1 | 1 | | 83R24158 TJS-F |
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2 | 2 | | By: Hancock S.B. No. 1379 |
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3 | 3 | | (Sheets) |
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4 | 4 | | Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1379: No. |
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5 | 5 | | |
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6 | 6 | | |
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7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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9 | 9 | | relating to the standard valuation for life insurance, accident and |
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10 | 10 | | health insurance, and annuities. |
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11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 425.052, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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13 | 13 | | amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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14 | 14 | | follows: |
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15 | 15 | | (a) In this subchapter: |
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16 | 16 | | (1) "Accident and health insurance" means contracts |
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17 | 17 | | that incorporate morbidity risk and provide protection against |
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18 | 18 | | economic loss resulting from accident, sickness, or medical |
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19 | 19 | | conditions and as may be specified in the valuation manual. |
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20 | 20 | | (2) "Appointed actuary" means a qualified actuary who |
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21 | 21 | | is appointed in accordance with the valuation manual to prepare the |
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22 | 22 | | actuarial opinion required by Section 425.0545. |
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23 | 23 | | (3) "Company" means an entity that: |
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24 | 24 | | (A) has written, issued, or reinsured life |
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25 | 25 | | insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or |
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26 | 26 | | deposit-type contracts in this state and has at least one such |
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27 | 27 | | policy in force or on claim; or |
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28 | 28 | | (B) has written, issued, or reinsured life |
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29 | 29 | | insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or |
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30 | 30 | | deposit-type contracts in any state and is required to hold a |
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31 | 31 | | certificate of authority to write life insurance, accident and |
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32 | 32 | | health insurance, or deposit-type contracts in this state. |
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33 | 33 | | (4) "Deposit-type contract" means a contract that does |
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34 | 34 | | not incorporate mortality or morbidity risk and as may be specified |
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35 | 35 | | in the valuation manual. |
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36 | 36 | | (5) "Life insurance" means contracts that incorporate |
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37 | 37 | | mortality risk, including annuity and pure endowment contracts, and |
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38 | 38 | | as may be specified in the valuation manual. |
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39 | 39 | | (6) "Policyholder behavior" means any action a |
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40 | 40 | | policyholder, a contract holder, or any other person with the right |
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41 | 41 | | to elect options, such as a certificate holder, may take under a |
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42 | 42 | | policy or contract subject to this subchapter, including lapse, |
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43 | 43 | | withdrawal, transfer, deposit, premium payment, loan, |
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44 | 44 | | annuitization, or benefit elections prescribed by the policy or |
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45 | 45 | | contract but excluding events of mortality or morbidity that result |
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46 | 46 | | in benefits prescribed in their essential aspects by the terms of |
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47 | 47 | | the policy or contract. |
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48 | 48 | | (7) "Principle-based valuation" means the valuation |
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49 | 49 | | described by Section 425.074. |
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50 | 50 | | (8) "Qualified actuary" means an individual who is |
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51 | 51 | | qualified to sign the applicable statement of actuarial opinion in |
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52 | 52 | | accordance with the American Academy of Actuaries' qualification |
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53 | 53 | | standards for actuaries signing such statements and who meets the |
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54 | 54 | | requirements specified in the valuation manual. |
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55 | 55 | | (9) "Reserves" [, "reserves"] means reserve |
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56 | 56 | | liabilities. |
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57 | 57 | | (10) "Tail risk" means a risk that occurs either where |
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58 | 58 | | the frequency of low probability events is higher than expected |
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59 | 59 | | under a normal probability distribution or where there are observed |
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60 | 60 | | events of very significant size or magnitude. |
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61 | 61 | | (11) "Valuation manual" means the manual of valuation |
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62 | 62 | | instructions adopted by the commissioner by order. |
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63 | 63 | | (c) The definitions under Subsection (a) of "accident and |
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64 | 64 | | health insurance," "appointed actuary," "company," "deposit-type |
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65 | 65 | | contract," "life insurance," "policyholder behavior," |
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66 | 66 | | "principle-based valuation," "qualified actuary," and "tail risk" |
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67 | 67 | | apply only on and after the operative date of the valuation manual. |
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68 | 68 | | SECTION 2. The heading to Section 425.053, Insurance Code, |
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69 | 69 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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70 | 70 | | Sec. 425.053. ANNUAL VALUATION OF RESERVES FOR POLICIES AND |
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71 | 71 | | CONTRACTS ISSUED BEFORE OPERATIVE DATE OF VALUATION MANUAL. |
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72 | 72 | | SECTION 3. Section 425.053, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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73 | 73 | | amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) |
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74 | 74 | | to read as follows: |
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75 | 75 | | (a) The department shall annually value or cause to be |
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76 | 76 | | [have] valued the reserves for all outstanding life insurance |
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77 | 77 | | policies and annuity and pure endowment contracts of each life |
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78 | 78 | | insurance company engaged in business in this state issued before |
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79 | 79 | | the operative date of the valuation manual. [The department may |
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80 | 80 | | certify the amount of those reserves, specifying the mortality |
