Connecticut 2016 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05343 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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11 General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5343
22 February Session, 2016 LCO No. 1165
33 *01165_______INS*
44 Referred to Committee on INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE
55 Introduced by:
66 (INS)
77
88 General Assembly
99
1010 Raised Bill No. 5343
1111
1212 February Session, 2016
1313
1414 LCO No. 1165
1515
1616 *01165_______INS*
1717
1818 Referred to Committee on INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE
1919
2020 Introduced by:
2121
2222 (INS)
2323
2424 AN ACT ADOPTING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS' INTERSTATE INSURANCE PRODUCT REGULATION COMPACT.
2525
2626 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
2727
2828 Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2016)
2929
3030 Pursuant to terms and conditions of this compact, the state of Connecticut seeks to join with other states and establish the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact, and thus become a member of the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission. The Insurance Commissioner is hereby designated to serve as the representative of this state to the commission.
3131
3232 ARTICLE I
3333
3434 PURPOSES
3535
3636 The purposes of this compact are, through means of joint and cooperative action among the compacting states:
3737
3838 1. To promote and protect the interest of consumers of individual and group annuity, life insurance, disability income and long-term care insurance products;
3939
4040 2. To develop uniform standards for insurance products covered under the compact;
4141
4242 3. To establish a central clearinghouse to receive and provide prompt review of insurance products covered under the compact and, in certain cases, advertisements related thereto, submitted by insurers authorized to do business in one or more compacting states;
4343
4444 4. To give appropriate regulatory approval to those product filings and advertisements satisfying the applicable uniform standard;
4545
4646 5. To improve coordination of regulatory resources and expertise between state insurance departments regarding the setting of uniform standards and review of insurance products covered under the compact;
4747
4848 6. To create the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission; and
4949
5050 7. To perform these and such other related functions as may be consistent with the state regulation of the business of insurance.
5151
5252 ARTICLE II
5353
5454 DEFINITIONS
5555
5656 For purposes of this compact:
5757
5858 1. "Advertisement" means any material designed to create public interest in a product, or induce the public to purchase, increase, modify, reinstate, borrow on, surrender, replace or retain a policy, as more specifically defined in the rules and operating procedures of the commission.
5959
6060 2. "Bylaws" mean those bylaws established by the commission for its governance, or for directing or controlling the commission's actions or conduct.
6161
6262 3. "Compacting state" means any state which has enacted this compact legislation and which has not withdrawn pursuant to Article XIV, section 1 of this compact, or been terminated pursuant to Article XIV, section 2 of this compact.
6363
6464 4. "Commission" means the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission established by this compact.
6565
6666 5. "Commissioner" means the chief insurance regulatory official of a state including, but not limited to, commissioner, superintendent, director or administrator.
6767
6868 6. "Domiciliary state" means the state in which an Insurer is incorporated or organized; or, in the case of an alien insurer, its state of entry.
6969
7070 7. "Insurer" means any entity licensed by a state to issue contracts of insurance for any of the lines of insurance covered by this compact.
7171
7272 8. "Member" means the person chosen by a compacting state as its representative to the commission, or the member's designee.
7373
7474 9. "Non-compacting state" means any state which is not at the time a compacting state.
7575
7676 10. "Operating procedures" mean procedures promulgated by the commission implementing a rule, uniform standard or a provision of this compact.
7777
7878 11. "Product" means the form of a policy or contract, including any application, endorsement, or related form which is attached to and made a part of the policy or contract, and any evidence of coverage or certificate, for an individual or group annuity, life insurance, disability income or long-term care insurance product that an insurer is authorized to issue.
7979
8080 12. "Rule" means a statement of general or particular applicability and future effect promulgated by the commission, including a uniform standard developed pursuant to Article VII of this compact, designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describing the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of the commission, which shall have the force and effect of law in the compacting states.
8181
8282 13. "State" means any state, district or territory of the United States of America.
8383
8484 14. "Third-party filer" means an entity that submits a product filing to the commission on behalf of an Insurer.
