CSHB 534(L&C): "An Act relating to insurance, to the licensing, accreditation, examination, regulation, and solvency of persons engaged in the insurance business, including insurers, nonadmitted insurers, purchasing groups, risk retention groups, and United States branches of alien insurers; relating to the management of and the filing of reports by persons licensed or otherwise doing business under the insurance code; amending Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 45; and providing for an effective date."
00CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 534(L&C) 01 "An Act relating to insurance, to the licensing, accreditation, examination, 02 regulation, and solvency of persons engaged in the insurance business, including 03 insurers, nonadmitted insurers, purchasing groups, risk retention groups, and 04 United States branches of alien insurers; relating to the management of and the 05 filing of reports by persons licensed or otherwise doing business under the 06 insurance code; amending Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 45; and providing for 07 an effective date." 08 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 09 * Section 1. AS 06.20.260(a) is amended to read: 10 (a) A further or other charge or amount for an examination, service, brokerage 11 commission, expense, fee, bonus, or other thing may not be directly or indirectly 12 charged, contracted for, or received except 13 (1) lawful fees actually paid out by the licensee to a public officer for 14 filing, recording, or releasing any instrument securing the loan, or for transferring
01 certificate of title to a motor vehicle securing the lien or noting a lien on that 02 certificate; 03 (2) premiums actually paid out for insurance on any one or combination 04 of the following: pledged property of the borrower, or consumer credit [LIFE] 05 insurance; in this paragraph "consumer credit insurance" has the meaning given 06 in AS 21.57.160 [ON THE LIFE OF ONE OR MORE BORROWERS, CREDIT LOSS 07 OF INCOME INSURANCE, OR CREDIT DISABILITY INSURANCE TO PROVIDE 08 INDEMNITY FOR PAYMENTS BECOMING DUE ON THE INDEBTEDNESS]; 09 (3) taxable costs and expenses to which the licensee becomes entitled 10 under general law in any court proceedings to collect a loan or to realize on the 11 security after default; 12 (4) reasonable fees paid by a licensee for appraisals, surveys, and title 13 insurance or reports if the loan is secured by an interest in real estate; 14 (5) a late payment fee of not more than 10 percent of the payment that 15 is due or $15, whichever is less. 16 * Sec. 2. AS 06.20.287(a) is amended to read: 17 (a) A licensee may obtain consumer credit [LIFE, CREDIT DISABILITY,] 18 and property insurance on open-end loans under this chapter. The consumer credit 19 [LIFE AND CREDIT DISABILITY] insurance obtained by a licensee shall satisfy the 20 requirements of AS 21.57. The property insurance obtained by a licensee shall satisfy 21 the requirements of AS 21.39 and AS 21.42. The licensee shall comply with 22 AS 21.36.160 and 21.36.165 during all transactions with borrowers involving 23 consumer credit [LIFE, CREDIT DISABILITY] and property insurance. 24 * Sec. 3. AS 21.03.010 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 25 (c) A person who transacts insurance in this state, or relative to a subject 26 resident, located, or to be performed in this state as or on behalf of a risk retention 27 group or purchasing group formed under and in compliance with 15 U.S.C. 3901 - 28 3906 (Liability Risk Retention Act), shall comply with the applicable provisions of this 29 title. 30 * Sec. 4. AS 21.06.080 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 31 (e) If the director determines that a catastrophe has occurred in this state and
01 in good faith believes that the governor or the President of the United States has issued 02 or is about to issue a declaration of disaster, the director may take the action that the 03 director considers necessary to respond to the disaster in order to assure the continuity 04 and stability of the insurance market in this state, to protect policyholders and the 05 public, or to prevent aggravation of the disaster, including issuing an emergency order 06 temporarily suspending specific provisions of this title. Until a declaration of the 07 disaster has been lifted, the director may take action to respond to a disaster without 08 a hearing. An action taken under this subsection may not remain in effect more than 09 six months from the date that the director determines that a catastrophe has occurred 10 unless, after a hearing, the director determines that the action is still necessary to 11 respond to the disaster. 12 * Sec. 5. AS 21.06.150(g) is amended to read: 13 (g) The director may withhold a document, information, account, record, 14 examination, or report from the public inspection for as long as the director finds the 15 withholding is necessary to protect a person against unwarranted injury or is in the 16 public interest. The director may close an examination hearing to the public when 17 the director finds the closure is necessary to protect a person against unwarranted 18 injury or is in the public interest. The director may publish the examination report 19 or a summary of it in a newspaper in the state if the director determines that the 20 publication is in the public interest. 21 * Sec. 6. AS 21.09.110 is amended to read: 22 Sec. 21.09.110. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY. To 23 apply for an original certificate of authority an insurer shall file with the director its 24 application, [(] accompanied by the applicable fees set under AS 21.06.250, [)] 25 showing its name, location of its home office, or principal office in the United States 26 [(] if an alien insurer [)], kinds of insurance to be transacted, date of organization or 27 incorporation, form of organization, state or country of domicile, and additional 28 information that the director may reasonably require, together with the following 29 documents, as applicable: 30 (1) if a foreign insurer, a copy of its corporate charter or articles of 31 incorporation, with all amendments certified by the public officer with whom the
01 originals are on file in the state or country of domicile; 02 (2) if a reciprocal insurer, copies of the power of attorney of its 03 attorney-in-fact and of its subscribers' agreement, if any, certified by its 04 attorney-in-fact; 05 (3) a copy of its financial statement as of the preceding December 31, 06 and all subsequent quarterly financial statements, sworn to by at least two executive 07 officers of the insurer, or certified by the public insurance supervisory official of the 08 insurer's state of domicile or of entry into the United States; 09 (4) a copy of the report of last examination, if any, made of the insurer, 10 certified by the insurance supervisory official of its state of domicile or of entry into 11 the United States; 12 (5) appointment of the director under AS 21.09.180, as its attorney to 13 receive service of legal process; 14 (6) if a foreign or alien insurer, a certificate of the public official 15 having supervision of insurance in its state or country of domicile, or state of entry 16 into the United States, showing that it is authorized to transact the kinds of insurance 17 proposed to be transacted in this state; 18 (7) if an alien insurer, a copy of the appointment and authority of its 19 United States manager, certified by its officer having custody of its records; and 20 (8) if a foreign insurer, a certificate as to deposit if it is to be tendered 21 under AS 21.09.090 [; 22 (9) SPECIMEN COPIES OF POLICIES PROPOSED TO BE 23 OFFERED IN THIS STATE IF THEN AVAILABLE, TOGETHER WITH 24 PREMIUMS OR PREMIUM RATES APPLICABLE IF THEN KNOWN, OR A 25 DECLARATION THAT THE RATES AS APPLICABLE WILL BE THOSE 26 PROMULGATED BY DESIGNATED RATING ORGANIZATIONS AUTHORIZED 27 TO FILE RATES IN THIS STATE ON BEHALF OF THE INSURER OR BY THE 28 INSURER]. 29 * Sec. 7. AS 21.09.110 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 30 (b) Policy forms and rates that require approval under AS 21.39 or AS 21.42 31 shall be submitted under AS 21.39.040(j) or AS 21.42.120(g) and may not be
01 submitted with the application for a certificate of authority. 02 * Sec. 8. AS 21.09.130(b) is amended to read: 03 (b) If not continued by the insurer, its certificate of authority shall be 04 suspended [EXPIRES] at midnight on June 30 following the failure of the insurer to 05 continue it in force. The certificate of authority shall expire on June 30 one year 06 following its suspension due to failure to continue the certificate of authority. The 07 director shall promptly notify the insurer of the occurrence of a failure that may result 08 in suspension [RESULTING IN IMPENDING EXPIRATION] of its certificate of 09 authority. 10 * Sec. 9. AS 21.09 is amended by adding a new section to read: 11 Sec. 21.09.135. VOLUNTARY SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATE OF 12 AUTHORITY. (a) A foreign admitted insurer may apply for voluntary surrender of 13 its certificate of authority and the director may accept the application, if the foreign 14 admitted insurer 15 (1) is in compliance with the applicable sections of this title, or the 16 director waives in writing each condition of noncompliance; 17 (2) provides written confirmation that obligations incurred before the 18 voluntary surrender of the certificate of authority shall be paid to guarantee funds or 19 insurance pools established by law; and 20 (3) is domiciled in a state that is 21 (A) accredited by the National Association of Insurance 22 Commissioners at the time of the request for voluntary surrender; or 23 (B) not accredited by the National Association of Insurance 24 Commissioners at the time of the request and agrees in writing to be subject 25 to 26 (i) AS 21.09.200 and 21.09.205 for a period of two 27 years, including payment of any fee related to filing information with 28 the director; and 29 (ii) any other provision of this title that may be required 30 in writing by the director and for the period of time the director may 31 specify.
