwise. |
26 | (5) Enter into agreements with or obtain documentation from |
27 | any insurer registered under section 1404, any member of the |
28 | internationally active insurance group, and any other chief |
29 | insurance regulatory officials for members, providing the basis |
30 | for or otherwise clarifying the department's role as group |
|
1 | supervisor, including provisions for resolving disputes with |
2 | other relevant supervisory authorities. Such agreements or |
3 | documentation shall not serve as evidence in any proceeding that |
4 | any insurer or person within an insurance holding company system |
5 | not incorporated in this Commonwealth is doing business in this |
6 | Commonwealth or is otherwise subject to jurisdiction in this |
7 | Commonwealth. |
8 | (6) Other group-wide supervisory activities as considered |
9 | appropriate by the department. |
10 | (f) If the department acknowledges that a regulatory |
11 | official from a jurisdiction which is not accredited by the NAIC |
12 | is the group-wide supervisor, the department is authorized to |
13 | reasonably cooperate, through supervisory colleges or otherwise, |
14 | with group supervision undertaken by the group-wide supervisor, |
15 | provided that: |
16 | (1) The department's cooperation is in compliance with the |
17 | laws of this Commonwealth. |
18 | (2) The regulator also recognizes and cooperates with the |
19 | department's activities as a group-wide supervisor for other |
20 | internationally active insurance groups where applicable. Where |
21 | such recognition and cooperation is not reasonably reciprocal, |
22 | the department is authorized to refuse recognition and |
23 | cooperation. |
24 | (g) The department is authorized to enter into agreements |
25 | with or obtain documentation from any insurer registered under |
26 | section 1404, any affiliate of the insurer and other regulatory |
27 | officials for members of the insurance group, which provide the |
28 | basis for or otherwise clarify a regulatory official's role as |
29 | group supervisor. |
30 | (h) The department may promulgate regulations necessary for |
|
1 | the administration of this section. In determining whether a |
2 | regulation should be promulgated, the department shall give due |
3 | consideration to model laws, model regulations and definitions |
4 | or guidelines pertaining to group-wide supervision, if any, |
5 | promulgated by the NAIC or other recognized insurance regulatory |
6 | bodies or associations. |
7 | (i) A registered insurer subject to this section shall be |
8 | liable for and shall pay the reasonable expenses of the |
9 | department's participation in the administration of this |
10 | section, including the engagement of attorneys, actuaries and |
11 | any other professionals and all reasonable travel expenses. |
12 | (j) As used in this section, the following words and phrases |
13 | shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless |
14 | the context clearly indicates otherwise: |
15 | "Group-wide supervisor." The chief insurance regulatory |
16 | official authorized to engage in conducting and coordinating |
17 | group-wide supervision activities who is from the jurisdiction |
18 | determined or acknowledged by the department under subsection |
19 | (c) to have sufficient significant contacts with the |
20 | internationally active insurance group. |
21 | "Internationally active insurance group." An insurance |
22 | holding company system that includes an insurer registered under |
23 | section 1404 and one or more affiliates engaged in the business |
24 | of insurance that are domiciled or operating outside of a |
25 | jurisdiction accredited by NAIC. |
26 | Section 8. Sections 1407, 1408 and 1409(a), (b) and (c) of |
27 | the act, added December 18, 1992 (P.L.1519, No.178), are amended |
28 | to read: |
29 | Section 1407. Confidential Treatment.--(a) All information, |
30 | documents, materials and copies thereof in the possession or |
|
1 | control of the department that are produced by, obtained by or |
2 | disclosed to the department or any other person in the course of |
3 | an examination or investigation made pursuant to section 1406 or |
4 | investigation made pursuant to section 1406.1 or 1406.2 and all |
5 | information reported pursuant to sections 1402(b)(11.1) and |
6 | (11.2), 1404 and 1405 shall be privileged and given confidential |
7 | treatment and shall not be: |
8 | (1) Subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in a |
9 | private civil action. |
10 | (2) [subject] Subject to subpoena [and shall not be]. |
11 | (3) Subject to the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), |
12 | known as the "Right-to-Know Law." |
13 | (4) [made] Made public by the department or any other |
14 | person, except to [insurance departments of other states,] |
15 | regulatory or law enforcement officials of other jurisdictions |
16 | or group supervisors or members of a supervisory college in |
17 | accordance with subsection (c), without the prior written |
18 | consent of the insurer to which it pertains unless the |
19 | department, after giving the insurer and its affiliates who |