8585
8686 15. "Uniform standard" means a standard adopted by the commission for a product line, pursuant to Article VII of this compact, and shall include all of the product requirements in aggregate; provided, that each uniform standard shall be construed, whether express or implied, to prohibit the use of any inconsistent, misleading or ambiguous provisions in a product and the form of the product made available to the public shall not be unfair, inequitable or against public policy as determined by the commission.
8787
8888 ARTICLE III
8989
9090 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION AND VENUE
9191
9292 1. The compacting states hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission. Pursuant to Article IV of this compact, the commission will have the power to develop uniform standards for product lines, receive and provide prompt review of products filed therewith, and give approval to those product filings satisfying applicable uniform standards; provided, it is not intended for the commission to be the exclusive entity for receipt and review of insurance product filings. Nothing herein shall prohibit any Insurer from filing its product in any state wherein the insurer is licensed to conduct the business of insurance; and any such filing shall be subject to the laws of the state where filed.
9393
9494 2. The Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission is a body corporate and politic, and an instrumentality of the compacting states.
9595
9696 3. The commission is solely responsible for its liabilities except as otherwise specifically provided in this compact.
9797
9898 4. Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the commission is located.
9999
100100 ARTICLE IV
101101
102102 POWERS OF THE COMMISSION
103103
104104 The commission shall have the following powers:
105105
106106 1. To promulgate rules, pursuant to Article VII of this compact, which shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided in this compact;
107107
108108 2. To exercise its rulemaking authority and establish reasonable uniform standards for products covered under the compact, and advertisement related thereto, which shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the compacting states, but only for those products filed with the commission, provided, that a compacting state shall have the right to opt out of such uniform standard pursuant to Article VII of this compact, to the extent and in the manner provided in this compact, and, provided further, that any uniform standard established by the commission for long-term care insurance products may provide the same or greater protections for consumers as, but shall not provide less than, those protections set forth in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Long-Term Care Insurance Model Act and Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation, respectively, adopted as of 2001. The commission shall consider whether any subsequent amendments to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Long-Term Care Insurance Model Act or Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners require amending of the uniform standards established by the commission for long-term care insurance products;
109109
110110 3. To receive and review in an expeditious manner products filed with the commission, and rate filings for disability income and long-term care insurance products, and give approval of those products and rate filings that satisfy the applicable uniform standard, where such approval shall have the force and effect of law and be binding on the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided in the compact;
111111
112112 4. To receive and review in an expeditious manner advertisement relating to long-term care insurance products for which uniform standards have been adopted by the commission, and give approval to all advertisement that satisfies the applicable uniform standard. For any product covered under this compact, other than long-term care insurance products, the commission shall have the authority to require an insurer to submit all or any part of its advertisement with respect to that product for review or approval prior to use, if the commission determines that the nature of the product is such that an advertisement of the product could have the capacity or tendency to mislead the public. The actions of the commission as provided in this section shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided in the compact;
113113
114114 5. To exercise its rulemaking authority and designate products and advertisement that may be subject to a self-certification process without the need for prior approval by the commission;
115115
116116 6. To promulgate operating procedures, pursuant to Article VII of this compact, which shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided in this compact;
117117
118118 7. To bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in its name as the commission; provided, that the standing of any state insurance department to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected;
119119
120120 8. To issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence;
121121
122122 9. To establish and maintain offices;
123123
124124 10. To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
125125
126126 11. To borrow, accept or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a compacting state;
127127
128128 12. To hire employees, professionals or specialists, and elect or appoint officers, and to fix their compensation, define their duties and give them appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the compact, and determine their qualifications; and to establish the commission's personnel policies and programs relating to, among other things, conflicts of interest, rates of compensation and qualifications of personnel;
129129
130130 13. To accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of the same; provided that at all times the commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety;
131131
132132 14. To lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any property, real, personal or mixed; provided that at all times the commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety;
133133
134134 15. To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal or mixed;
135135
136136 16. To remit filing fees to compacting states as may be set forth in the bylaws, rules or operating procedures;
137137
138138 17. To enforce compliance by compacting states with rules, uniform standards, operating procedures and bylaws;
139139
140140 18. To provide for dispute resolution among compacting states;
141141
142142 19. To advise compacting states on issues relating to Insurers domiciled or doing business in non-compacting jurisdictions, consistent with the purposes of this compact;
143143
144144 20. To provide advice and training to those personnel in state insurance departments responsible for product review, and to be a resource for state insurance departments;
145145
146146 21. To establish a budget and make expenditures;
147147
148148 22. To borrow money;
149149
150150 23. To appoint committees, including advisory committees comprising members, state insurance regulators, state legislators or their representatives, insurance industry and consumer representatives, and such other interested persons as may be designated in the bylaws;
151151
152152 24. To provide and receive information from, and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies;
153153
154154 25. To adopt and use a corporate seal; and
155155
156156 26. To perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact consistent with the state regulation of the business of insurance.