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81 | 81 | | table or tables, rate or rates of interest, and methods, including |
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82 | 82 | | the net level premium method or another method, used in computing |
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83 | 83 | | those reserves.] |
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84 | 84 | | (c) Instead of valuing the reserves as required by |
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85 | 85 | | Subsection (a) for a foreign or alien company, the department may |
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86 | 86 | | accept any valuation made by or for the insurance supervisory |
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87 | 87 | | official of another state or jurisdiction if[: |
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88 | 88 | | [(1)] the valuation complies with the minimum standard |
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89 | 89 | | provided by this subchapter[; and |
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90 | 90 | | [(2) the official accepts as sufficient and valid for |
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91 | 91 | | all legal purposes a certificate of valuation made by the |
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92 | 92 | | department that states the valuation was made in a specified manner |
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93 | 93 | | according to which the aggregate reserves would be at least as large |
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94 | 94 | | as they would be if computed in the manner prescribed by the law of |
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95 | 95 | | that state or jurisdiction]. |
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96 | 96 | | (d) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, |
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97 | 97 | | policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the |
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98 | 98 | | valuation manual are governed by Section 425.0535. |
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99 | 99 | | (e) The minimum standards for the valuation of policies and |
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100 | 100 | | contracts issued before the operative date of the valuation manual |
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101 | 101 | | are as provided by Sections 425.058 through 425.071 and Section |
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102 | 102 | | 425.072(b), as applicable. Sections 425.072(a), 425.073, and |
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103 | 103 | | 425.074 do not apply to a policy or contract described by this |
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104 | 104 | | subsection. |
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105 | 105 | | SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 425, Insurance Code, is |
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106 | 106 | | amended by adding Section 425.0535 to read as follows: |
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107 | 107 | | Sec. 425.0535. ANNUAL VALUATION OF RESERVES FOR POLICIES |
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108 | 108 | | AND CONTRACTS ISSUED ON OR AFTER OPERATIVE DATE OF VALUATION |
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109 | 109 | | MANUAL. (a) The commissioner shall annually value, or cause to be |
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110 | 110 | | valued, the reserves for all outstanding life insurance contracts, |
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111 | 111 | | annuity and pure endowment contracts, accident and health |
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112 | 112 | | contracts, and deposit-type contracts of each company issued on or |
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113 | 113 | | after the operative date of the valuation manual as provided by this |
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114 | 114 | | section. |
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115 | 115 | | (b) In lieu of the valuation of the reserves required of a |
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116 | 116 | | foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept a valuation |
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117 | 117 | | made, or caused to be made, by the insurance supervisory official of |
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118 | 118 | | another state if the valuation complies with the minimum standard |
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119 | 119 | | provided by this subchapter. |
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120 | 120 | | (c) Sections 425.072(a), 425.073, and 425.074 apply to all |
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121 | 121 | | policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the |
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122 | 122 | | valuation manual. |
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123 | 123 | | SECTION 5. The heading to Section 425.054, Insurance Code, |
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124 | 124 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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125 | 125 | | Sec. 425.054. ACTUARIAL OPINION OF RESERVES BEFORE |
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126 | 126 | | OPERATIVE DATE OF VALUATION MANUAL [REQUIRED]. |
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127 | 127 | | SECTION 6. Section 425.054, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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128 | 128 | | amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1), (j), (k), |
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129 | 129 | | (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), and (q) to read as follows: |
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130 | 130 | | (a) This section applies only to an actuarial opinion of |
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131 | 131 | | reserves before the operative date of the valuation manual. |
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132 | 132 | | (a-1) For purposes of this section, "qualified actuary" |
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133 | 133 | | means: |
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134 | 134 | | (1) a qualified actuary, as that term is defined by |
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135 | 135 | | Section 802.002; or |
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136 | 136 | | (2) a person who, before September 1, 1993, satisfied |
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137 | 137 | | the requirements of the former State Board of Insurance to submit an |
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138 | 138 | | opinion under former Section 2A(a)(1), Article 3.28. |
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139 | 139 | | (j) Except as provided by Subsections (l), (n), (o), and |
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140 | 140 | | (p), any document or other information in the possession or control |
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141 | 141 | | of the department that is a memorandum in support of the opinion or |
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142 | 142 | | other material provided by the company to the commissioner in |
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143 | 143 | | connection with a memorandum is confidential and not subject to: |
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144 | 144 | | (1) disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code; |
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145 | 145 | | (2) subpoena; |
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146 | 146 | | (3) discovery; or |
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147 | 147 | | (4) admissibility as evidence in a private civil |
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148 | 148 | | action. |
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149 | 149 | | (k) The commissioner or any person who receives a document |
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150 | 150 | | or other information described by Subsection (j) while acting under |
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151 | 151 | | the authority of the commissioner may not testify and may not be |
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152 | 152 | | compelled to testify in a private civil action concerning the |
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153 | 153 | | document or other information. |
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154 | 154 | | (l) The commissioner may: |
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155 | 155 | | (1) share documents or other information, including |
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156 | 156 | | the confidential and privileged documents or information described |
