ENROLLED ACT No. 713 2022 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 715 BY REPRESENTATIVE GREEN 1 AN ACT 2 To amend and reenact R.S. 22:691.2(introductory paragraph), 691.6(D), (M), and (N), and 3 691.10(A), (C)(1), (3), (4), and (F) and to enact R.S. 22:691.2(13) through (15), 4 691.6(O) and (P), 691.7(A)(1)(g) through (i) and (6), and 691.10(G), relative to the 5 Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Law; to provide for definitions; to 6 provide for a group capital calculation; to provide for a liquidity stress test; to 7 provide for the continuity of essential services and functions provided by affiliates; 8 to provide for jurisdiction of the rehabilitation court; to provide for a bond or deposit 9 requirement; to provide for the ownership of the records of an insurer; to provide for 10 confidentiality; and to provide for related matters. 11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 12 Section 1. R.S. 22:691.2(introductory paragraph), 691.6(D), (M), and (N), and 13 691.10(A), (C)(1), (3), (4), and (F) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 22:691.2(13) 14 through (15), 691.6(O) and (P), 691.7(A)(1)(g) through (i) and (6), and 691.10(G) are hereby 15 enacted to read as follows: 16 §691.2. Definitions 17 As used in this Subpart, the following terms shall have these meanings unless 18 the context shall otherwise require: the meaning ascribed in this Section unless the 19 context clearly requires otherwise: 20 * * * Page 1 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 (13) "Group capital calculation instructions" means the group capital 2 calculation instructions as adopted by the NAIC and as amended by the NAIC in 3 accordance with the procedures adopted by the NAIC. 4 (14) "NAIC liquidity stress test framework" means the separate NAIC 5 publication which includes a history of the NAIC's development of regulatory 6 liquidity stress testing, the scope criteria applicable for a specific data year, and the 7 liquidity stress test instructions and reporting templates for a specific data year, such 8 scope criteria, instructions and reporting template being as adopted by the NAIC and 9 amended by the NAIC in accordance with the procedures adopted by the NAIC. 10 (15) "Scope criteria" as detailed in the NAIC liquidity stress test framework 11 means the designated exposure bases along with minimum magnitudes thereof for 12 the specific data year, used to establish a preliminary list of insurers considered 13 scoped into the NAIC liquidity stress test framework for that data year. 14 (16) "Federal reserve" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 15 System, as provided in 12 U.S.C. 241. 16 (17) "NAIC" means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 17 * * * 18 §691.6. Registration of insurers 19 * * * 20 D. Materiality. No information need be disclosed on the registration 21 statement filed pursuant to Subsection B of this Section if the information is not 22 material for the purposes of this Section. Unless the commissioner by rule, 23 regulation, or order provides otherwise: sales, purchases, exchanges, loans, or 24 extensions of credit, investments, or guarantees involving one-half of one percent or 25 less of an insurer's admitted assets as of the thirty-first day of December next 26 preceding shall not be deemed material for purposes of this Section. The definition 27 of materiality provided in this Subsection shall not apply for the purposes of the 28 group capital calculation or the liquidity stress test framework. 29 * * * Page 2 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 M.(1) Group capital calculation. Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this 2 Subsection, the ultimate controlling person of every insurer subject to registration 3 shall concurrently file, with the registration, an annual group capital calculation as 4 directed by the lead state commissioner. The report shall be completed in 5 accordance with the NAIC group capital calculation instructions, which may permit 6 the lead state commissioner to allow a controlling person that is not the ultimate 7 controlling person to file the group capital calculation. The report shall be filed with 8 the lead state commissioner of the insurance holding company system as determined 9 by the commissioner in accordance with the procedures within the Financial 10 Analysis Handbook adopted by the NAIC. 11 (2) The following insurance holding company systems are exempt from 12 filing the group capital calculation: 13 (a) An insurance holding company system that has only one insurer within 14 its holding company structure, that only writes business and is only authorized in its 15 domestic state, and assumes no business from any other insurer. 16 (b) An insurance holding company system that is required to perform a 17 group capital calculation specified by the federal reserve. The lead state 18 commissioner shall request the calculation from the federal reserve under the terms 19 of information sharing agreements in effect. If the federal reserve cannot share the 20 calculation with the lead state commissioner, the insurance holding company system 21 is not exempt from the group capital calculation filing. 