01 (b) If a foreign admitted insurer who surrenders a certificate of authority 02 ceases to exist, all business written and in force relative to a risk resident, located, or 03 to be performed in this state shall be lawfully cancelled or reinsured. A reinsurance 04 agreement covering all or a part of a risk described in this subsection shall be 05 approved by the director before accepting the certificate of authority for surrender if 06 the agreement meets the following criteria: 07 (1) insurance coverage has not deteriorated from the policies existing 08 at the time of the transfer; 09 (2) the assuming insurer is of equal or better financial standing; and 10 (3) the assuming insurer is admitted to do business in this state, unless 11 this requirement is waived by the director. 12 * Sec. 10. AS 21.09.200(f) is amended to read: 13 (f) In addition to the requirements of (a) of this section, an authorized [A 14 DOMESTIC] insurer shall file its annual statement with the National Association of 15 Insurance Commissioners on electronic media acceptable to the association by the 16 due date established by the association, and shall pay the applicable filing fee. The 17 director may waive the filing requirement if the insurer only transacts business 18 in this state and only accepts risks relative to a subject resident, located, or to be 19 performed in this state. An insurer that fails to comply with this subsection is 20 subject to the penalties specified in (e) of this section, calculated from the filing and 21 fee due date established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 22 * Sec. 11. AS 21.09.205 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 23 (d) In addition to the requirements of (a) of this section, an authorized insurer 24 shall file its quarterly statement with the National Association of Insurance 25 Commissioners on electronic media acceptable to the association by the due date 26 established by the association, and shall pay the applicable filing fee. The director 27 may waive the filing requirement if the insurer only transacts business in this state and 28 only accepts risks relative to a subject resident, located, or to be performed in this 29 state. An insurer that fails to comply with this subsection is subject to the penalties 30 specified in (c) of this section, calculated from the filing and fee due date established 31 by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
01 * Sec. 12. AS 21.09.210 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 02 (j) If, within three years after the date the tax under this section was due, an 03 insurer discovers a mistake or misinterpretation that resulted in an overpayment of the 04 tax in an amount exceeding $250 in any one calendar year, the insurer may make a 05 written request to the director for a refund. If the director determines a valid mistake 06 or misinterpretation has occurred, the director shall refund to the insurer the amount 07 of the excess tax by granting, at the director's discretion, a monetary refund or 08 premium tax credit. A premium tax credit shall be used in the next calendar year to 09 the extent possible and any unused credit shall be paid as a monetary refund. A 10 premium tax credit may not reduce the payable tax, calculated without use of the 11 credit, to less than zero. 12 (k) A premium tax credit granted under (j) of this section may not carry over 13 as an attribute in a transaction under AS 21.69.610, 21.69.620, AS 21.78, or a similar 14 transaction entered into by a foreign insurer. 15 (l) In this section, "premium tax credit" means an amount that an insurer may 16 use as an offset against a premium tax payment. 17 * Sec. 13. AS 21.09 is amended by adding new sections to read: 18 Sec. 21.09.290. RISK RETENTION GROUPS. (a) A risk retention group 19 formed in this state shall 20 (1) comply with 15 U.S.C. 3901 - 3906 (Liability Risk Retention Act); 21 and 22 (2) qualify for and hold in good standing a certificate of authority under 23 this chapter, limited to liability insurance only. 24 (b) A risk retention group shall submit with its application for a certificate of 25 authority 26 (1) the identity of 27 (A) the initial members of the risk retention group; 28 (B) all persons who organized the risk retention group; 29 (C) all persons who will provide administrative services to the 30 risk retention group; 31 (D) all persons who will influence or control the activities of
01 the risk retention group; 02 (2) the amount and nature of initial capitalization; 03 (3) a plan of operation or a feasibility study that includes the coverage, 04 deductible, coverage limit, rate, and rating classification system for the type or class 05 of liability insurance the group intends to offer; and 06 (4) the states in which the risk retention group intends to operate. 07 (c) At least 30 days before a domestic risk retention group implements a 08 material change or revision to an approved plan of operation or feasibility study, the 09 material change or revision shall be filed with the director. A material change or 10 revision may not be implemented unless the domestic risk retention group receives the 11 director's written approval. In this subsection, "material change or revision" includes 12 an offering of an additional type or class of liability insurance. 13 (d) In this section, 14 (1) "liability" means legal liability for damages, including costs of 15 defense, legal costs and fees, and other claims expenses, because of injury to another 16 person, damage to property, or other damage or loss to a person resulting from or 17 arising out of a business, whether profit or nonprofit, trade, product, service, including 18 a professional service, or an activity of a state or local government, or an agency or 19 political subdivision of a state or local government; "liability" does not include 20 personal risk liability or employer's liability with respect to its employees other than 21 legal liability under 45 U.S.C. 51 (Federal Employers' Liability Act); 22 (2) "personal risk liability" means liability for damages because of 23 injury to a person, damage to property, or other loss or damage resulting from a 24 personal, familial, or household responsibility or activity and that is not a responsibility 25 or activity described under (1) of this subsection. 26 Sec. 21.09.300. DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS. (a) A 27 domestic insurer shall file a report with the director disclosing a material acquisition 28 and disposition of assets or a material nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision of ceded 29 reinsurance agreements unless the acquisition and disposition of assets or material 30 nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision of ceded reinsurance agreements have been 31 submitted to the director for review, approval, or information purposes as required by
01 this title. 02 (b) The report required under (a) of this section is due 15 days after the end 03 of the calendar month in which a reportable transaction occurs. A complete copy of 04 the report, including exhibits or other attachments filed as a part of the report, shall 05 be filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 06 (c) Except as provided in this section, a report obtained by or disclosed to the 07 director under this section is confidential, is not subject to subpoena, and may not be 08 made public by the director, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or 09 another person, without the prior written consent of the insurer submitting the report. 10 A report under this section may be disclosed to an insurance regulatory agency of 11 another state. If the director, after giving an insurer notice and an opportunity to be 12 heard, determines that the interest of policyholders, shareholders, or the public will be 13 served by publication of the report, the director may publish all or any part of the 14 report in a manner the director determines appropriate. 15 (d) A domestic insurer's report of an acquisition or disposition of an asset 16 (1) shall be made under (a) of this section if the acquisition or 17 disposition is material; for purposes of this subsection, an acquisition or disposition, 18 or the aggregate of a series of related acquisitions or related dispositions during any 19 30-day period is material if it is nonrecurring, not in the ordinary course of business, 20 and involves more than five percent of the reporting insurer's total admitted assets as 21 reported in its most recent financial statement required by law that is filed with the 22 division; 23 (2) shall be made on asset acquisition, including a purchase, lease, 24 exchange, merger, consolidation, succession, or other acquisition other than the 25 (A) construction or development of real property by or for the 26 reporting insurer; or 27 (B) acquisition of material for construction or development of 28 real property; 29 (3) shall be made on asset disposition including a sale, lease, exchange, 30 merger, consolidation, mortgage, hypothecation, assignment for the benefit of creditors, 31 or abandonment;