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157 | 157 | | by Subsection (j), with another state, federal, or international |
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158 | 158 | | regulatory agency, with the National Association of Insurance |
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159 | 159 | | Commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries, and with state, |
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160 | 160 | | federal, and international law enforcement authorities, provided |
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161 | 161 | | that the recipient agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the |
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162 | 162 | | document or information; |
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163 | 163 | | (2) receive documents or other information, including |
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164 | 164 | | confidential documents or information, from the National |
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165 | 165 | | Association of Insurance Commissioners and its affiliates and |
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166 | 166 | | subsidiaries, and from regulatory and law enforcement officials of |
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167 | 167 | | other foreign or domestic jurisdictions, provided that the |
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168 | 168 | | commissioner shall maintain as confidential any document or |
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169 | 169 | | information received with notice or understanding that it is |
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170 | 170 | | confidential under the laws of the jurisdiction that is the source |
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171 | 171 | | of the document or information; and |
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172 | 172 | | (3) enter into agreements governing sharing and use of |
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173 | 173 | | documents and other information consistent with this section. |
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174 | 174 | | (m) Disclosing information or providing a document to the |
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175 | 175 | | commissioner under this section, or sharing information as |
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176 | 176 | | authorized under this section, does not result in a waiver of any |
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177 | 177 | | applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality that may apply to |
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178 | 178 | | the document or information. |
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179 | 179 | | (n) A memorandum in support of the opinion, and any other |
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180 | 180 | | material provided by the company to the commissioner in connection |
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181 | 181 | | with the memorandum, may be subject to subpoena for the purpose of |
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182 | 182 | | defending an action seeking damages from the actuary submitting the |
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183 | 183 | | memorandum by reason of an action required by this section or rules |
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184 | 184 | | adopted under this section. |
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185 | 185 | | (o) The memorandum or other material provided by the company |
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186 | 186 | | to the commissioner in connection with the memorandum may otherwise |
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187 | 187 | | be released by the commissioner with the written consent of the |
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188 | 188 | | company, or to the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline or |
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189 | 189 | | its successor on receipt of a request stating that the memorandum or |
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190 | 190 | | other material is required for the purpose of professional |
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191 | 191 | | disciplinary proceedings and setting forth procedures satisfactory |
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192 | 192 | | to the commissioner for preserving the confidentiality of the |
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193 | 193 | | memorandum or other material. |
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194 | 194 | | (p) The memorandum ceases to be confidential if: |
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195 | 195 | | (1) any portion of the memorandum is cited by the |
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196 | 196 | | company in its marketing; |
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197 | 197 | | (2) the memorandum is cited by the company before a |
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198 | 198 | | government agency other than a state insurance department; or |
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199 | 199 | | (3) the memorandum is released by the company to the |
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200 | 200 | | news media. |
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201 | 201 | | (q) This section does not prohibit the commissioner from |
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202 | 202 | | using information acquired under this section in the furtherance of |
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203 | 203 | | a legal or regulatory action relating to the administration of this |
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204 | 204 | | code. |
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205 | 205 | | SECTION 7. Subchapter B, Chapter 425, Insurance Code, is |
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206 | 206 | | amended by adding Section 425.0545 to read as follows: |
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207 | 207 | | Sec. 425.0545. ACTUARIAL OPINION OF RESERVES AFTER |
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208 | 208 | | OPERATIVE DATE OF VALUATION MANUAL. (a) A company that has |
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209 | 209 | | outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health |
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210 | 210 | | insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and is |
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211 | 211 | | subject to regulation by the department shall annually submit the |
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212 | 212 | | opinion of the appointed actuary as to whether the reserves and |
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213 | 213 | | related actuarial items held in support of the policies and |
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214 | 214 | | contracts are computed appropriately, are based on assumptions that |
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215 | 215 | | satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported |
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216 | 216 | | amounts, and are in compliance with applicable laws of this state. |
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217 | 217 | | An opinion under this section must comply with provisions of the |
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218 | 218 | | valuation manual, including in regard to any items necessary to its |
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219 | 219 | | scope. |
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220 | 220 | | (b) Unless exempted by the valuation manual, a company |
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221 | 221 | | described by Subsection (a) shall include with the opinion required |
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222 | 222 | | by that subsection an opinion of the same appointed actuary |
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223 | 223 | | concerning whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in |
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224 | 224 | | support of the policies and contracts specified in the valuation |
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225 | 225 | | manual, when considered in light of the assets held by the company |
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226 | 226 | | with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including |
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227 | 227 | | investment earnings on the assets and considerations anticipated to |
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228 | 228 | | be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make |