157157
158158 ARTICLE V
159159
160160 ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION
161161
162162 Section 1. Membership, Voting and Bylaws
163163
164164 a. Each compacting state shall have and be limited to one member. Each member shall be qualified to serve in that capacity pursuant to applicable law of the compacting state. Any member may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state from which he or she shall be appointed. Any vacancy occurring in the commission shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the compacting state wherein the vacancy exists. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the manner in which a compacting state determines the election or appointment and qualification of its own commissioner.
165165
166166 b. Each member shall be entitled to one vote and shall have an opportunity to participate in the governance of the commission in accordance with the bylaws. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, no action of the commission with respect to the promulgation of a uniform standard shall be effective unless two-thirds of the members vote in favor thereof.
167167
168168 c. The commission shall, by a majority of the members, prescribe bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes, and exercise the powers, of the compact, including, but not limited to:
169169
170170 (i) Establishing the fiscal year of the commission;
171171
172172 (ii) Providing reasonable procedures for appointing and electing members, as well as holding meetings, of the management committee;
173173
174174 (iii) Providing reasonable standards and procedures: (I) For the establishment and meetings of other committees, and (II) governing any general or specific delegation of any authority or function of the commission;
175175
176176 (iv) Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the commission that consists of a majority of commission members, ensuring reasonable advance notice of each such meeting and providing for the right of citizens to attend each such meeting with enumerated exceptions designed to protect the public's interest, the privacy of individuals, and insurers' proprietary information, including trade secrets. The commission may meet in camera only after a majority of the entire membership votes to close a meeting in toto or in part. As soon as practicable, the commission must make public (I) a copy of the vote to close the meeting revealing the vote of each member with no proxy votes allowed, and (II) votes taken during such meeting;
177177
178178 (v) Establishing the titles, duties and authority and reasonable procedures for the election of the officers of the commission;
179179
180180 (vi) Providing reasonable standards and procedures for the establishment of the personnel policies and programs of the commission. Notwithstanding any civil service or other similar laws of any compacting state, the bylaws shall exclusively govern the personnel policies and programs of the commission;
181181
182182 (vii) Promulgating a code of ethics to address permissible and prohibited activities of commission members and employees; and
183183
184184 (viii) Providing a mechanism for winding up the operations of the commission and the equitable disposition of any surplus funds that may exist after the termination of the compact after the payment and/or reserving of all of its debts and obligations.
185185
186186 d. The commission shall publish its bylaws in a convenient form and file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the compacting states.
187187
188188 Section 2. Management Committee, Officers and Personnel
189189
190190 a. A management committee comprising no more than fourteen members shall be established as follows:
191191
192192 (i) One member from each of the six compacting states with the largest premium volume for individual and group annuities, life, disability income and long-term care insurance products, determined from the records of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for the prior year;
193193
194194 (ii) Four members from those compacting states with at least two per cent of the market based on the premium volume described above, other than the six compacting states with the largest premium volume, selected on a rotating basis as provided in the bylaws; and
195195
196196 (iii) Four members from those compacting states with less than two per cent of the market, based on the premium volume described above, with one selected from each of the four zone regions of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as provided in the bylaws.