01 (4) must include information on the 02 (A) date of transaction; 03 (B) manner of acquisition or disposition; 04 (C) description of the assets involved; 05 (D) nature and amount of the consideration given or received; 06 (E) purpose of, or reason for, the transaction; 07 (F) manner by which the amount of consideration was 08 determined; 09 (G) gain or loss recognized or realized as a result of the 10 transaction; and 11 (H) names of persons from whom the assets were acquired or 12 to whom the assets were disposed. 13 (e) A domestic insurer's report of nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision of a 14 ceded reinsurance agreement 15 (1) shall be made under (a) of this section if the nonrenewal, 16 cancellation, or revision is material; for purposes of this subsection, a material 17 nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision is one that affects (A) for property and casualty 18 business, including accident and health business when written as property and casualty 19 business, more than 50 percent of an insurer's ceded written premium; or (B) for life, 20 annuity, and accident and health business, more than 50 percent of the total reserve 21 credit taken for business ceded, on an annualized basis as indicated in the insurer's 22 most recently filed statutory statement; however, a filing is not required if the insurer's 23 ceded written premium or the total reserve credit taken for business ceded represents, 24 on an annual basis, less than 10 percent of direct written premiums and assumed 25 written premiums or 10 percent of the statutory reserve requirement before a cession; 26 (2) shall be filed without regard to which party has initiated the 27 nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision of ceded reinsurance whenever any of the 28 following conditions exist: 29 (A) the entire cession has been cancelled, nonrenewed, or 30 revised and ceded indemnity and loss adjustment expense reserves after a 31 nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision represent less than 50 percent of the
01 comparable reserves that would have been ceded had the nonrenewal, 02 cancellation, or revision not occurred; 03 (B) an admitted or accredited reinsurer has been replaced on an 04 existing cession by an unauthorized reinsurer; however, a report shall be filed 05 only if the result of the revision affects more than 10 percent of the cession; 06 or 07 (C) collateral requirements previously established for 08 unauthorized reinsurers have been reduced; however, a report shall be filed 09 only if the result of the revision affects more than 10 percent of the cession; 10 and 11 (3) must include 12 (A) the effective date of the nonrenewal, cancellation, or 13 revision; 14 (B) a description of the transaction with an identification of the 15 initiator of the transaction; 16 (C) the purpose of, or reason for, the transaction; and 17 (D) if applicable, the identity of the replacement reinsurers. 18 (f) An insurer is required to report under (a) of this section on a 19 nonconsolidated basis unless the insurer is part of a consolidated group of insurers that 20 utilizes a pooling arrangement or 100 percent reinsurance agreement that affects the 21 solvency and integrity of the insurer's reserves and the insurer ceded substantially all 22 of its direct and assumed business to the pool. An insurer is presumed to have ceded 23 substantially all of its direct and assumed business to a pool if the insurer has less than 24 $1,000,000 total direct written premiums and assumed written premiums during a 25 calendar year that is not subject to a pooling arrangement and the net income of the 26 business not subject to the pooling arrangement represents less than five percent of the 27 insurer's capital and surplus. 28 Sec. 21.09.310. AUTHORIZATION OF UNITED STATES BRANCHES OF 29 ALIEN INSURERS AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. (a) This section applies 30 to all United States branches of alien insurers using this state as a state of entry to 31 transact the business of insurance in the United States. Except as provided elsewhere
01 in this title, a United States branch is subject to all state laws applicable to an insurer 02 domiciled in this state. 03 (b) An alien insurer may apply for a certificate of authority to use this state 04 as a state of entry to transact the business of insurance in the United States by 05 (1) qualifying as an insurer licensed to do business in this state; 06 (2) establishing a trust under a trust agreement approved in writing by 07 the director with a United States bank acceptable to the director in an amount not less 08 than the minimum basic capital or basic guarantee surplus and additional maintained 09 surplus required under AS 21.09.070; 10 (3) submitting a copy of its charter and bylaws, if any, currently in 11 force, and other materials necessary to show the kind of business it is authorized to 12 transact in its domiciliary jurisdiction; documents submitted under this paragraph must 13 be attested to as accurate and complete by the insurance supervisory official in the 14 domiciliary jurisdiction, and must include an English translation if in a language other 15 than English; 16 (4) submitting a full statement, subscribed and affirmed as true by two 17 officers or equivalent responsible representatives in a manner that the director 18 prescribes, of its financial condition as of the close of its latest fiscal year, showing 19 its assets, liabilities, income disbursements, business transacted, and other facts 20 required to be shown in its annual statement, as reported to the insurance supervisory 21 official in its domiciliary jurisdiction; all documents submitted under this paragraph 22 must include an English translation if in a language other than English; 23 (5) submitting to an examination under AS 21.06.120(b) at its principal 24 office within the United States, and elsewhere if necessary, unless the director accepts 25 a report of the insurer's last examination and the report has been certified by the 26 insurance supervisory official of the insurer's domiciliary jurisdiction; and 27 (6) payment of fees established under AS 21.06.250. 28 (c) Before issuing or renewing a certificate of authority for a United States 29 branch, the director may require satisfactory proof that the insurer does not intend to 30 transact insurance business in violation of the provisions of this title or that is not 31 authorized by its charter. Proof required under this subsection may include the alien
01 insurer's charter, an agreement evidenced by a duly certified resolution of its board of 02 directors, or other proof that the director may require. 03 (d) The director may renew a certificate of authority for a United States branch 04 if satisfied, by proof the director may require, that the insurer is not delinquent with 05 respect to a requirement or qualification imposed by this title and that its continuance 06 to transact the business of insurance in this state will not be hazardous or prejudicial 07 to the best interest of the people of this state. 08 (e) A United States branch may not receive or renew a certificate of authority 09 in this state 10 (1) to transact a kind of insurance or a combination of kinds of 11 insurance that are not permitted to be transacted by domestic insurers in this state; 12 (2) if it transacts business other than the business of insurance 13 anywhere else within the United States unless the business, in the opinion of the 14 director, is necessarily or properly incidental to the kind of insurance that it is 15 authorized to transact in this state; 16 (3) if it fails to keep full and correct entries of its transactions; records 17 of entries shall at all times be maintained in its principal office within this state; or 18 (4) if it fails to comply with a requirement or limitation of this title that 19 it is not exempted from by another provision of this title and that is applicable to 20 similar domestic insurers and if, in the judgment of the director, the requirement or 21 limitation is necessary to protect the interest of the policyholders. 22 (f) A United States branch that transacts a kind or combination of kinds of 23 insurance outside this state that is not permitted to be done in this state by similar 24 domestic insurers may not have a certificate of authority issued or renewed in this state 25 unless, in the judgment of the director, the transaction of that kind of insurance is not 26 prejudicial to the best interest of the people of this state. 27 (g) A United States branch shall maintain assets in a trust account in an 28 amount not less than the United States branch's reserves and other liabilities, plus the 29 minimum basic capital or basic guaranteed surplus and additional maintained surplus 30 required under AS 21.09.070. 31 (h) A written trust agreement must contain provisions that
01 (1) vest legal title to trusteed assets in the trustees, and their lawfully 02 appointed successors; 03 (2) require that all assets deposited in the trust be continuously kept 04 within the United States; 05 (3) provide for substitution of a new trustee in case of a vacancy by 06 death, resignation, or other reason, subject to the prior written approval of the director; 07 (4) require that the trustee continuously maintain a record sufficient to 08 identify the assets of the trust fund; 09 (5) require that trusteed assets consist only of cash, investments eligible 10 for investment of the funds of domestic insurers, and accrued interest on the assets, if 11 collectible by the trustee, subject to the limits on investment of funds by domestic 12 insurers under this title; 13 (6) require that the trust be for the exclusive benefit, security, and 14 protection of the policyholders, or policyholders and creditors, of the United States 15 branch in the United States and that the trust be maintained as long as there is an 16 outstanding liability of the alien insurer arising out of its transaction of insurance in 17 the United States; and 18 (7) provide that withdrawal of an asset may not be made or permitted 19 by a trustee without the prior written approval of the director except 20 (A) to make deposits required by law in a state for the security 21 or benefit of all policyholders, or policyholders and creditors, of the United 22 States branch in the United States; 23 (B) to withdraw funds deposited in another state under (A) of 24 this paragraph if 25 (i) the written trust agreement requires prior written 26 approval of the insurance supervising official of that other state; 27 (ii) written notice of the nature and extent of the 28 withdrawal is provided to the director within 30 days of the withdrawal; 29 and 30 (iii) the total trusteed assets remaining are in excess of 31 the total assets required to be maintained in trust under (g) of this