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229 | 229 | | adequate provision for the company's obligations under the policies |
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230 | 230 | | and contracts, including benefits under and expenses associated |
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231 | 231 | | with the policies and contracts. |
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232 | 232 | | (c) Each opinion required by this section must: |
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233 | 233 | | (1) be in the form and contain the substance that is |
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234 | 234 | | specified by the valuation manual and is acceptable to the |
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235 | 235 | | commissioner; |
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236 | 236 | | (2) be submitted with the annual statement reflecting |
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237 | 237 | | the valuation of reserves for each year ending on or after the |
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238 | 238 | | operative date of the valuation manual; |
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239 | 239 | | (3) apply to all policies and contracts subject to |
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240 | 240 | | this section, plus other actuarial liabilities specified by the |
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241 | 241 | | valuation manual; and |
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242 | 242 | | (4) be based on standards adopted from time to time by |
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243 | 243 | | the Actuarial Standards Board or its successor, and on any |
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244 | 244 | | additional standards prescribed by the valuation manual. |
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245 | 245 | | (d) In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a |
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246 | 246 | | foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion |
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247 | 247 | | filed by the company with the insurance supervisory official of |
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248 | 248 | | another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion |
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249 | 249 | | reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company domiciled |
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250 | 250 | | in this state. |
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251 | 251 | | SECTION 8. Section 425.055(a), Insurance Code, is amended |
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252 | 252 | | to read as follows: |
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253 | 253 | | (a) A memorandum [that, in form and substance, complies with |
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254 | 254 | | the commissioner's rules] shall be prepared to support each |
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255 | 255 | | actuarial opinion required by Section 425.054 or 425.0545. The |
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256 | 256 | | form and substance of each supporting memorandum must comply with |
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257 | 257 | | the commissioner's rules for memorandums subject to Section |
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258 | 258 | | 425.054, or the valuation manual for memorandums subject to Section |
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259 | 259 | | 425.0545. |
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260 | 260 | | SECTION 9. Section 425.056(a), Insurance Code, is amended |
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261 | 261 | | to read as follows: |
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262 | 262 | | (a) Except in cases of fraud or wilful misconduct or as |
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263 | 263 | | provided by Subsection (b), a person who certifies an opinion under |
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264 | 264 | | Section 425.054 or 425.0545 is not liable for damages to a person, |
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265 | 265 | | other than the life insurance company covered by the opinion, for an |
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266 | 266 | | act, error, omission, decision, or other conduct with respect to |
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267 | 267 | | the person's opinion. |
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268 | 268 | | SECTION 10. Section 425.057, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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269 | 269 | | read as follows: |
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270 | 270 | | Sec. 425.057. DISCIPLINARY ACTION: COMPANY OR PERSON |
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271 | 271 | | CERTIFYING OPINION. A company or person that certifies an opinion |
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272 | 272 | | under Section 425.054 or 425.0545 and that violates Section |
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273 | 273 | | 425.054, 425.0545, or 425.055 or rules adopted or orders issued |
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274 | 274 | | under those sections is subject to disciplinary action under |
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275 | 275 | | Chapter 82. |
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276 | 276 | | SECTION 11. The heading to Section 425.058, Insurance Code, |
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277 | 277 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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278 | 278 | | Sec. 425.058. COMPUTATION [VALUATION] OF MINIMUM STANDARD |
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279 | 279 | | [POLICY OR CONTRACT]: GENERAL RULE. |
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280 | 280 | | SECTION 12. The heading to Section 425.059, Insurance Code, |
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281 | 281 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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282 | 282 | | Sec. 425.059. COMPUTATION [VALUATION] OF MINIMUM STANDARD |
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283 | 283 | | FOR CERTAIN ANNUITIES AND PURE ENDOWMENT CONTRACTS. |
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284 | 284 | | SECTION 13. The heading to Section 425.064, Insurance Code, |
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285 | 285 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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286 | 286 | | Sec. 425.064. COMMISSIONERS RESERVE VALUATION METHOD FOR |
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287 | 287 | | LIFE INSURANCE AND ENDOWMENT BENEFITS. |
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288 | 288 | | SECTION 14. The heading to Section 425.065, Insurance Code, |
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289 | 289 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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290 | 290 | | Sec. 425.065. COMMISSIONERS ANNUITY RESERVE VALUATION |
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291 | 291 | | METHOD FOR ANNUITY AND PURE ENDOWMENT BENEFITS. |
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292 | 292 | | SECTION 15. Subchapter B, Chapter 425, Insurance Code, is |
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293 | 293 | | amended by adding Sections 425.072, 425.073, 425.074, 425.075, |
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294 | 294 | | 425.076, and 425.077 to read as follows: |
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295 | 295 | | Sec. 425.072. MINIMUM STANDARD FOR ACCIDENT AND HEALTH |
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296 | 296 | | INSURANCE CONTRACTS. (a) The standard prescribed by the valuation |
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297 | 297 | | manual for accident and health insurance contracts issued on or |
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298 | 298 | | after the operative date of the valuation manual is the minimum |
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299 | 299 | | standard of valuation required under Section 425.0535. |
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300 | 300 | | (b) For disability, accident and sickness, and accident and |
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301 | 301 | | health insurance contracts issued before the operative date of the |
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302 | 302 | | valuation manual, the minimum standard of valuation is the standard |
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303 | 303 | | in existence before the operative date of the valuation manual. |
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304 | 304 | | Sec. 425.073. POLICIES ISSUED ON OR AFTER THE OPERATIVE |