20 | would be affected thereby notice and opportunity to be heard, |
21 | determines that the interest of policyholders, shareholders or |
22 | the public will be served by the publication thereof, in which |
23 | event it may publish all or any part thereof in such manner as |
24 | [he] it may deem appropriate. |
25 | (b) The commissioner, department or any individual or person |
26 | who receives documents, materials or other information while |
27 | acting under the authority of the commissioner or department or |
28 | with whom such documents, materials or other information are |
29 | shared under this article shall not be permitted or required to |
30 | testify in any private civil action concerning any confidential |
|
1 | documents, materials or information covered under this section. |
2 | (c) In order to assist in the performance of its duties, the |
3 | department may do any of the following: |
4 | (1) Share confidential and privileged documents, materials |
5 | or other information covered under this section with regulatory |
6 | or law enforcement officials of this Commonwealth or other |
7 | jurisdictions, the IAIS, the NAIC and its affiliates and |
8 | subsidiaries, group supervisors and members of any supervisory |
9 | college under section 1406.1, provided that prior to receiving |
10 | the documents, materials or other information, the recipient |
11 | demonstrates by written statement the necessary authority and |
12 | intent to provide the same confidential treatment to the |
13 | information as required by this article. The department may only |
14 | share confidential and privileged documents, materials or |
15 | information reported under section 1404(k.1) with state |
16 | insurance regulators having statutes or regulations |
17 | substantially similar to subsection (a) and who have agreed in |
18 | writing not to disclose such information. |
19 | (2) Receive and maintain as confidential any documents, |
20 | materials or other information from the IAIS or the NAIC and its |
21 | affiliates and subsidiaries or from regulatory and law |
22 | enforcement officials of this Commonwealth or other |
23 | jurisdictions in which the documents, materials or other |
24 | information are confidential by law in those jurisdictions. |
25 | Documents, materials or other information obtained under this |
26 | section shall be given confidential treatment, may not be |
27 | subject to subpoena and may not be made public by the |
28 | department, commissioner or any other person. |
29 | (d) The department shall enter into written agreements with |
30 | the IAIS or the NAIC governing the sharing and use of |
|
1 | information provided under this article, that include all of the |
2 | following: |
3 | (1) Specific procedures and protocols regarding the |
4 | confidentiality and security of information shared with the IAIS |
5 | or the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries under this |
6 | article, including procedures and protocols for sharing by the |
7 | IAIS or the NAIC with other Federal, state, or international |
8 | regulators. |
9 | (2) Provisions specifying that ownership of information |
10 | shared with the IAIS or the NAIC and its affiliates and |
11 | subsidiaries under this article remains with the department and |
12 | that the use of the information by the IAIS or the NAIC is |
13 | subject to the approval of the department. |
14 | (3) A provision providing that the IAIS or the NAIC and its |
15 | affiliates and subsidiaries will, where permitted by law, give |
16 | prompt notice to the department and the insurer regarding any |
17 | subpoena, request for disclosure or request for production of |
18 | the insurer's confidential information in the possession of the |
19 | IAIS or the NAIC under this article. |
20 | (4) A requirement that the IAIS or the NAIC and its |
21 | affiliates and subsidiaries will consent to intervention by an |
22 | insurer in any judicial or administrative action in which the |
23 | IAIS or the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries may be |
24 | required to disclose confidential information about the insurer |
25 | that was shared with the IAIS or the NAIC and its affiliates and |
26 | subsidiaries under this article. |
27 | (e) The sharing of information by the department under this |
28 | article shall not constitute a delegation of regulatory |
29 | authority or rulemaking. |
30 | (f) The department is solely responsible for the |
|
1 | administration, execution and enforcement of the provisions of |
2 | this article. |
3 | (g) The sharing of information by the department as |
4 | authorized by subsection (c) shall not constitute a waiver of |
5 | any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the |
6 | documents, materials or information. |
7 | (h) Documents, materials or other information in the |
8 | possession or control of the IAIS or the NAIC as provided under |
9 | this article shall: |
10 | (1) Be confidential and privileged. |
11 | (2) Not be subject to the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, |
12 | No.3), known as the "Right-to-Know Law." |
13 | (3) Not be subject to subpoena. |