01 section; 02 (C) upon the specific written direction of the United States 03 manager, who is duly authorized and is acting under either general or specific 04 written authority previously given or delegated by the board of directors, to 05 substitute other assets as permitted by this title if the substituted assets are of 06 at least equal value and quality to those withdrawn; 07 (D) to transfer assets to an official liquidator or rehabilitator 08 under an order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or 09 (E) if provided under the terms of the written trust agreement, 10 to pay over to the United States manager of the United States branch, upon 11 request, income, dividends, or interest accumulations of the assets of the trust 12 fund that are in excess of the total assets required to be maintained in trust 13 under (g) of this section. 14 (i) A written trust agreement and all amendments to it shall be authenticated 15 in a form and manner that the director may prescribe and may not take effect until 16 approved by the director. The director may not approve a trust agreement unless the 17 director makes a written finding that 18 (1) the written trust agreement or its amendments are sufficient in form 19 and in conformity with law; 20 (2) a person designated as a trustee is eligible to act in that capacity; 21 and 22 (3) the written trust agreement is adequate to protect the interests of the 23 beneficiaries of the trust. 24 (j) The director may approve written modifications of, or variations in, a 25 written trust agreement upon a finding that the proposed changes are not prejudicial 26 to the interests of the people of this state or the United States policyholders and 27 creditors of the United States branch. 28 (k) The director may conduct examinations of the trusteed assets of an 29 authorized United States branch at the insurer's expense and may require the trustee 30 or trustees to file a statement, in a form as prescribed by the director, certifying the 31 assets and amounts of the trust fund.
01 (l) The director, upon finding that the requisites for the approval of the trust 02 agreement no longer exist, may issue an order that withdraws approval of a written 03 trust agreement and amendments to it. An order issued under this subsection takes 04 effect 10 days after being issued. 05 (m) In addition to all other actions permitted under this title, refusal or neglect 06 of a trustee to comply with the requirements of this title is a cause for suspension or 07 revocation of the United States branch's certificate of authority or the liquidation of 08 the alien insurer's United States branch. 09 (n) Annual statements under AS 21.09.200 and quarterly statements under 10 AS 21.09.205 (1) may only relate to insurance transactions and affairs within the 11 United States, assets held by or for the United States branch for the protection of 12 policyholders and creditors within the United States, and liabilities incurred against 13 those assets; and (2) may not contain a statement in regard to assets and business 14 transacted in a place not described in this subsection. The annual and quarterly 15 statements shall be signed and verified by the United States manager, attorney-in-fact, 16 or a duly empowered assistant United States manager of the United States branch. 17 (o) In a form prescribed by the director, an authorized United States branch 18 shall file with its annual and quarterly statements a statement of trusteed surplus 19 covering the same time period. The trusteed surplus shall consist of the aggregate 20 value of the United States branch's general state deposits and assets deposited with a 21 trustee under this section, plus accrued interest income if the interest were collected 22 by the states for the trustees, less the aggregate net amount of all its reserves and other 23 liabilities in the United States as determined under this subsection. The items of 24 securities and other property held under trust deeds shall be certified by the United 25 States trustee. To determine the net amount of the United States branch's liabilities 26 in the United States to be reported in the statement of trusteed surplus, the United 27 States branch shall adjust its total liabilities reported on its accompanying annual or 28 quarterly statement as follows: 29 (1) by adding back liabilities used to offset admitted assets reported in 30 the accompanying annual or quarterly statement; and 31 (2) by deducting
01 (A) unearned premiums on agent's balances or uncollected 02 premiums not more than 90 days past due; 03 (B) reinsurance on losses with authorized insurers, less unpaid 04 reinsurance premiums; 05 (C) reinsurance recoverables on paid losses from unauthorized 06 insurers that are included as an asset in the annual statement, but only to the 07 extent a liability for unauthorized recoverables as described in this paragraph 08 are included in the liabilities report in the trusteed surplus statement; 09 (D) special state deposits held for the exclusive benefit of 10 policyholders, or policyholders and creditors, of a particular state not exceeding 11 net liabilities reported for that state; 12 (E) secured accrued retrospective premiums; 13 (F) if a life insurer, 14 (i) the amount of its policy loans to policyholders within 15 the United States, not exceeding the amount of legal reserve required 16 on an affected policy; and 17 (ii) the net amount of uncollected and deferred 18 premiums; and 19 (G) other nontrusteed assets, upon a written finding by the 20 director that the other nontrusteed assets secure liabilities in a substantially 21 similar manner to those permitted under this subsection. 22 (p) In addition to the annual and quarterly statements and the statements of 23 trusteed surplus, the director may require additional information relating to total 24 business or assets, or any portion of them, of the alien insurer or its United States 25 branch. 26 (q) In addition to the general statement of the financial condition of the United 27 States branch, a report of examination must include a trusteed surplus statement as of 28 the date of the examination. 29 (r) In this section, 30 (1) "trusteed assets" are the assets maintained in a trust account under 31 (g) of this section;
01 (2) "United States branch" means the business unit through which 02 business is transacted within the United States by an alien insurer and the assets and 03 liabilities of the insurer within the United States applicable to that business. 04 * Sec. 14. AS 21.09.310(b) is repealed and reenacted to read: 05 (b) An alien insurer may apply for a certificate of authority to use this state 06 as a state of entry to transact the business of insurance in the United States by 07 (1) qualifying as an insurer licensed to do business in this state; and 08 (2) establishing a trust under a trust agreement approved in writing by 09 the director with a United States bank acceptable to the director in an amount not less 10 than the greater of 11 (A) the minimum basic capital or basic guarantee surplus and 12 additional maintained surplus required under AS 21.09.070; or 13 (B) the authorized control level risk based capital under 14 AS 21.14; 15 (3) submitting a copy of its charter and bylaws, if any, currently in 16 force, and other documents necessary to show the kind of business it is authorized to 17 transact in its domiciliary jurisdiction; documents submitted under this paragraph must 18 be attested to as accurate and complete by the insurance supervisory official in the 19 domiciliary jurisdiction, and must include an English translation, if in a language other 20 than English; 21 (4) submitting a full statement, subscribed and affirmed as true by two 22 officers or equivalent responsible representatives in a manner that the director 23 prescribes, of its financial condition as of the close of its latest fiscal year, showing 24 its assets, liabilities, income disbursements, business transacted, and other facts 25 required to be shown in its annual statement, as reported to the insurance supervisory 26 official in its domiciliary jurisdiction; all documents submitted under this paragraph 27 must include an English translation if in a language other than English; 28 (5) submitting to an examination under AS 21.06.120(b) at its principal 29 office within the United States, and elsewhere if necessary, unless the director accepts 30 a report of the insurer's recent examination and the report has been certified by the 31 insurance supervisory official of the insurer's domiciliary jurisdiction; and