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305 | 305 | | DATE OF THE VALUATION MANUAL. (a) Except as otherwise provided by |
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306 | 306 | | this section, for policies issued on or after the operative date of |
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307 | 307 | | the valuation manual, the standard prescribed by the valuation |
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308 | 308 | | manual is the minimum standard of valuation required under Section |
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309 | 309 | | 425.0535. |
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310 | 310 | | (b) The commissioner by order shall adopt a valuation manual |
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311 | 311 | | and determine the operative date of the valuation manual. A |
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312 | 312 | | valuation manual adopted by the commissioner under this section |
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313 | 313 | | must be substantially similar to the valuation manual approved by |
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314 | 314 | | the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The operative |
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315 | 315 | | date must be January 1 of the first calendar year immediately |
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316 | 316 | | following a year in which, on or before July 1, the commissioner |
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317 | 317 | | determines that: |
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318 | 318 | | (1) the valuation manual has been adopted by the |
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319 | 319 | | National Association of Insurance Commissioners by an affirmative |
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320 | 320 | | vote of at least 42 members, or three-fourths of the members voting, |
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321 | 321 | | whichever is greater; |
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322 | 322 | | (2) the National Association of Insurance |
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323 | 323 | | Commissioners Standard Model Valuation Law, as amended by the |
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324 | 324 | | National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2009, or |
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325 | 325 | | legislation including substantially similar terms and provisions, |
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326 | 326 | | has been enacted by states representing greater than 75 percent of |
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327 | 327 | | the direct premiums written as reported in the following annual |
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328 | 328 | | statements submitted for 2008: |
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329 | 329 | | (A) life insurance and accident and health annual |
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330 | 330 | | statements; |
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331 | 331 | | (B) health annual statements; or |
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332 | 332 | | (C) fraternal annual statements; and |
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333 | 333 | | (3) the National Association of Insurance |
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334 | 334 | | Commissioners Standard Model Valuation Law, as amended by the |
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335 | 335 | | National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2009, or |
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336 | 336 | | legislation including substantially similar terms and provisions, |
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337 | 337 | | has been enacted by at least 42 of the following 55 jurisdictions: |
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338 | 338 | | (A) the 50 United States; |
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339 | 339 | | (B) American Samoa; |
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340 | 340 | | (C) the United States Virgin Islands; |
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341 | 341 | | (D) the District of Columbia; |
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342 | 342 | | (E) Guam; and |
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343 | 343 | | (F) Puerto Rico. |
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344 | 344 | | (c) After a valuation manual has been adopted by the |
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345 | 345 | | commissioner by order, any changes to the valuation manual must be |
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346 | 346 | | adopted by order and must be substantially similar to changes |
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347 | 347 | | adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. |
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348 | 348 | | Unless a change in the valuation specifies a later effective date, |
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349 | 349 | | the effective date for changes to the valuation manual may not be |
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350 | 350 | | earlier than January 1 of the year immediately following the date on |
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351 | 351 | | which the commissioner determines that the changes to the valuation |
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352 | 352 | | manual have been adopted by the National Association of Insurance |
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353 | 353 | | Commissioners by an affirmative vote representing: |
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354 | 354 | | (1) at least three-fourths of the members of the |
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355 | 355 | | National Association of Insurance Commissioners voting, but not |
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356 | 356 | | less than a majority of the total membership; and |
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357 | 357 | | (2) members of the National Association of Insurance |
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358 | 358 | | Commissioners representing jurisdictions totaling greater than 75 |
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359 | 359 | | percent of the direct premiums written as reported in the most |
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360 | 360 | | recently available annual statements as provided by Subsections |
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361 | 361 | | (b)(2)(A)-(C). |
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362 | 362 | | (d) The valuation manual must specify: |
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363 | 363 | | (1) the minimum valuation standards for and |
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364 | 364 | | definitions of the policies or contracts subject to Section |
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365 | 365 | | 425.0535, including: |
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366 | 366 | | (A) the commissioner's reserve valuation method |
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367 | 367 | | for life insurance contracts subject to Section 425.0535; |
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368 | 368 | | (B) the commissioner's annuity reserve |
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369 | 369 | | valuation method for annuity contracts subject to Section 425.0535; |
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370 | 370 | | and |
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371 | 371 | | (C) the minimum reserves for all other policies |
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372 | 372 | | or contracts subject to Section 425.0535; |
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373 | 373 | | (2) the policies or contracts that are subject to the |
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374 | 374 | | requirements of a principle-based valuation under Section 425.074 |
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375 | 375 | | and the minimum valuation standards consistent with those |
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376 | 376 | | requirements, including: |
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377 | 377 | | (A) the requirements for the format of reports to |
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378 | 378 | | the commissioner under Section 425.074(b)(3), which must include |
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379 | 379 | | the information necessary to determine if a valuation is |
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380 | 380 | | appropriate and in compliance with this subchapter; |