22 (c) An insurance holding company system with a supervisor whose group- 23 wide supervisor is not based in the United States and is located within a reciprocal 24 jurisdiction as described in R.S. 22:651(F) that recognizes the U.S. state regulatory 25 approach to group supervision and group capital. 26 (d) An insurance holding company system that meets all of the following 27 criteria: 28 (i) It provides information to the lead state that meets the requirements for 29 accreditation under the NAIC financial standards and accreditation program, either 30 directly or indirectly through the group-wide supervisor, who has determined such Page 3 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 information is satisfactory to allow the lead state to comply with the NAIC group 2 supervision approach, as detailed in the NAIC Financial Analysis Handbook. 3 (ii) The group-wide supervisor not based in the United States, that is not in 4 a reciprocal jurisdiction, recognizes and accepts, as specified by the commissioner 5 in regulation, the group capital calculation as the world-wide group capital 6 assessment for United States insurance groups who operate in that jurisdiction. 7 (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (2)(c) and (d) of this 8 Subsection, a lead state commissioner shall require the group capital calculation for 9 United States operations of any insurance holding company system not based in the 10 United States if, after any necessary consultation with other supervisors or officials, 11 it is deemed appropriate by the lead state commissioner for prudential oversight and 12 solvency monitoring purposes or for ensuring the competitiveness of the insurance 13 marketplace. 14 (4) Notwithstanding the exemptions from filing the group capital calculation 15 in Subparagraphs (2)(c) and (d) of this Subsection, the lead state commissioner has 16 the discretion to exempt the ultimate controlling person from filing the annual group 17 capital calculation or to accept a limited group capital filing or report in accordance 18 with the criteria as specified by the commissioner through rules and regulations. 19 (5) If the commissioner determines that an insurance holding company 20 system no longer meets one or more of the requirements for an exemption from 21 filing the group capital calculation pursuant to this Section, the insurance holding 22 company system shall file the group capital calculation at the next annual filing date, 23 unless given an extension by the commissioner based on reasonable grounds shown. 24 N.(1) Liquidity stress test. The ultimate controlling person of every insurer 25 subject to registration and scoped into the NAIC liquidity stress test framework shall 26 file the results of its liquidity stress test. The filing shall be made to the lead state 27 insurance commissioner of the insurance holding company system as determined by 28 the procedures within the Financial Analysis Handbook adopted by the NAIC. 29 (2) The NAIC liquidity stress test framework includes scope criteria 30 applicable to a specific data year. These scope criteria are reviewed at least annually Page 4 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 by the financial stability task force or its successor. Any change to the NAIC 2 liquidity stress test framework or to the data year for which the scope criteria are to 3 be measured shall be effective on the first of January of the year following the 4 calendar year such changes are adopted. Insurers meeting at least one threshold of 5 the scope criteria are considered scoped into the NAIC liquidity stress test 6 framework for the specified data year, unless the lead state insurance commissioner, 7 in consultation with the NAIC Financial Stability Task Force or its successor, 8 determines the insurer should not be scoped into the framework for that data year. 9 Similarly, insurers that do not meet at least one threshold of the scope criteria are 10 considered scoped out of the NAIC liquidity stress test framework for the specified 11 data year, unless the lead state insurance commissioner, in consultation with the 12 NAIC Financial Stability Task Force or its successor, determines the insurer should 13 be scoped into the framework for that data year. 14 (3) The lead state commissioner, in consultation with the NAIC Financial 15 Stability Task Force or its successor, shall address concerns regarding regulators 16 wishing to avoid being scoped in and out of the NAIC liquidity stress test framework 17 on a frequent basis. 18 (4) The performance of, and filing of the results from, a specific year's 19 liquidity stress test shall comply with the NAIC liquidity stress test framework 20 instructions and reporting templates for that year and any lead state insurance 21 commissioner determinations, in conjunction with the NAIC Financial Stability Task 22 Force or its successor, provided within the framework. 23 O. Violations. The failure to file a registration statement or any summary 24 of the registration statement or enterprise risk filing required by this Section within 25 the time specified for filing shall be a violation of this Section. 26 N. P.