01 (6) payment of fees established under AS 21.06.250. 02 * Sec. 15. AS 21.09.310(g) is repealed and reenacted to read: 03 (g) A United States branch shall maintain assets in a trust account in an 04 amount not less than the United States branch's reserves and other liabilities, plus the 05 greater of 06 (1) the minimum basic capital or basic guaranteed surplus and 07 additional maintained surplus required under AS 21.09.070; or 08 (2) the authorized control level risk based capital under AS 21.14. 09 * Sec. 16. AS 21.12.020(a) is amended to read: 10 (a) Credit for reinsurance transactions shall be allowed a domestic ceding 11 insurer as either an asset or a deduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded 12 only if the reinsurance is ceded to an 13 (1) assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance 14 in this state; 15 (2) assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this state; an 16 accredited reinsurer is one that 17 (A) files evidence of submission [SUBMITS] to this state's 18 jurisdiction, submits to this state's authority to examine its books and records 19 under AS 21.06.120, is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least 20 one state that is accredited by the National Association of Insurance 21 Commissioners, or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien 22 admitted insurer, is entered through and licensed to transact insurance or 23 reinsurance in at least one state that is accredited by the National 24 Association of Insurance Commissioners; [AND FILES ANNUALLY WITH 25 THE DIRECTOR A COPY OF THE REINSURER'S ANNUAL STATEMENT 26 FILED WITH THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE REINSURER'S 27 STATE OF DOMICILE AND A COPY OF THE REINSURER'S MOST 28 RECENT AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT; OR] 29 (B) [IN THE CASE OF A UNITED STATES BRANCH OF 30 AN ALIEN ASSUMING INSURER, IS ENTERED THROUGH, AND 31 LICENSED TO TRANSACT INSURANCE OR REINSURANCE IN, AT
01 LEAST ONE STATE ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 02 OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS, FILES ANNUALLY WITH THE 03 DIRECTOR A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT THAT 04 IS FILED WITH THE INSURANCE REGULATORY AGENCY OF ITS 05 STATE OF DOMICILE, AND] maintains at least $20,000,000 in policyholder 06 surplus and whose accreditation has not been denied by the director within 07 90 days of application to the director, or maintains less than $20,000,000 08 in policyholder surplus and whose application for accreditation has been 09 approved by the director; and 10 (C) files annually with the director a copy of the reinsurer's 11 annual financial statement filed with the insurance department of the 12 reinsurer's state of domicile or state of entry [THE SURPLUS 13 REQUIREMENTS IN THIS SUBPARAGRAPH DO NOT APPLY TO 14 REINSURANCE CEDED AND ASSUMED UNDER A POOLING 15 ARRANGEMENT AMONG INSURERS IN THE SAME HOLDING 16 COMPANY SYSTEM]; 17 (3) assuming insurer that is domiciled in a state, or in the case of a 18 United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered through a state accredited 19 by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners that employs standards 20 regarding credit for reinsurance ceded substantially similar to those applicable under 21 (1) and (2) of this subsection, the assuming insurer maintains a policyholder surplus 22 of at least $20,000,000, and the assuming insurer submits to the authority of this state 23 to examine its books and records; the surplus requirements in this paragraph do not 24 apply to reinsurance ceded and assumed under a pooling arrangement among insurers 25 in the same holding company system; 26 (4) assuming alien insurer that 27 (A) maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial 28 institution for the payment of the valid claims of its United States policyholders 29 and ceding insurers, and their assigns and successors in interest, that conforms 30 to the following requirements: 31 (i) the trust shall be established in a form approved by
01 the director; the trust instrument must provide that contested claims are 02 valid and enforceable upon the final order of any court of competent 03 jurisdiction in the United States; the trust shall vest legal title to its 04 assets in the trustees of the trust for its United States policyholders and 05 ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest; the trust and 06 the assuming insurer are subject to examination as determined by the 07 director; the trust must remain in effect for so long as the assuming 08 insurer has outstanding liabilities due under the reinsurance agreements 09 subject to the trust; 10 (ii) on or before March 1 of each year the trustees shall 11 report in writing to the director on the balance of the trust and list the 12 trust's investments at the end of the preceding year, and shall certify the 13 date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify that the trust 14 does not expire before the following December 31; 15 (iii) in the case of a single assuming insurer, the trust 16 shall consist of trust money representing the assuming insurer's 17 liabilities attributable to business written in the United States and, in 18 addition, include a trust surplus of not less than $20,000,000; the single 19 assuming insurer shall make available to the director an annual 20 certification of the insurer's solvency by the insurer's domiciliary 21 regulator and by an independent public accountant; 22 (iv) in the case of a group, including incorporated and 23 [OF] individual unincorporated insurers, the trust shall consist of trust 24 money representing the group's liabilities attributable to business 25 written in the United States and, in addition, include a trust surplus not 26 less than $100,000,000; the incorporated members of the group may 27 not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a 28 member of the group and are subject to the same level of solvency 29 regulation and control by the group's domiciliary regulator as are 30 the unincorporated members; the group shall make available to the 31 director an annual certification of the solvency of each insurer [OF
01 THE INDIVIDUAL UNINCORPORATED INSURERS] by the group's 02 domiciliary regulator and by an independent certified public accountant, 03 or, for a Canadian or British insurer, an independent Canadian or 04 British chartered accountant; 05 (v) in the case of a group of incorporated insurers under 06 common administration that complies with the reporting requirements 07 contained in (ii) of this subparagraph, that has continuously transacted 08 an insurance business outside the United States for at least three years 09 immediately before making application for accreditation, that submits 10 to this state's authority to examine its books and records and bears the 11 expense of the examination, and that has aggregate policyholders' 12 surplus of $10,000,000,000, the trust shall be in an amount equal to the 13 group's several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States 14 ceding insurers to a member of the group under reinsurance contracts 15 issued in the name of the group, and the group shall maintain a joint 16 trustee surplus, of which $100,000,000 shall be held jointly for the 17 benefit of United States ceding insurers of a member of the group as 18 additional security for the group's liabilities, and each member of the 19 group shall make available to the director an annual certification of the 20 member's solvency by the member's domiciliary regulator and the 21 member's independent certified public accountant, or, for a Canadian 22 or British insurer, the member's independent Canadian or British 23 chartered accountant; and 24 (B) reports annually to the director information substantially the 25 same as that required to be reported on the National Association of Insurance 26 Commissioners' annual statement form by licensed insurers to enable the 27 director to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund; 28 (5) assuming insurer that does not meet the requirements of (1) - (4) 29 of this subsection, but only with respect to the insurance of risks located in 30 jurisdictions where the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that 31 jurisdiction.
01 * Sec. 17. AS 21.18.060(b) is amended to read: 02 (b) The director may require that the reserves be equal to the unearned 03 portions of the gross premiums in force after deducting applicable reinsurance in 04 solvent insurers as computed on each respective risk from the policy's date of issue. 05 [EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY THE DIRECTOR UNDER THIS SUBSECTION, THE 06 PORTIONS OF THE GROSS PREMIUM IN FORCE, LESS APPLICABLE 07 REINSURANCE IN SOLVENT INSURERS, TO BE HELD AS AN UNEARNED 08 PREMIUM RESERVE SHALL BE COMPUTED ACCORDING TO THE 09 FOLLOWING TABLE: 10 TERM FOR WHICH POLICY RESERVE FOR UNEARNED 11 WAS WRITTEN PREMIUM 12 1 YEAR OR LESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/2 13 2 YEARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1ST YEAR 3/4 14 2ND YEAR 1/4 15 3 YEARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1ST YEAR 5/6 16 2ND YEAR 1/2 17 3RD YEAR 1/6 18 4 YEARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1ST YEAR 7/8 19 2ND YEAR 5/8 20 3RD YEAR 3/8 21 4TH YEAR 1/8 22 5 YEARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ST YEAR 9/10 23 2ND YEAR 7/10 24 3RD YEAR 1/2 25 4TH YEAR 3/10 26 5TH YEAR 1/10 27 OVER 5 YEARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PRO RATA.] 28 * Sec. 18. AS 21.18.060(c) is amended to read: 29 (c) An [IN LIEU OF COMPUTATION ACCORDING TO THE TABLE IN 30 (b) OF THIS SECTION, THE] insurer shall [AT ITS OPTION MAY] compute all of 31 the reserves on a monthly or more frequent pro rata basis.