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381 | 381 | | (B) the assumptions prescribed for risks over |
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382 | 382 | | which the company does not have significant control or influence; |
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383 | 383 | | and |
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384 | 384 | | (C) the procedures for corporate governance and |
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385 | 385 | | oversight of the actuarial function, and a process for appropriate |
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386 | 386 | | waiver or modification of the procedures; |
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387 | 387 | | (3) the policies that are not subject to a |
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388 | 388 | | principle-based valuation under Section 425.074; |
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389 | 389 | | (4) the data and form of data required under Section |
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390 | 390 | | 425.074, to whom the data must be submitted, and other desired |
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391 | 391 | | requirements, including requirements concerning data analyses and |
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392 | 392 | | reporting of analyses; and |
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393 | 393 | | (5) other requirements, including requirements |
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394 | 394 | | relating to reserve methods, models for measuring risk, generation |
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395 | 395 | | of economic scenarios, assumptions, margins, use of company |
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396 | 396 | | experience, disclosure, certification, reports, actuarial opinions |
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397 | 397 | | and memorandums, transition rules, and internal controls. |
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398 | 398 | | (e) With respect to policies that are not subject to a |
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399 | 399 | | principle-based valuation under Section 425.074 as described by |
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400 | 400 | | Subsection (d)(3), the minimum valuation standard specified in the |
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401 | 401 | | valuation manual must: |
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402 | 402 | | (1) be consistent with the minimum valuation standard |
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403 | 403 | | before the operative date of the valuation manual; or |
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404 | 404 | | (2) develop reserves that quantify the benefits and |
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405 | 405 | | guarantees, and the funding, associated with the contracts and |
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406 | 406 | | their risks at a level of conservatism that reflects conditions |
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407 | 407 | | that include unfavorable events that have a reasonable probability |
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408 | 408 | | of occurring. |
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409 | 409 | | (f) In the absence of a specific valuation requirement or if |
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410 | 410 | | a specific valuation requirement in the valuation manual does not |
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411 | 411 | | in the commissioner's opinion comply with this subchapter, the |
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412 | 412 | | company shall, with respect to the requirement, comply with minimum |
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413 | 413 | | valuation standards prescribed by the commissioner by rule. |
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414 | 414 | | (g) The commissioner may employ or contract with a qualified |
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415 | 415 | | actuary, at the expense of the company, to perform an actuarial |
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416 | 416 | | examination of the company and provide an opinion concerning the |
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417 | 417 | | appropriateness of any reserve assumption or method used by the |
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418 | 418 | | company, or to review and provide an opinion on a company's |
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419 | 419 | | compliance with any requirement of this subchapter. The |
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420 | 420 | | commissioner may rely on the opinion, regarding provisions |
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421 | 421 | | contained within this subchapter, of a qualified actuary engaged by |
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422 | 422 | | the insurance supervisory official of another state. |
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423 | 423 | | (h) The commissioner may require a company to change an |
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424 | 424 | | assumption or method as necessary in the commissioner's opinion to |
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425 | 425 | | comply with a requirement of the valuation manual or this |
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426 | 426 | | subchapter. |
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427 | 427 | | (i) The commissioner may take other disciplinary action as |
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428 | 428 | | permitted under Chapter 82. |
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429 | 429 | | Sec. 425.074. REQUIREMENTS OF A PRINCIPLE-BASED VALUATION. |
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430 | 430 | | (a) A company shall establish reserves using a principle-based |
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431 | 431 | | valuation that meets the conditions for policies or contracts |
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432 | 432 | | provided by the valuation manual. At a minimum, the valuation |
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433 | 433 | | shall: |
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434 | 434 | | (1) quantify the benefits and guarantees, and the |
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435 | 435 | | funding, associated with the contracts and their risks at a level of |
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436 | 436 | | conservatism that reflects conditions that include unfavorable |
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437 | 437 | | events that have a reasonable probability of occurring during the |
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438 | 438 | | terms of the contracts; |
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439 | 439 | | (2) with respect to policies and contracts with |
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440 | 440 | | significant tail risk, reflect conditions appropriately adverse to |
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441 | 441 | | quantify the tail risk; |
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442 | 442 | | (3) incorporate assumptions, risk analysis methods, |
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443 | 443 | | and financial models and management techniques that are consistent |
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444 | 444 | | with those used in the company's overall risk assessment process, |
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445 | 445 | | while recognizing potential differences in financial reporting |
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446 | 446 | | structures and any prescribed assumptions or methods; |
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447 | 447 | | (4) incorporate assumptions: |
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448 | 448 | | (A) prescribed by the valuation manual; or |
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449 | 449 | | (B) established: |
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450 | 450 | | (i) using the company's available |
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451 | 451 | | experience, to the extent that data is relevant and statistically |
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452 | 452 | | credible; or |
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453 | 453 | | (ii) to the extent that the company data is |
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454 | 454 | | not available, relevant, or statistically credible, using other |
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455 | 455 | | relevant, statistically credible experience; and |
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456 | 456 | | (5) provide margins for uncertainty, including |