(1) Incorporation by reference. Any information contained in any 27 financial statement, annual report, proxy statement, statement filed with a 28 governmental authority, or any other document may be incorporated by reference, 29 provided the document is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Any 30 excerpt of a document may be filed as an exhibit if the document is extensive. Any Page 5 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 documents currently on file with the commissioner which were filed within three 2 years need not be attached as exhibits, but shall be referred to if not so attached. All 3 references to information contained in exhibits or in documents duly filed shall 4 clearly identify the material and specifically indicate that the material is to be 5 incorporated by reference to the item. No materials shall be incorporated by 6 reference in any instance that the incorporation would render the statement 7 incomplete, unclear, or confusing. 8 (2) If a filing requires a summary or outline of the provisions of any 9 document, only a brief statement shall be made as to the pertinent provisions of the 10 document. In addition to the brief statement, the summary or outline may 11 incorporate, by reference, particular parts of any exhibit or document currently on 12 file with the commissioner which was filed within three years and may be included 13 in its entirety by the reference. In any case where If two or more documents required 14 to be filed as exhibits are substantially identical in all material respects except as to 15 the parties, the dates of execution, or other details, a copy of one of the documents 16 shall be filed with a schedule identifying the omitted documents and setting forth the 17 material details in which such documents differ from the documents filed. 18 §691.7. Standards and management of an insurer within an insurance holding 19 company system 20 A. 21 * * * 22 (1) Transactions within an insurance holding company system to which an 23 insurer subject to registration is a party shall be subject to the following standards: 24 * * * 25 (g)(i) If an insurer is deemed by the commissioner to be in a hazardous 26 financial condition, as defined in regulations promulgated by the commissioner, or 27 a condition that would be grounds for supervision, conservation, or a delinquency 28 proceeding, the commissioner may require the insurer to secure and maintain either 29 a deposit, held by the commissioner, or a bond, as determined by the insurer at the Page 6 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 insurer's discretion, for the duration of the contract or agreement or the existence of 2 the condition for which the commissioner required the deposit or the bond. 3 (ii) In determining whether a deposit or a bond is required, the commissioner 4 may consider whether concerns exist with respect to the affiliated person’s ability 5 to fulfill the contract or agreement, if the insurer were to be put into liquidation. 6 (iii) Once the insurer is deemed to be in a hazardous financial condition or 7 a condition that would be grounds for supervision, conservation, or a delinquency 8 proceeding, such that a deposit or bond is necessary, the commissioner may 9 determine the amount of the deposit or bond, not to exceed the value of the contract 10 or agreement in any one year, and whether such deposit or bond should be required 11 for a single contract, multiple contracts, or a contract with a specific person. 12 (h) All records and data of the insurer held by an affiliate are the property of 13 the insurer, are subject to control of the insurer, are identifiable, and are segregated 14 or readily capable of segregation, at no additional cost to the insurer, from all other 15 persons’ records and data. This includes all records and data that are otherwise the 16 property of the insurer in whatever form maintained, including but not limited to 17 claims and claim files, policyholder lists, application files, litigation files, premium 18 records, rate books, underwriting manuals, personnel records, and financial records 19 or similar records within the possession, custody, or control of the affiliate. At the 20 request of the insurer, the affiliate shall provide that the receiver can obtain a 21 complete set of all records of any type that pertain to the insurer's business, obtain 22 access to the operating systems on which the data is maintained, obtain the software 23 that runs those systems either through assumption of licensing agreements or 24 otherwise, and restrict the use of the data by the affiliate if it is not operating the 25 insurer's business. The affiliate shall provide a waiver of any landlord lien or other 26 encumbrance to give the insurer access to all records and data, if the affiliate defaults 27 under a lease or other agreement. 