01 * Sec. 19. AS 21.18.090 is amended to read: 02 Sec. 21.18.090. LOSS RESERVES, LIABILITY INSURANCE, AND 03 WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Where required in the form of annual statement 04 required of the insurer, the reserve for outstanding losses under insurance against loss 05 or damage from accident to or injuries suffered by an employee or other person and 06 for which the insured is liable shall be computed as follows: 07 (1) for all liability claims under policies written more than three 08 years before the end of the calendar year covered by the annual statement, the 09 reserve shall be the undiscounted value of the determined and the estimated 10 future payments [SUITS BEING DEFENDED UNDER POLICIES WRITTEN MORE 11 THAN 12 (A) 10 YEARS BEFORE THE DATE THE STATEMENT IS 13 MADE, $1,500 FOR EACH SUIT; 14 (B) FIVE OR MORE AND LESS THAN 10 YEARS BEFORE 15 THE STATEMENT IS MADE, $1,000 FOR EACH SUIT; 16 (C) THREE OR MORE AND LESS THAN FIVE YEARS 17 BEFORE THE STATEMENT IS MADE, $850 FOR EACH SUIT]; 18 (2) for all liability policies written during the three years immediately 19 preceding the date the statement is made, the reserve shall be the greater of 60 20 percent of the earned liability premiums of each of the three years less all losses and 21 expense payments made under liability policies written in the corresponding years or 22 the undiscounted value of the known and unknown claims; [BUT THE RESERVE, 23 FOR THE FIRST OF THE THREE YEARS, SHALL BE NOT LESS THAN $750 24 FOR EACH OUTSTANDING LIABILITY SUIT ON THE YEAR'S POLICIES]; 25 (3) for all workers' compensation claims under policies written more 26 than three years before the end of the calendar year covered by the annual 27 statement [IS MADE], the reserve may not [SHALL] be less than the present value 28 at four per cent interest of the determined and the estimated future payments; 29 (4) for all workers' compensation claims under policies written in the 30 three years immediately preceding the end of the calendar year covered by [DATE] 31 the annual statement [IS MADE], the reserve may not [SHALL] be less than 65
01 percent of the earned workers' compensation premiums of each of the three years, less 02 all loss and loss expense payments made in connection with the claims under policies 03 written in the corresponding years; [BUT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE 04 THREE-YEAR PERIOD,] the reserve may not [SHALL] be [NOT] less than the 05 present value at four [4] percent interest of the determined and the estimated unpaid 06 compensation claims under policies written during the three-year period [YEAR]. 07 * Sec. 20. AS 21.21.250(a) is amended to read: 08 (a) An insurer may make loans or investments not otherwise expressly 09 permitted under this chapter, in aggregate amount not over five percent of the insurer's 10 assets and not over one percent of the insurer's assets for [OF] any one loan or 11 investment, if the loan or investment fulfills the requirements of AS 21.21.030, and 12 otherwise qualifies as a sound investment. However, a loan or investment may not be 13 represented by 14 (1) an item described in AS 21.18.030, or a loan or investment 15 otherwise expressly prohibited; 16 (2) agents' balances, or amounts advanced to or owing by agents or 17 former agents of the insurer, whether or not secured; except policy loans, mortgage 18 loans, and collateral loans otherwise authorized under this chapter; 19 (3) a category of loans or investments eligible under other provisions 20 of this chapter; or 21 (4) an asset theretofore acquired or held by the insurer under any other 22 category of loans or investments eligible under this chapter. 23 * Sec. 21. AS 21.21.370(a) is amended to read: 24 (a) A domestic insurer may [NOT] acquire, directly or indirectly, a medium 25 grade or lower grade obligation of an institution if, after giving effect to the 26 acquisition, 27 (1) the aggregate amount of all medium grade and lower grade 28 obligations held by the domestic insurer does not exceed [EXCEEDS] 20 percent of 29 its admitted assets and if not more than 30 (A) 10 percent of its admitted assets consist of obligations rated 31 four, five, or six by the securities valuation office;
01 (B) three percent of its admitted assets consist of obligations 02 rated five or six by the securities valuation office; and 03 (C) one percent of its admitted assets consist of obligations 04 rated six by the securities valuation office; and [OR] 05 (2) the aggregate amount of all medium grade and [OR] lower grade 06 obligations held by the domestic insurer does not exceed [EXCEEDS] 30 percent of 07 its policyholders' surplus account as shown by the insurer's most recent report filed 08 under AS 21.06.150, AS 21.09.200, or 21.09.205. 09 * Sec. 22. AS 21.22.010(g) is amended to read: 10 (g) The provisions of this section do not apply to 11 (1) an offer of, request for, invitation for, or agreement regarding [, 12 OR] acquisition of a voting security that, immediately before the consummation of the 13 offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition, was not issued and outstanding; or 14 (2) an offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition that the 15 director by order may exempt as not having been made or entered into for the purpose 16 and not having the effect of changing or influencing the control of the domestic 17 insurer. 18 * Sec. 23. AS 21.22.030(a) is amended to read: 19 (a) The director shall approve a merger or other acquisition of control referred 20 to in AS 21.22.010 unless, after a public hearing, the director issues an order 21 containing findings of fact and conclusions of law finding [FINDS] that 22 (1) after the change of control, the domestic insurer referred to in 23 AS 21.22.010 would not be able to satisfy the requirements for the issuance of a 24 license to write the line or lines of insurance for which it is presently licensed; 25 (2) the effect of the merger or other acquisitions of control would be 26 substantially to lessen competition in insurance in this state or tend to create a 27 monopoly in this state; 28 (3) the financial condition of an acquiring party is such that it might 29 jeopardize the financial stability of the insurer, or prejudice the interest of its 30 policyholders or the interests of any remaining security holders who are unaffiliated 31 with the acquiring party;
01 (4) the terms of the offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition 02 referred to in AS 21.22.010 are unfair and unreasonable to the security holders of the 03 insurer; 04 (5) the plans or proposals that the acquiring party has to liquidate the 05 insurer, sell its assets, or consolidate or merge it with any person, or to make any other 06 material change in its business or corporate structure or management, are unfair and 07 unreasonable to policyholders of the insurer and not in the public interest; [OR] 08 (6) the competence, experience, and integrity of those persons who 09 would control the operation of the insurer are such that it would not be in the interest 10 of policyholders of the insurer and of the public to permit the merger or other 11 acquisition of control; or 12 (7) the acquisition is likely to be hazardous or prejudicial to the 13 insurance buying public. 14 * Sec. 24. AS 21.22.030 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 15 (d) The director may retain at the acquiring person's expense an attorney, 16 actuary, accountant, or other expert not otherwise a part of the director's staff, if 17 reasonably necessary to assist the director in reviewing the proposed acquisition of 18 control. 19 * Sec. 25. AS 21.22.060(b) is amended to read: 20 (b) Every insurer subject to registration shall file a registration statement on 21 a form provided by the director, that must contain current information about 22 (1) the capital structure, general financial condition, ownership, and 23 management of the insurer and any person controlling the insurer; 24 (2) the identity of every member of the insurance holding company 25 system; 26 (3) the following agreements in force, relationships subsisting, and 27 transactions currently outstanding between the insurer and its affiliates: 28 (A) loans, other investments, or purchases, sales, or exchanges 29 of securities of the affiliates by the insurer or of the insurer by its affiliates; 30 (B) purchases, sales, or exchanges of assets; 31 (C) transactions not in the ordinary course of business;
01 (D) guarantees or undertakings for the benefit of an affiliate that 02 result in an actual contingent exposure of the insurer's assets to liability, other 03 than insurance contracts entered into in the ordinary course of the insurer's 04 business; 05 (E) all management and service contracts and all cost-sharing 06 arrangements [, OTHER THAN COST ALLOCATION ARRANGEMENTS 07 BASED UPON GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES]; 08 and 09 (F) reinsurance agreements [COVERING ALL OR 10 SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ONE OR MORE LINES OF INSURANCE OF 11 THE CEDING COMPANY]; and 12 (4) other matters concerning transactions between registered insurers 13 and any affiliates that may be included from time to time in a registration form 14 adopted or approved by the director. 15 * Sec. 26. AS 21.22.060(c) is amended to read: 16 (c) The director may permit an authorized insurer that is a member of a 17 holding company system subject to registration under the laws or regulations of its 18 state of domicile that are in the opinion of the director substantially similar to those 19 contained in this chapter to satisfy the requirements of (a) of this section by filing a 20 statement in accordance with the laws of its state of domicile [EXCEPT THAT THE 21 DIRECTOR MAY AT ANY TIME REQUIRE A COPY OF THAT STATEMENT BE 22 FILED WITH THE DIRECTOR]. 23 * Sec. 27. AS 21.22.060(d) is amended to read: 24 (d) Information [NO INFORMATION] need not be disclosed on the 25 registration statement filed under (b) of this section if that information is not material 26 for the purposes of this section. Unless the director by regulation or order provides 27 otherwise, sales, purchases, exchanges, loans or extensions of credit, or investments, 28 involving one-half of one percent or less of an insurer's admitted assets or five percent 29 or less of the policyholder's surplus as of the 31st day of December of the calendar 30 year in which the transaction took place are not considered material for purposes of 31 this section.