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457 | 457 | | adverse deviation and estimation error, such that the greater the |
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458 | 458 | | uncertainty the larger the margin and resulting reserve. |
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459 | 459 | | (b) A company using a principle-based valuation for one or |
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460 | 460 | | more policies or contracts subject to this section and as specified |
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461 | 461 | | by the valuation manual shall: |
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462 | 462 | | (1) establish procedures for corporate governance and |
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463 | 463 | | oversight of the actuarial valuation function consistent with |
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464 | 464 | | procedures specified by the valuation manual; |
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465 | 465 | | (2) provide to the commissioner and the company's |
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466 | 466 | | board of directors an annual certification of the effectiveness of |
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467 | 467 | | the internal controls with respect to the principle-based |
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468 | 468 | | valuation; and |
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469 | 469 | | (3) develop, and file with the commissioner on |
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470 | 470 | | request, a principle-based valuation report that complies with |
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471 | 471 | | standards prescribed in the valuation manual. |
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472 | 472 | | (c) A company's internal controls with respect to the |
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473 | 473 | | principle-based valuation must be designed to ensure that all |
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474 | 474 | | material risks inherent in the liabilities and associated assets |
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475 | 475 | | subject to the valuation are included in the valuation, and that |
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476 | 476 | | valuations are made in accordance with the valuation manual. The |
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477 | 477 | | certification described by Subsection (b)(2) must be based on the |
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478 | 478 | | controls in place as of the end of the preceding calendar year. |
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479 | 479 | | (d) A principle-based valuation may include a prescribed |
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480 | 480 | | formulaic reserve component. |
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481 | 481 | | Sec. 425.075. EXPERIENCE REPORTING FOR POLICIES IN FORCE ON |
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482 | 482 | | OR AFTER OPERATIVE DATE OF VALUATION MANUAL. A company shall submit |
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483 | 483 | | mortality, morbidity, policyholder behavior, or expense experience |
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484 | 484 | | and other data as prescribed in the valuation manual. |
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485 | 485 | | Sec. 425.076. CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) In this section, |
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486 | 486 | | "confidential information" means: |
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487 | 487 | | (1) a memorandum in support of an opinion submitted |
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488 | 488 | | under Section 425.0545 and any other documents, materials, and |
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489 | 489 | | other information, including, but not limited to, all working |
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490 | 490 | | papers, and copies thereof, created, produced, or obtained by or |
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491 | 491 | | disclosed to the commissioner or any other person in connection |
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492 | 492 | | with such memorandum; |
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493 | 493 | | (2) all documents, materials, and other information, |
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494 | 494 | | including, but not limited to, all working papers, and copies |
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495 | 495 | | thereof, created, produced, or obtained by or disclosed to the |
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496 | 496 | | commissioner or any other person in the course of an examination |
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497 | 497 | | made under Section 425.073(g); provided, however, that if an |
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498 | 498 | | examination report or other material prepared in connection with an |
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499 | 499 | | examination made under Subchapter B, Chapter 401, is not held as |
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500 | 500 | | private and confidential information under Subchapter B, Chapter |
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501 | 501 | | 401, an examination report or other material prepared in connection |
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502 | 502 | | with an examination made under Section 425.073(g) shall not be |
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503 | 503 | | "confidential information" to the same extent as if such |
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504 | 504 | | examination report or other material had been prepared under |
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505 | 505 | | Subchapter B, Chapter 401; |
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506 | 506 | | (3) any reports, documents, materials, and other |
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507 | 507 | | information developed by a company in support of, or in connection |
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508 | 508 | | with, an annual certification by the company under Section |
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509 | 509 | | 425.074(b)(2) evaluating the effectiveness of the company's |
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510 | 510 | | internal controls with respect to a principle-based valuation and |
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511 | 511 | | any other documents, materials, and other information, including, |
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512 | 512 | | but not limited to, all working papers, and copies thereof, |
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513 | 513 | | created, produced, or obtained by or disclosed to the commissioner |
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514 | 514 | | or any other person in connection with such reports, documents, |
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515 | 515 | | materials, and other information; |
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516 | 516 | | (4) any principle-based valuation report developed |
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517 | 517 | | under Section 425.074(b)(3) and any other documents, materials, and |
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518 | 518 | | other information, including, but not limited to, all working |
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519 | 519 | | papers, and copies thereof, created, produced, or obtained by or |
---|
520 | 520 | | disclosed to the commissioner or any other person in connection |
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521 | 521 | | with such report; and |
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522 | 522 | | (5) any documents, materials, data, and other |
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523 | 523 | | information submitted by a company under Section 425.075 |
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524 | 524 | | (collectively, "experience data") and any other documents, |
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525 | 525 | | materials, data, and other information, including, but not limited |
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526 | 526 | | to, all working papers, and copies thereof, created or produced in |
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527 | 527 | | connection with such experience data, in each case that include any |
---|
528 | 528 | | potentially company-identifying or personally identifiable |
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529 | 529 | | information, that is provided to or obtained by the commissioner |
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530 | 530 | | (together with any "experience data," the "experience materials") |