197197
198198 b. The management committee shall have such authority and duties as may be set forth in the bylaws, including, but not limited to:
199199
200200 (i) Managing the affairs of the commission in a manner consistent with the bylaws and purposes of the commission;
201201
202202 (ii) Establishing and overseeing an organizational structure within, and appropriate procedures for, the commission to provide for the creation of uniform standards and other rules, receipt and review of product filings, administrative and technical support functions, review of decisions regarding the disapproval of a product filing, and the review of elections made by a compacting state to opt out of a uniform standard; provided that a uniform standard shall not be submitted to the compacting states for adoption unless approved by two-thirds of the members of the management committee;
203203
204204 (iii) Overseeing the offices of the commission; and
205205
206206 (iv) Planning, implementing, and coordinating communications and activities with other state, federal and local government organizations in order to advance the goals of the commission.
207207
208208 c. The commission shall elect annually officers from the management committee, with each having such authority and duties, as may be specified in the bylaws.
209209
210210 d. The management committee may, subject to the approval of the commission, appoint or retain an executive director for such period, upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as the commission may deem appropriate. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the commission, but shall not be a member of the commission. The executive director shall hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the commission.
211211
212212 Section 3. Legislative and Advisory Committees
213213
214214 a. A legislative committee comprising state legislators or their designees shall be established to monitor the operations of, and make recommendations to, the commission, including the management committee; provided that the manner of selection and term of any legislative committee member shall be as set forth in the bylaws. Prior to the adoption by the commission of any uniform standard, revision to the bylaws, annual budget or other significant matter as may be provided in the bylaws, the management committee shall consult with and report to the legislative committee.
215215
216216 b. The commission shall establish two advisory committees, one of which shall comprise consumer representatives independent of the insurance industry, and the other comprising insurance industry representatives.
217217
218218 c. The commission may establish additional advisory committees as its bylaws may provide for the carrying out of its functions.
219219
220220 Section 4. Corporate Records of the Commission
221221
222222 The commission shall maintain its corporate books and records in accordance with the bylaws.
223223
224224 Section 5. Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification
225225
226226 a. The members, officers, executive director, employees and representatives of the commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit and/or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the intentional or wilful and wanton misconduct of that person.
227227
228228 b. The commission shall defend any member, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining counsel; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from that person's intentional or wilful and wanton misconduct.
229229
230230 c. The commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided, that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from the intentional or wilful and wanton misconduct of that person.
231231
232232 ARTICLE VI
233233
234234 MEETINGS AND ACTS OF THE COMMISSION
235235
236236 1. The commission shall meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this compact and the bylaws.
237237
238238 2. Each member of the commission shall have the right and power to cast a vote to which that compacting state is entitled and to participate in the business and affairs of the commission. A member shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for members' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication.
239239
240240 3. The commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the bylaws.
241241
242242 ARTICLE VII
243243
244244 RULES AND OPERATING PROCEDURES: RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION AND OPTING OUT OF UNIFORM STANDARDS
245245
246246 1. The commission shall promulgate reasonable rules, including uniform standards, and operating procedures in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of this compact. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the commission exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of this compact, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an action by the commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect.
247247
248248 2. Rules and operating procedures shall be made pursuant to a rulemaking process that conforms to the Model State Administrative Procedure Act of 1981 as amended, as may be appropriate to the operations of the commission. Before the commission adopts a uniform standard, the commission shall give written notice to the relevant state legislative committees in each compacting state responsible for insurance issues of its intention to adopt the uniform standard. The commission in adopting a uniform standard shall consider fully all submitted materials and issue a concise explanation of its decision.
249249
250250 3. A uniform standard shall become effective ninety days after its promulgation by the commission or such later date as the commission may determine; provided, however, that a compacting state may opt out of a uniform standard as provided in this article. "Opt out" shall be defined as any action by a compacting state to decline to adopt or participate in a promulgated uniform standard. All other rules and operating procedures, and amendments thereto, shall become effective as of the date specified in each rule, operating procedure or amendment.