01 * Sec. 28. AS 21.22.060(k) is amended to read: 02 (k) An insurer subject to registration under (a) of this section shall register 03 annually by April 1 of each year for the previous calendar year unless, for good cause 04 shown, the director extends the time for registration. The director may require an 05 insurer [AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE, THAT IS A MEMBER 06 OF A HOLDING COMPANY SYSTEM AND] that is allowed to register as 07 provided [NOT SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION] under (c) [(a)] of this section, to 08 furnish a copy of 09 (1) the registration statement; 10 (2) [,] the summary specified in (l) of this section; [,] or 11 (3) other information filed by the insurer with the insurance regulatory 12 authority of the insurer's state of domicile. 13 * Sec. 29. AS 21.27.010(a) is amended to read: 14 (a) Except as provided otherwise in this chapter, a [A] person may not act 15 as or represent to be an insurance producer, managing general agent, reinsurance 16 intermediary broker, reinsurance intermediary manager, surplus lines broker, or 17 independent adjuster in this state or relative to a subject resident, located, or to be 18 performed in this state unless licensed under this chapter. A person may not act as or 19 represent to be a managing general agent, reinsurance intermediary broker, or 20 reinsurance intermediary manager representing an insurer domiciled in this state 21 regarding a risk located outside this state unless licensed by this state. 22 * Sec. 30. AS 21.27.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 23 (f) The director may 24 (1) adopt regulations establishing additional education or experience 25 requirements for applicants or licensees under this chapter; and 26 (2) make arrangements, including contracting with an outside agency, 27 for administrative services. 28 * Sec. 31. AS 21.27.025(a) is amended to read: 29 (a) A licensee shall notify the director within 30 days in writing by certified 30 mail of a change in residence, employment that is licensed under this chapter, place 31 of business, legal name, fictitious name or alias, mailing address, or phone number;
01 a suspension, [OR] revocation, or disciplinary action of a license by another state or 02 jurisdiction; or a conviction of a misdemeanor or felony. 03 * Sec. 32. AS 21.27.060(d) is amended to read: 04 (d) This section does not apply to an applicant 05 (1) for a limited license under AS 21.27.150(1), (2), or (6); 06 (2) who, at any time within the two-year period immediately preceding 07 the date the current pending application is received by the division, had been licensed 08 in good standing in this state under a license requiring substantially similar 09 qualifications as required by the license applied for; or 10 (3) whose license in its [THE] resident jurisdiction requires the same 11 qualifications as the license applied for in this state if the license in all jurisdictions 12 is in good standing [AND ITS RESIDENT JURISDICTION IS ACCREDITED BY 13 THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS]. 14 * Sec. 33. AS 21.27.100 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 15 (e) An individual in a firm who acts solely on behalf of a firm that is 16 appointed as an agent on behalf of an admitted insurer under this section, may not be 17 required to also have an appointment if the individual in the firm is licensed with that 18 firm. 19 * Sec. 34. AS 21.27.130 is amended to read: 20 Sec. 21.27.130. FORM AND CONTENT OF LICENSES. A license shall be 21 in the form the director prescribes and must set out 22 (1) the name and [MAILING] address of the licensee, and, if the 23 licensee is required to have a place of business, the physical address of the place of 24 business; 25 (2) if for a firm, the name of the principal or manager of the firm; 26 (3) the kind or class of insurance the licensee is licensed to handle; 27 (4) the effective date and expiration date of the license; 28 (5) the condition under which the license is granted; 29 (6) the date of issuance of the license; 30 (7) each fictitious name and alias under which the licensee may do 31 business; and
01 (8) other information required by the director. 02 * Sec. 35. AS 21.27.360(b) is amended to read: 03 (b) All money, except that made payable to the insurer, representing premium 04 taxes and fees, premiums or return premiums received by the licensee, shall be 05 received in the fiduciary account of the licensee and shall be promptly accounted for 06 and paid to the person entitled to the money. The fiduciary account shall be located 07 in this state unless the licensee is licensed as a nonresident under AS 21.27.270. 08 For purposes of this section, the fiduciary account of the firm shall be considered the 09 fiduciary account of an individual licensee acting on behalf of the firm and shall be 10 the responsibility of the firm. Money deposited into a fiduciary account may not be 11 commingled or otherwise combined with other money, except as allowed under (d) of 12 this section and AS 21.27.365. 13 * Sec. 36. AS 21.27.380(a) is amended to read: 14 (a) Except as provided in this title, the director may renew a license biennially 15 on a date set by the director if the licensee continues to be qualified under this chapter 16 and on or before the close of business of the renewal date, meets all renewal 17 requirements established by regulation and pays the [IF] renewal license fees set 18 under AS 21.06.250 for each license to [ARE RECEIVED BY] the director [ON OR 19 BEFORE THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS OF THE RENEWAL DATE]. A licensee is 20 responsible for knowing the date that a license lapses and for renewing a license before 21 expiration. The director shall mail a renewal notice to the licensee's current address 22 on file with the director 30 days before the renewal date. 23 * Sec. 37. AS 21.27.420 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 24 (c) With the consent of an applicant or licensee, the director may issue or 25 renew a license with restrictions upon the scope of the person's license or may 26 otherwise restrict or condition the activities of the licensee if the director determines 27 that the person has violated the provisions of this title or to protect the public from 28 injury or potential injury. 29 * Sec. 38. AS 21.27.530 is amended to read: 30 Sec. 21.27.530. INSURANCE PRODUCER QUALIFICATIONS. In addition 31 to the general qualifications under AS 21.27.020, to qualify for issuance or renewal of
01 an insurance producer license, an applicant or licensee 02 (1) must possess the competence necessary to fulfill the responsibilities 03 of an insurance producer; 04 (2) if previously licensed in good standing in this state as an insurance 05 producer, must not have had a license suspended or revoked within the previous four 06 calendar years; 07 (3) for a fraternal society limited insurance producer license, shall file 08 with the application a statement by an officer or director of the appointing fraternal 09 society that affirms that the society has satisfied itself that the applicant is trustworthy 10 and competent to act as its insurance agent; 11 (4) for a license with a scope that includes variable contracts, must 12 either be currently registered with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission as 13 a broker-dealer or personally take and pass, to the satisfaction of the director, tests of 14 the knowledge and competence of the applicant concerning securities; and 15 (5) except for an applicant or licensee who represents to be and acts 16 solely on behalf of admitted insurers as an agent and who does not receive money 17 required to be received in the fiduciary account of the licensee, shall file with the 18 application and maintain in force while licensed a bond in the amount of $10,000, 19 unless a greater amount is required by another provision of this title; a licensee who 20 maintains more than one place of business may satisfy the bond requirement with 21 a single bond. 22 * Sec. 39. AS 21.27.570(a)(3)(B) is amended to read: 23 (B) the controlling insurance producer shall render accounts to 24 the controlled insurer detailing all transactions, including information in the 25 accounts necessary to support compensation, commissions, charges, and other 26 fees received by, or owing to, the controlling producer; 27 * Sec. 40. AS 21.27.620(j) is amended to read: 28 (j) If the director determines after a hearing under AS 21.06.170 - 21.06.240 29 that a managing general agent caused loss or damage arising out of a violation of 30 AS 21.27.590 - 21.27.630 to an insurer, the director may order the managing general 31 agent to make restitution to the insurer, receiver, [THE] rehabilitator, or [THE]