---|
531 | 531 | | and any other documents, materials, data, and other information, |
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532 | 532 | | including, but not limited to, all working papers, and copies |
---|
533 | 533 | | thereof, created, produced, or obtained by or disclosed to the |
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534 | 534 | | commissioner or any other person in connection with such experience |
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535 | 535 | | materials. |
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536 | 536 | | (b) Except as provided in this section, a company's |
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537 | 537 | | confidential information is confidential by law and privileged, and |
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538 | 538 | | shall not be subject to Chapter 552, Government Code, shall not be |
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539 | 539 | | subject to subpoena, and shall not be subject to discovery or |
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540 | 540 | | admissible in evidence in any private civil action; provided, |
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541 | 541 | | however, that the commissioner is authorized to use the |
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542 | 542 | | confidential information in the furtherance of any regulatory or |
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543 | 543 | | legal action brought against the company as a part of the |
---|
544 | 544 | | commissioner's official duties. |
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545 | 545 | | (c) Neither the commissioner nor any person who received |
---|
546 | 546 | | confidential information while acting under the authority of the |
---|
547 | 547 | | commissioner shall be permitted or required to testify in any |
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548 | 548 | | private civil action concerning any confidential information. |
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549 | 549 | | (d) In order to assist in the performance of the |
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550 | 550 | | commissioner's duties, the commissioner may share confidential |
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551 | 551 | | information (1) with other state, federal, and international |
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552 | 552 | | regulatory agencies and with the National Association of Insurance |
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553 | 553 | | Commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries and (2) in the |
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554 | 554 | | case of confidential information specified in Subsections (a)(1) |
---|
555 | 555 | | and (a)(4) only, with the Actuarial Board for Counseling and |
---|
556 | 556 | | Discipline or its successor upon request stating that the |
---|
557 | 557 | | confidential information is required for the purpose of |
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558 | 558 | | professional disciplinary proceedings and with state, federal, and |
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559 | 559 | | international law enforcement officials; in the case of (1) and |
---|
560 | 560 | | (2), provided that such recipient agrees, and has the legal |
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561 | 561 | | authority to agree, to maintain the confidentiality and privileged |
---|
562 | 562 | | status of such documents, materials, data, and other information in |
---|
563 | 563 | | the same manner and to the same extent as required for the |
---|
564 | 564 | | commissioner. |
---|
565 | 565 | | (e) The commissioner may receive documents, materials, |
---|
566 | 566 | | data, and other information, including otherwise confidential and |
---|
567 | 567 | | privileged documents, materials, data, or information, from the |
---|
568 | 568 | | National Association of Insurance Commissioners and its affiliates |
---|
569 | 569 | | and subsidiaries, from regulatory or law enforcement officials of |
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570 | 570 | | other foreign or domestic jurisdictions and from the Actuarial |
---|
571 | 571 | | Board for Counseling and Discipline or its successor and shall |
---|
572 | 572 | | maintain as confidential or privileged any document, material, |
---|
573 | 573 | | data, or other information received with notice or the |
---|
574 | 574 | | understanding that it is confidential or privileged under the laws |
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575 | 575 | | of the jurisdiction that is the source of the document, material, or |
---|
576 | 576 | | other information. |
---|
577 | 577 | | (f) The commissioner may enter into agreements governing |
---|
578 | 578 | | sharing and use of information consistent with Subsections (b) |
---|
579 | 579 | | through (k). |
---|
580 | 580 | | (g) No waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of |
---|
581 | 581 | | confidentiality in the confidential information shall occur as a |
---|
582 | 582 | | result of disclosure to the commissioner under this section or as a |
---|
583 | 583 | | result of sharing as authorized in Subsection (d). |
---|
584 | 584 | | (h) A privilege established under the law of any state or |
---|
585 | 585 | | jurisdiction that is substantially similar to the privilege |
---|
586 | 586 | | established under Subsections (b) through (k) shall be available |
---|
587 | 587 | | and enforced in any proceeding in, and in any court of, this state. |
---|
588 | 588 | | (i) In this section, a reference to a regulatory agency, law |
---|
589 | 589 | | enforcement agency, or the National Association of Insurance |
---|
590 | 590 | | Commissioners includes an employee, agent, consultant, or |
---|
591 | 591 | | contractor of the agency or association, as applicable. |
---|
592 | 592 | | (j) Notwithstanding this section, any confidential |
---|
593 | 593 | | information specified in Subsections (a)(1) and (a)(4) may be: |
---|
594 | 594 | | (1) subject to subpoena for the purpose of defending |
---|
595 | 595 | | an action seeking damages from the appointed actuary submitting the |
---|
596 | 596 | | related memorandum in support of an opinion submitted under Section |
---|
597 | 597 | | 425.054 or 425.0545 or a principle-based valuation report developed |
---|
598 | 598 | | under Section 425.074(b)(3) by reason of an action required by this |
---|
599 | 599 | | subchapter or by rules adopted or orders issued under this |
---|
600 | 600 | | subchapter; and |
---|
601 | 601 | | (2) released by the commissioner with the written |
---|
602 | 602 | | consent of the company. |
---|
603 | 603 | | (k) Once any portion of a memorandum in support of an |
---|
604 | 604 | | opinion submitted under Section 425.0545 or a principle-based |
---|
605 | 605 | | valuation report developed under Section 425.074(b)(3) is cited by |
---|
606 | 606 | | the company in its marketing or is publicly volunteered to or before |
---|
607 | 607 | | a governmental agency other than a state insurance department or is |
---|
608 | 608 | | released by the company to the news media, all portions of such |
---|
609 | 609 | | memorandum or report shall no longer be confidential. |
---|
610 | 610 | | Sec. 425.077. SINGLE STATE EXEMPTION. The commissioner may |
---|
611 | 611 | | exempt specific product forms or product lines of a domestic |
---|
612 | 612 | | company that is licensed and doing business only in this state from |
---|
613 | 613 | | the requirements of Section 425.073 if: |
---|
614 | 614 | | (1) the commissioner has issued an exemption in |
---|
615 | 615 | | writing to the company and has not subsequently revoked the |
---|
616 | 616 | | exemption in writing; and |
---|
617 | 617 | | (2) the company computes reserves using assumptions |
---|
618 | 618 | | and methods used before the operative date of the valuation manual |
---|
619 | 619 | | in addition to any requirements established by the commissioner and |
---|
620 | 620 | | adopted by rule. |
---|
621 | 621 | | SECTION 16. The commissioner of insurance shall determine |
---|
622 | 622 | | whether the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and a |
---|
623 | 623 | | sufficient number of states and other jurisdictions have adopted a |
---|
624 | 624 | | valuation manual as required by Section 425.073(b), Insurance Code, |
---|
625 | 625 | | as added by this Act. As soon as practicable after the commissioner |
---|
626 | 626 | | of insurance determines that the National Association of Insurance |
---|
627 | 627 | | Commissioners and a sufficient number of states and other |
---|
628 | 628 | | jurisdictions have adopted the valuation manual as required by that |
---|
629 | 629 | | section, the commissioner of insurance shall adopt rules or issue |
---|
630 | 630 | | orders necessary to implement this Act. |
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631 | 631 | | SECTION 17. This Act takes effect January 1, 2014. |
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