Req. No. 401 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) SENATE BILL 553 By: Montgomery AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to the Third-party Administrator Act; amending 36 O.S. 2021, Section 1450, which relates to licensure; removing requi rement for certain applica nt to submit certain documentation; requiring certain applications and fees to be submitted and paid electronically; requiring renewal fee prior to reinstatement of certain license; providing renewal procedure for certain expired license; requiring certain report from expired licensees; conforming language; requiring certain updates to administrato r information by certain date; requiring certain administrator respon d to certain inquiries by certain date; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 36 O.S. 2021, Section 1450, is amended to read as follows: Section 1450. A. No person shall act as or present himself or herself to be an administrator, as defined by the prov isions of the Third-party Administrator Act, in this state, unless the person holds a valid license as an administrator which is issued by the Insurance Commissioner. Req. No. 401 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. An administrator shall not be eligible for a nonresident administrator license under this section if the administrator does not hold a home state certificate of authority or license in a state that has adopted the Third-party Administrator Act or that applies substantially similar provisions as are contained in the Third-party Administrator Act to that administrator. If the Third -party Administrator Act in the ad ministrator’s home state does not extend to stop-loss insurance, but if the home state otherwise applies substantially similar provisions as are contained in the Third-party Administrator Act to that administrator, then that omission shall not operate to disqualify the administrator from receiving a nonresident administrator license in this state. 1. “Home state” means the United States jurisdiction that has adopted the Third-party Administrator Act or a substantially similar law governing third-party administrators and which has been designated by the administrator as its principal regulator. The administrator may designate either its state of incorporation or its principal place of business within the United States if that jurisdiction has adopted the T hird-party Administrator Act or a substantially similar law governing third-party administrators. If neither the administrator’s state of incorporation nor its principal place of business within the United States has adopted the Third - party Administrator Act or a substantially similar law governing third-party administrators, then the third-party administrator shall Req. No. 401 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 designate a United States jurisdiction in which it does business an d which has adopted the Third-party Administrator Act or a substantially similar law governing third-party administrators. For purposes of this paragraph, “United States jurisdiction” means the District of Columbia or a state or territory of th e United States. 2. “Nonresident administrator ” means a person who is applying for licensure or is licensed in any state other than the administrator’s home state. C. In the case of a partners hip which has been licensed, each general partner shall be licensed and shall qualify therefore as though an individual licensee. The C ommissioner shall charge a full additional license fee and a separate license shall be issued for each individual so named in such a the license. The partnership shall notify the Commissioner within thirty (30) days if any individual licensed on its behalf has been ter minated, or is no longer associated with or employed by the partnership. Any person making application as an administrator or currently licensed as an administrator under the Third-party Administrators Act shall provide a National Association of Insurance Commissioner (NAIC) Biographical Affidavit and a comprehensive review of the backgrou nd report by an independent third-party NAIC-approved vendor as required for domestic insurers purs uant to the insurance laws o f this state. D. An application for an administrator’s license shall be in a form prescribed by the Commissioner and shall be ac companied by a Req. No. 401 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) . The application shall be filed and the fee shall be paid electronically in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner . This fee shall not be refundable if the application is denied or refused for any reason by either the applicant or the Commissioner. E. The administrator’s license shall continue in force no longer than twelve (12) months from the original month of issuance. Upon filing a renewal form prescri bed by the Commissioner, accompanied by a fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), the license may be renewed annually for a one-year term. Late application for renewal of a license shall require a fee of double the amount of the original license fee. The renewal shall be filed, and the fee shall be paid electronical ly in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner. A license that expires for failure to submit a renewal application may be reinstated within ninety (90) days after the expiration date by electronically submitting a fee in an amount of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner and any other transaction or fees deemed necessary by the Commissioner. All applications received more than ninety (90) days following the expiration of a license shall include a detailed report of administrator s ervices provided in this state during the period of expired licensure. The administrator shall submit, together with the application for renewal, a list of the names and addresses of the persons with whom the administrator has Req. No. 401 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 contracted in accordance with Section 1443 of this title. The Commissioner shall hold this information confide ntial except as provided in Section 1443 of this title. F. 1. The administrator’s license shall be issued or renewed by the Commissioner unless, after notice and opportunity for hearing, the Commissioner determines that the administrator is not competent, trustworthy, or financi ally responsible, or has had any insurance license denied for cause by any state, has been convicted or has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any felony or to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or dishonesty. 2. The administrator shall report to the Insurance Commissioner any administrative or criminal action taken against the administrator in another jurisdiction or by another governmental agency in this state within thirty (30) calendar days of the final disposition of the matter. This report s hall include a copy of the order, consent to order, copy of any payment required as a result of the administrative or criminal action, or other relevant legal documents. 3. Any entity making application to the Oklahoma Insurance Department as a third-party administrator (TPA) or within thirty (30) days of a change for a licensed TPA shall provide current National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Biographical Affidavits and independent third -party background reports from a NAIC-approved vendor on behalf of all officers, directors and key Req. No. 401 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 managerial personnel of the TPA, and individuals with a ten percent (10%) or more beneficial ownership in the TPA and the TPA ’s ultimate controlling person (affiant) as required for insur ers pursuant to the laws of this state. G. After notice and opportunity for hearing, and upon determining that the administrator has violated any of the provisions of the Oklahoma Insurance Code or upon finding reasons for which the issuance or nonrenewal of such license could have been denied, the Commissioner may either suspend or revoke an administrator’s license or assess a civil penalty of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for each occurrence. The payment of the penalty may be enforced in the same manner as civil judgments may be enforced. H. Any person who is acting as or presenting himself or herself to be an administrator without a valid license shall be subject, upon conviction, to a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than T en Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for each occurrence. This fine shall be in addition to any other penalties which may be imposed for violations of the Oklahoma Insurance Code or other laws of this state. I. Except as provided for in subsections F and G of this section, any person convicted of violating any provisions of the Third-party Administrator Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and Req. No. 401 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 shall be subject to a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). J. Each administrator shall electronically submit, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner, any change of legal business name, doing business as or ass umed name, address, service agent contact information, or contact email address, and any necessary fees within thirty (30) days after the change occurred. Any submission of a change under this s ubsection that is received more than thirty (30) days after t he change occurred shall be accompanied by a fee of Fi fty Dollars ($50.00). K. Upon receipt of any inqui ry from the Insurance Commissio ner, a licensed administrator shall furnish the Commis sioner with an adequate response to the inquiry within twenty (20) days from receipt of the inquiry. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 59-1-401 RD 1/17/2023 5:36:18 PM