251251
252252 4. A compacting state may opt out of a uniform standard, either by legislation or regulation duly promulgated by the Insurance Department under the compacting state's administrative procedure act. If a compacting state elects to opt out of a uniform standard by regulation, it must:
253253
254254 a. Give written notice to the commission no later than ten business days after the uniform standard is promulgated, or at the time the state becomes a compacting state; and
255255
256256 b. Find that the uniform standard does not provide reasonable protections to the citizens of the state, given the conditions in the state. The commissioner shall make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law, based on a preponderance of the evidence, detailing the conditions in the state which warrant a departure from the uniform standard and determining that the uniform standard would not reasonably protect the citizens of the state. The commissioner must consider and balance the following factors and find that the conditions in the state and needs of the citizens of the state outweigh: (i) The intent of the legislature to participate in, and the benefits of, an interstate agreement to establish national uniform consumer protections for the products subject to this compact; and (ii) the presumption that a uniform standard adopted by the commission provides reasonable protections to consumers of the relevant product. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a compacting state may, at the time of its enactment of this compact, prospectively opt out of all uniform standards involving long-term care insurance products by expressly providing for such opt out in the enacted compact, and such an opt out shall not be treated as a material variance in the offer or acceptance of any state to participate in this compact. Such an opt out shall be effective at the time of enactment of this compact by the compacting state and shall apply to all existing uniform standards involving long-term care insurance products and those subsequently promulgated.
257257
258258 5. If a compacting state elects to opt out of a uniform standard, the uniform standard shall remain applicable in the compacting state electing to opt out until such time the opt out legislation is enacted into law or the regulation opting out becomes effective. Once the opt out of a uniform standard by a compacting state becomes effective as provided under the laws of that state, the uniform standard shall have no further force and effect in that state unless and until the legislation or regulation implementing the opt out is repealed or otherwise becomes ineffective under the laws of the state. If a compacting state opts out of a uniform standard after the uniform standard has been made effective in that state, the opt out shall have the same prospective effect as provided under Article XIV of this compact for withdrawals.
259259
260260 6. If a compacting state has formally initiated the process of opting out of a uniform standard by regulation, and while the regulatory opt out is pending, the compacting state may petition the commission, at least fifteen days before the effective date of the uniform standard, to stay the effectiveness of the uniform standard in that state. The commission may grant a stay if it determines the regulatory opt out is being pursued in a reasonable manner and there is a likelihood of success. If a stay is granted or extended by the commission, the stay or extension thereof may postpone the effective date by up to ninety days, unless affirmatively extended by the commission; provided, a stay may not be permitted to remain in effect for more than one year unless the compacting state can show extraordinary circumstances which warrant a continuance of the stay, including, but not limited to, the existence of a legal challenge which prevents the compacting state from opting out. A stay may be terminated by the commission upon notice that the rulemaking process has been terminated.
261261
262262 7. Not later than thirty days after a rule or operating procedure is promulgated, any person may file a petition for judicial review of the rule or operating procedure; provided, that the filing of such a petition shall not stay or otherwise prevent the rule or operating procedure from becoming effective unless the court finds that the petitioner has a substantial likelihood of success. The court shall give deference to the actions of the commission consistent with applicable law and shall not find the rule or operating procedure to be unlawful if the rule or operating procedure represents a reasonable exercise of the commission's authority.
263263
264264 ARTICLE VIII
265265
266266 COMMISSION RECORDS AND ENFORCEMENT
267267
268268 1. The commission shall promulgate rules establishing conditions and procedures for public inspection and copying of its information and official records, except such information and records involving the privacy of individuals and insurers' trade secrets. The commission may promulgate additional rules under which it may make available to federal and state agencies, including law enforcement agencies, records and information otherwise exempt from disclosure, and may enter into agreements with such agencies to receive or exchange information or records subject to nondisclosure and confidentiality provisions.