28 (i) Premiums or other funds belonging to the insurer that are collected by or 29 held by an affiliate are the exclusive property of the insurer and are subject to the 30 control of the insurer. Any right of offset in the event an insurer is placed into Page 7 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 rehabilitation shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 9 of this Title, R.S. 2 22:2001 et seq. 3 * * * 4 (6)(a) Any affiliate that is party to an agreement or contract with a domestic 5 insurer that is subject to Subparagraph (2)(d) of this Subsection shall be subject to 6 the jurisdiction of any supervision, seizure, conservatorship, or receivership 7 proceedings against the insurer and shall be subject to the authority of any 8 supervisor, conservator, rehabilitator, or liquidator for the insurer appointed 9 pursuant to Subpart H of Part III of Chapter 2 of this Title, R.S. 22:731 et seq., and 10 Chapter 9 of this Title, R.S. 22:2001 et seq., for the purpose of interpreting, 11 enforcing, and overseeing the affiliate’s obligations under the agreement or contract 12 to perform services for the insurer that are any of the following: 13 (i) An integral part of the insurer's operations, including but not limited to 14 management, administrative, accounting, data processing, marketing, underwriting, 15 claims handling, investment, or any other similar functions. 16 (ii) Essential to the insurer's ability to fulfill its obligations under insurance 17 policies. 18 (b) The commissioner may require that an agreement or contract, pursuant 19 to Subparagraph (2)(d) of this Subsection, for the provision of any services described 20 in Items (a)(i) and (ii) of this Paragraph specify that the affiliate consents to the 21 jurisdiction as set forth in this Paragraph. 22 * * * 23 §691.10. Confidential treatment 24 A.(1) Documents, materials, or other information in the possession or control 25 of the Department of Insurance department that are obtained by or disclosed to the 26 commissioner or any other person in the course of an examination or investigation 27 made pursuant to R.S. 22:691.8 and all information reported or provided to the 28 commissioner pursuant to R.S. 22:691.4(B)(12) and (13), 691.6, 691.7, and 691.9.1 29 shall be recognized as proprietary information containing trade secrets, shall be 30 confidential by law and privileged, shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be Page 8 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. However, 2 the commissioner is authorized to use the documents, materials, or other information 3 in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought as a part of the 4 commissioner's his official duties. The commissioner shall not otherwise make the 5 documents, materials, or other information public without the prior written consent 6 of the insurer to which it pertains unless the commissioner, after giving the insurer 7 and its affiliates who would be affected thereby notice and opportunity to be heard, 8 determines that the interest of policyholders, shareholders, or the public will be 9 served by the publication thereof, in which event the commissioner may publish all 10 or any part in such manner as may be deemed appropriate. 11 (2) For purposes of the information reported and provided to the department 12 pursuant to R.S. 22:691.6(M), the commissioner shall maintain the confidentiality 13 of the group capital calculation and group capital ratio produced within the 14 calculation and any group capital information received from an insurance holding 15 company supervised by the United States Federal Reserve Board or any U.S. group- 16 wide supervisor. 17 (3) For purposes of the information reported and provided to the department 18 pursuant to R.S. 22:691.6(N), the commissioner shall maintain the confidentiality of 19 the liquidity stress test results, supporting disclosures, and any liquidity stress test 20 information received from an insurance holding company supervised by the United 21 States Federal Reserve Board and group-wide supervisors not based in the United 22 States. 23 * * * 24 C. In order to assist in the performance of the commissioner's duties, the 25 commissioner: 26 (1) May share documents, materials, or other information, including the 27 confidential and privileged documents, materials, or information subject to 28 Subsection A of this Section, including proprietary information and trade secret 29 documents and materials, with other state, federal, and international regulatory 30 agencies with the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries and with state, federal, and Page 9 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 international law enforcement authorities, including members of any supervisory 2 college described in R.S. 22:691.9, provided that the recipient agrees in writing to 3 maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the document, material, or other 4 information, and has verified in writing the legal authority to maintain 5 confidentiality. 6 * * * 7 (3) May receive documents, materials, or information, including otherwise 8 confidential and privileged documents, materials, or information, including 9 proprietary and trade secret information, from the NAIC and its affiliates and 10 subsidiaries and from regulatory and law enforcement officials of other foreign or 11 domestic jurisdictions, and shall maintain as confidential or privileged any 12 document, material, or information received with notice or the understanding that it 13 is confidential or privileged under the laws of the jurisdiction that is the source of the 14 document, material, or information. 