14 | (4) Not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in |
15 | any private civil action. |
16 | Section 1408. [Rules and] Regulations.--The department may, |
17 | in the manner provided by law, promulgate the [rules and] |
18 | regulations, and may issue such orders as are necessary to carry |
19 | out this article. |
20 | Section 1409. Injunctions and Certain Prohibitions.--(a) |
21 | Whenever it appears to the department that any insurer or any |
22 | director, officer, employe or agent thereof has committed or is |
23 | about to commit a violation of this article or of any [rule,] |
24 | regulation or order issued by the department hereunder, the |
25 | department may apply to the Commonwealth Court for an order |
26 | enjoining such insurer or such director, officer, employe or |
27 | agent thereof from violating or continuing to violate this |
28 | article or any such [rule,] regulation or order, and for such |
29 | other equitable relief as the nature of the case and the |
30 | interest of the insurer's policyholders, creditors and |
|
1 | shareholders or the public may require. |
2 | (b) No security which is the subject of any agreement or |
3 | arrangement regarding acquisition, or which is acquired or to be |
4 | acquired, in contravention of the provisions of this article or |
5 | of any [rule,] regulation or order issued by the department |
6 | hereunder may be voted at any shareholder's meeting, or may be |
7 | counted for quorum purposes, and any action of shareholders |
8 | requiring the affirmative vote of a percentage of shares may be |
9 | taken as though such securities were not issued and outstanding, |
10 | but no action taken at any such meeting shall be invalidated by |
11 | the voting of such securities unless the action would materially |
12 | affect control of the insurer or unless the courts of this |
13 | Commonwealth have so ordered. If an insurer or the department |
14 | has reason to believe that any security of the insurer has been |
15 | or is about to be acquired in contravention of the provisions of |
16 | this article or of any [rule,] regulation or order issued by the |
17 | department hereunder, the insurer or the department may apply to |
18 | the Commonwealth Court to enjoin any offer, request, invitation, |
19 | agreement or acquisition made in contravention of section 1402, |
20 | or any [rule,] regulation or order issued by the department |
21 | thereunder to enjoin the voting of any security so acquired, to |
22 | void any vote of such security already cast at any meeting of |
23 | shareholders and for such other equitable relief as the nature |
24 | of the case and the interest of the insurer's policyholders, |
25 | creditors and shareholders or the public may require. |
26 | (c) In any case where a person has acquired or is proposing |
27 | to acquire any voting securities in violation of this article or |
28 | any [rule,] regulation or order issued by the department |
29 | hereunder, the Commonwealth Court may, on such notice as the |
30 | court deems appropriate, upon the application of the insurer or |
|
1 | the department seize or sequester any voting securities of the |
2 | insurer owned directly or indirectly by such person and issue |
3 | such order with respect thereto as may be appropriate to |
4 | effectuate the provisions of this article. |
5 | * * * |
6 | Section 9. Section 1410(a) of the act, added December 18, |
7 | 1992 (P.L.1519, No.178), is amended and the section is amended |
8 | by adding a subsection to read: |
9 | Section 1410. Sanctions.--(a) [Any insurer failing, without |
10 | just cause,] A person failing to file any registration statement |
11 | or any summary of the registration statement or enterprise risk |
12 | report as required [in] by this article or by regulation shall |
13 | be required[, after notice and hearing,] to pay a penalty not to |
14 | exceed [five hundred ($500)] two hundred ($200) dollars for each |
15 | day's delay. The maximum penalty under this section is twenty- |
16 | five thousand ($25,000) dollars. [The department may reduce the |
17 | penalty if the insurer demonstrates to the department that the |
18 | imposition of the penalty would constitute a financial hardship |
19 | to the insurer.] |
20 | * * * |
21 | (f) Whenever it appears to the department that a person has |
22 | committed a violation of this article that prevents the full |
23 | understanding of the enterprise risk to the insurer by |
24 | affiliates or by the insurance holding company system, the |
25 | violation may serve as an independent basis for disapproving |
26 | dividends or distributions and for placing the insurer under an |
27 | order of supervision in accordance with section 511 of the act |
28 | of act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.789, No.285), known as "The |
29 | Insurance Department Act of 1921." |
30 | Section 10. This act shall take effect as follows: |
|
1 | (1) The addition of section 1404(k.1) of the act shall |
2 | take effect on January 1, 2013. |
3 | (2) This section shall take effect immediately. |
4 | (3) The remainder of this act shall take effect in 60 |
5 | days. |
|