269269
270270 2. Except as to privileged records, data and information, the laws of any compacting state pertaining to confidentiality or nondisclosure shall not relieve any compacting state commissioner of the duty to disclose any relevant records, data or information to the commission; provided, that disclosure to the commission shall not be deemed to waive or otherwise affect any confidentiality requirement; and further provided, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this compact, the commission shall not be subject to the compacting state's laws pertaining to confidentiality and nondisclosure with respect to records, data and information in its possession. Confidential information of the commission shall remain confidential after such information is provided to any commissioner.
271271
272272 3. The commission shall monitor compacting states for compliance with duly adopted bylaws, rules, including uniform standards, and operating procedures. The commission shall notify any non-complying compacting state in writing of its noncompliance with commission bylaws, rules or operating procedures. If a non-complying compacting state fails to remedy its noncompliance within the time specified in the notice of noncompliance, the compacting state shall be deemed to be in default as set forth in Article XIV of this compact.
273273
274274 4. The commissioner of any state in which an insurer is authorized to do business, or is conducting the business of insurance, shall continue to exercise the commissioner's authority to oversee the market regulation of the activities of the insurer in accordance with the provisions of the state's law. The commissioner's enforcement of compliance with the compact is governed by the following provisions:
275275
276276 a. With respect to the commissioner's market regulation of a product or advertisement that is approved or certified to the commission, the content of the product or advertisement shall not constitute a violation of the provisions, standards or requirements of the compact except upon a final order of the commission, issued at the request of a commissioner after prior notice to the insurer and an opportunity for hearing before the commission.
277277
278278 b. Before a commissioner may bring an action for violation of any provision, standard or requirement of the compact relating to the content of an advertisement not approved or certified to the commission, the commission, or an authorized commission officer or employee, must authorize the action. However, authorization pursuant to this paragraph does not require notice to the insurer, opportunity for hearing or disclosure of requests for authorization or records of the commission's action on such requests.
279279
280280 ARTICLE IX
281281
282282 DISPUTE RESOLUTION
283283
284284 The commission shall attempt, upon the request of a member, to resolve any disputes or other issues that are subject to this compact and which may arise between two or more compacting states, or between compacting states and non-compacting states, and the commission shall promulgate an operating procedure providing for resolution of such disputes.
285285
286286 ARTICLE X
287287
288288 PRODUCT FILING AND APPROVAL
289289
290290 1. Insurers and third-party filers seeking to have a product approved by the commission shall file the product with, and pay applicable filing fees to, the commission. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to restrict or otherwise prevent an insurer from filing its product with the insurance department in any state wherein the insurer is licensed to conduct the business of insurance, and such filing shall be subject to the laws of the states where filed.
291291
292292 2. The commission shall establish appropriate filing and review processes and procedures pursuant to commission rules and operating procedures. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the commission shall promulgate rules to establish conditions and procedures under which the commission will provide public access to product filing information. In establishing such rules, the commission shall consider the interests of the public in having access to such information, as well as protection of personal medical and financial information and trade secrets, that may be contained in a product filing or supporting information.
293293
294294 3. Any product approved by the commission may be sold or otherwise issued in those compacting states for which the insurer is legally authorized to do business.
295295
296296 ARTICLE XI
297297
298298 REVIEW OF COMMISSION DECISIONS REGARDING FILINGS
299299
300300 1. Not later than thirty days after the commission has given notice of a disapproved product or advertisement filed with the commission, the insurer or third-party filer whose filing was disapproved may appeal the determination to a review panel appointed by the commission. The commission shall promulgate rules to establish procedures for appointing such review panels and provide for notice and hearing. An allegation that the commission, in disapproving a product or advertisement filed with the commission, acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or in a manner that is an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with the law, is subject to judicial review in accordance with Article III, section 4 of this compact.
301301
302302 2. The commission shall have authority to monitor, review and reconsider products and advertisement subsequent to their filing or approval upon a finding that the product does not meet the relevant uniform standard. Where appropriate, the commission may withdraw or modify its approval after proper notice and hearing, subject to the appeal process in section 1 of this article.