15 (4) Shall enter into written agreements with the NAIC and any third-party 16 consultant designated by the commissioner governing the sharing and use of 17 information provided pursuant to this Subpart consistent with this Subsection that 18 shall: 19 (a) Specify procedures and protocols regarding the confidentiality and 20 security of information shared with the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries or a 21 third-party consultant designated by the commissioner pursuant to this Subpart, 22 including procedures and protocols for sharing by the NAIC with other state, federal, 23 or international regulators. The agreement shall provide that the recipient agrees in 24 writing to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the documents, 25 materials, and other information and has verified, in writing, the legal authority to 26 maintain such confidentiality. 27 (b) Specify that ownership of information shared with the NAIC and its 28 affiliates and subsidiaries or a third-party consultant pursuant to this Subpart remains 29 with the commissioner and the NAIC's use of the information by the NAIC or a Page 10 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 third-party consultant, designated by the commissioner, is subject to the direction of 2 the commissioner. 3 (c) Excluding documents, materials, and information reported pursuant to 4 R.S. 22:691.6(N), prohibit the NAIC or a third-party consultant, designated by the 5 commissioner from storing the information shared pursuant to this Section in a 6 permanent database after the underlying analysis is completed. 7 (d) Require prompt notice to be given to an insurer whose confidential 8 information in the possession of the NAIC or a third-party consultant, designated by 9 the commissioner, pursuant to this Subpart is subject to a request or subpoena to the 10 NAIC or a third-party consultant designated by the commissioner for disclosure or 11 production. 12 (d) (e) Require the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries or a third-party 13 consultant, designated by the commissioner, to consent to intervention by an insurer 14 in any judicial or administrative action in which the NAIC and its affiliates and 15 subsidiaries or a third-party consultant, designated by the commissioner, may be 16 required to disclose confidential information about the insurer shared with the NAIC 17 and its affiliates and subsidiaries or a third-party consultant, designated by the 18 commissioner, pursuant to this Subpart. 19 (f) For documents, materials, and information reporting, pursuant to R.S. 20 22:691.6(N), in the case of an agreement involving a third-party consultant, provide 21 for notification of the identity of the consultant to the applicable insurers. 22 * * * 23 F. Documents, materials, or other information in the possession or control 24 of the NAIC or a third-party consultant, designated by the commissioner, pursuant 25 to this Subpart shall be confidential by law and privileged, shall not be subject to 26 subpoena, and shall not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any 27 private civil action. 28 G. Except as otherwise may be required under the provisions of this Subpart, 29 the making, publishing, disseminating, circulating, or placing before the public, or 30 causing directly or indirectly to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or Page 11 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 715 ENROLLED 1 placed before the public in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication, or in the 2 form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter, or poster, or broadcasted over any radio 3 station, television station, or by any other electronic means of communication 4 available to the public, or in any other way as an advertisement, announcement, or 5 statement containing a representation or statement with regard to the group capital 6 calculation, group capital ratio, the liquidity stress test results, or supporting 7 disclosures for the liquidity stress test of any insurer or any insurer group, or of any 8 component derived in the calculation by any insurer, broker, or other person engaged 9 in any manner in the insurance business is prohibited. However, if any materially 10 false statement with respect to the group capital calculation, resulting group capital 11 ratio, an inappropriate comparison of any amount to an insurer's or insurance group’s 12 group capital calculation or resulting group capital ratio, liquidity stress test result, 13 supporting disclosures for the liquidity stress test, or an inappropriate comparison of 14 any amount to an insurer's or insurance group’s liquidity stress test result or 15 supporting disclosures is published in any written publication and the insurer is able 16 to demonstrate to the commissioner, with substantial proof, the falsity of such 17 statement or its inappropriateness, the insurer may publish announcements in a 18 written publication, if the sole purpose thereof is to rebut the materially false 19 statement. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED: Page 12 of 12 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.