303303
304304 ARTICLE XII
305305
306306 FINANCE
307307
308308 1. The commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment and organization. To fund the cost of its initial operations, the commission may accept contributions and other forms of funding from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, compacting states and other sources. Contributions and other forms of funding from other sources shall be of such a nature that the independence of the commission concerning the performance of its duties shall not be compromised.
309309
310310 2. The commission shall collect a filing fee from each insurer and third-party filer filing a product with the commission to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff in a total amount sufficient to cover the commission's annual budget.
311311
312312 3. The commission's budget for a fiscal year shall not be approved until it has been subject to notice and comment as set forth in Article VII of this compact.
313313
314314 4. The commission shall be exempt from all taxation in and by the compacting states.
315315
316316 5. The commission shall not pledge the credit of any compacting state, except by and with the appropriate legal authority of that compacting state.
317317
318318 6. The commission shall keep complete and accurate accounts of all its internal receipts, including grants and donations, and disbursements of all funds under its control. The internal financial accounts of the commission shall be subject to the accounting procedures established under its bylaws. The financial accounts and reports including the system of internal controls and procedures of the commission shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant. Upon the determination of the commission, but no less frequently than every three years, the review of the independent auditor shall include a management and performance audit of the commission. The commission shall make an annual report to the governor and legislature of the compacting states, which shall include a report of the independent audit. The commission's internal accounts shall not be confidential and such materials may be shared with the commissioner of any compacting state upon request provided, however, that any work papers related to any internal or independent audit and any information regarding the privacy of individuals and insurers' proprietary information, including trade secrets, shall remain confidential.
319319
320320 7. No compacting state shall have any claim to or ownership of any property held by or vested in the commission or to any commission funds held pursuant to the provisions of this compact.
321321
322322 ARTICLE XIII
323323
324324 COMPACTING STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT
325325
326326 1. Any state is eligible to become a compacting state.
327327
328328 2. The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by two compacting states; provided, the commission shall become effective for purposes of adopting uniform standards for, reviewing, and giving approval or disapproval of, products filed with the commission that satisfy applicable uniform standards only after twenty-six states are compacting states or, alternatively, by states representing greater than forty per cent of the premium volume for life insurance, annuity, disability income and long-term care insurance products, based on records of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for the prior year. Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding as to any other compacting state upon enactment of the compact into law by that state.
329329
330330 3. Amendments to the compact may be proposed by the commission for enactment by the compacting states. No amendment shall become effective and binding upon the commission and the compacting states unless and until all compacting states enact the amendment into law.
331331
332332 ARTICLE XIV
333333
334334 WITHDRAWAL, DEFAULT AND TERMINATION
335335
336336 Section 1. Withdrawal
337337
338338 a. Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every compacting state; provided, that a compacting state may withdraw from the compact ("withdrawing state") by enacting a statute specifically repealing the statute which enacted the compact into law.
339339
340340 b. The effective date of withdrawal is the effective date of the repealing statute. However, the withdrawal shall not apply to any product filings approved or self-certified, or any advertisement of such products, on the date the repealing statute becomes effective, except by mutual agreement of the commission and the withdrawing state unless the approval is rescinded by the withdrawing state as provided in paragraph e. of this section.
341341
342342 c. The commissioner of the withdrawing state shall immediately notify the management committee in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state.
343343
344344 d. The commission shall notify the other compacting states of the introduction of such legislation within ten days after its receipt of notice thereof.
345345
346346 e. The withdrawing state is responsible for all obligations, duties and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including any obligations, the performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal, except to the extent those obligations may have been released or relinquished by mutual agreement of the commission and the withdrawing state. The commission's approval of products and advertisement prior to the effective date of withdrawal shall continue to be effective and be given full force and effect in the withdrawing state, unless formally rescinded by the withdrawing state in the same manner as provided by the laws of the withdrawing state for the prospective disapproval of products or advertisement previously approved under state law.
347347
348348 f. Reinstatement following withdrawal of any compacting state shall occur upon the effective date of the withdrawing state reenacting the compact.
349349
350350 Section 2. Default
351351
352352 a. If the commission determines that any compacting state has at any time defaulted ("defaulting state") in the performance of any of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact, the bylaws or duly promulgated rules or operating procedures, then, after notice and hearing as set forth in the bylaws, all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this compact on the defaulting state shall be suspended from the effective date of default as fixed by the commission. The grounds for default include, but are not limited to, failure of a compacting state to perform its obligations or responsibilities, and any other grounds designated in commission rules. The commission shall immediately notify the defaulting state in writing of the defaulting state's suspension pending a cure of the default. The commission shall stipulate the conditions and the time period within which the defaulting state must cure its default. If the defaulting state fails to cure the default within the time period specified by the commission, the defaulting state shall be terminated from the compact and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this compact shall be terminated from the effective date of termination.
353353
354354 b. Product approvals by the commission or product self-certifications, or any advertisement in connection with such product, that are in force on the effective date of termination shall remain in force in the defaulting state in the same manner as if the defaulting state had withdrawn voluntarily pursuant to section 1 of this article.
355355
356356 c. Reinstatement following termination of any compacting state requires a reenactment of the compact.
357357
358358 Section 3. Dissolution of Compact
359359
360360 a. The compact dissolves effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the compacting state which reduces membership in the compact to one compacting state.
361361
362362 b. Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the commission shall be wound up and any surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.
363363
364364 ARTICLE XV
365365
366366 SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION
367367
368368 1. The provisions of this compact shall be severable; and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact shall be enforceable.
369369
370370 2. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.
371371
372372 ARTICLE XVI
373373
374374 BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS
375375
376376 Section 1. Other Laws
377377
378378 a. Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a compacting state, except as provided in paragraph b. of this section.
379379
380380 b. For any product approved or certified to the commission, the rules, uniform standards and any other requirements of the commission shall constitute the exclusive provisions applicable to the content, approval and certification of such products. For advertisement that is subject to the commission's authority, any rule, uniform standard or other requirement of the commission which governs the content of the advertisement shall constitute the exclusive provision that a commissioner may apply to the content of the advertisement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action taken by the commission shall abrogate or restrict:
381381
382382 (i) The access of any person to state courts;
383383
384384 (ii) Remedies available under state law related to breach of contract, tort, or other laws not specifically directed to the content of the product;
385385
386386 (iii) State law relating to the construction of insurance contracts; or
387387
388388 (iv) The authority of the attorney general of the state, including, but not limited to, maintaining any actions or proceedings, as authorized by law.
389389
390390 c. All insurance products filed with individual states shall be subject to the laws of those states.
391391
392392 Section 2. Binding Effect of this Compact
393393
394394 a. All lawful actions of the commission, including all rules and operating procedures promulgated by the commission, are binding upon the compacting states.
395395
396396 b. All agreements between the commission and the compacting states are binding in accordance with their terms.
397397
398398 c. Upon the request of a party to a conflict over the meaning or interpretation of commission actions, and upon a majority vote of the compacting states, the commission may issue advisory opinions regarding the meaning or interpretation in dispute.
399399
400400 d. In the event any provision of this compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any compacting state, the obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction sought to be conferred by that provision upon the commission shall be ineffective as to that compacting state, and those obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction shall remain in the compacting state and shall be exercised by the agency thereof to which those obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction are delegated by law in effect at the time this compact becomes effective.
401401
402402 ARTICLE XVII
403403
404404 STATE OF CONNECTICUT OPT OUT
405405
406406 In accordance with the provisions of Article VII, section 4 of this compact, the state of Connecticut opts out of all existing and prospective uniform standards involving long-term care insurance products, all existing uniform standards involving disability income insurance products and all existing uniform standards involving life insurance products that conflict with subsection (b) of section 38a-430 of the Connecticut general statutes, in order to preserve the state's statutory requirements governing these insurance products.
407407
408408
409409
410410
411411 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
412412 Section 1 July 1, 2016 New section
413413
414414 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
415415
416416 Section 1
417417
418418 July 1, 2016
419419
420420 New section
421421
422422 Statement of Purpose:
423423
424424 To adopt the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact.
425425
426426 [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]