01 liquidator of the insurer for the loss. Restitution ordered under this subsection is in 02 addition to any other liability of the managing general agent and does not affect the 03 rights of a policy holder, claimant, creditor, or third party. The director may 04 maintain or bring a civil action brought by or on behalf of the insurer and its 05 policyholders and creditors for recovery of compensatory damages for the benefit 06 of the insurer and its policyholders and creditors or seek other appropriate relief. 07 If an order of rehabilitation or liquidation of the insurer has been entered under 08 AS 21.78, the receiver appointed under the order determines that a person has not 09 materially complied with AS 21.27.590 - 21.27.630 or an order of the director, and 10 the insurer suffers loss or damage from the noncompliance, the receiver may 11 bring a civil action for the recovery of damages or other appropriate sanctions for 12 the benefit of the insurer. 13 * Sec. 41. AS 21.27.690(b) is amended to read: 14 (b) An [A DOMESTIC] insurer may use a nonresident reinsurance 15 intermediary broker who is not licensed under this chapter if the person is licensed in 16 good standing as a resident reinsurance intermediary broker by an insurance regulator 17 of another state that is accredited by the National Association of Insurance 18 Commissioners. Upon written request, the director may grant written permission for 19 a domestic insurer to use an alien reinsurance intermediary broker not licensed by and 20 without a place of business in a jurisdiction subject to accreditation by the National 21 Association of Insurance Commissioners if the alien reinsurance intermediary broker 22 is licensed in good standing by its domiciliary insurance regulator. The domestic 23 insurer and unlicensed reinsurance intermediary broker are subject to all other 24 requirements of this section. 25 * Sec. 42. AS 21.27.690(e) is amended to read: 26 (e) If the director determines after a hearing under AS 21.06.170 - 21.06.240 27 that a reinsurance intermediary broker caused losses or damage arising out of a 28 violation of AS 21.27.670 - 21.27.700 to an insurer or reinsurer, the director may order 29 the reinsurance intermediary broker to make restitution to the insurer, reinsurer, 30 receiver, rehabilitator, or liquidator of the insurer or reinsurer for the net losses 31 incurred by the insurer or reinsurer. Restitution ordered under this subsection is in
01 addition to any other liability of the reinsurance intermediary broker and does not 02 affect the rights of a policyholder, claimant, creditor, or third party. The director may 03 maintain or bring a civil action brought by or on behalf of the reinsurer or 04 insurer and its policyholders and creditors for recovery of compensatory damages 05 for the benefit of the reinsurer or insurer and its policyholders and creditors or 06 seek other appropriate relief. If an order of rehabilitation or liquidation of the 07 insurer has been entered under AS 21.78, the receiver appointed under the order 08 determines that a person has not materially complied with AS 21.27.670 - 09 21.27.700 or an order of the director, and the insurer suffers loss or damage from 10 the noncompliance, the receiver may bring a civil action for the recovery of 11 damages or other appropriate sanctions for the benefit of the insurer. 12 * Sec. 43. AS 21.27.760(j) is amended to read: 13 (j) If the director determines after a hearing under AS 21.06.170 - 21.06.240 14 that a reinsurance intermediary manager caused losses or damage arising out of a 15 violation of AS 21.27.730 - 21.27.770 to an insurer or reinsurer, the director may order 16 the reinsurance intermediary manager to make restitution to the insurer, reinsurer, 17 receiver, rehabilitator, or liquidator of the insurer or reinsurer for the net losses 18 incurred by the insurer or reinsurer. Restitution ordered under this subsection is in 19 addition to any other liability of the reinsurance intermediary manager and does not 20 affect the rights of a policyholder, claimant, creditor, or third party. The director may 21 maintain or bring a civil action brought by or on behalf of the reinsurer or 22 insurer and its policyholders and creditors for recovery of compensatory damages 23 for the benefit of the reinsurer or insurer and its policyholders and creditors or 24 seek other appropriate relief. If an order of rehabilitation or liquidation of the 25 insurer has been entered under AS 21.78, the receiver appointed under the order 26 determines that a person has not materially complied with AS 21.27.730 - 27 21.27.770 or an order of the director, and the insurer suffers loss or damage from 28 the noncompliance, the receiver may bring a civil action for the recovery of 29 damages or other appropriate sanctions for the benefit of the insurer. 30 * Sec. 44. AS 21.34.040(c)(4) is amended to read: 31 (4) a Lloyd's or other similar group including incorporated and
01 individual unincorporated underwriters, [GROUP OF ALIEN INDIVIDUAL 02 INSURERS] may qualify if it maintains a trust fund in an amount not less than 03 $50,000,000, as security to the full amount, for the protection of all its policy holders 04 and creditors of each member of the group in the United States; the incorporated 05 members may not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a 06 member of the group and shall be subject to the same level of solvency regulation 07 and control by the group's domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated 08 members; the trust fund must consist of instruments of substantially the same 09 character and quality as those that are eligible investments for the capital and statutory 10 reserves of admitted insurers authorized to write like kinds of insurance in this state 11 or of irrevocable, clean, and unconditional letters of credit; the trust fund must have 12 an expiration date that at no time is less than five years; 13 * Sec. 45. AS 21.34.080(c) is amended to read: 14 (c) A producing broker shall execute and deliver to the surplus lines broker not 15 later than the end of each month on a form prescribed by the director, and a surplus 16 lines broker shall file with the director with the report required by (a) of this section 17 or with the surplus lines association with the evidence of insurance required by (b) of 18 this section, for surplus lines insurance first placed or renewed in the preceding 19 calendar month, an affidavit that shall be open to public inspection, as to the diligent 20 efforts to place the coverage with admitted insurers, and the results of those efforts. 21 The affidavit must contain a statement by the producing broker that the insured was 22 expressly informed in writing before the [PLACEMENT OF THE SURPLUS LINES] 23 insurance contract or coverage was bound that the surplus lines insurer with whom 24 the insurance was to be placed is not licensed in this state, is not subject to this state's 25 supervision, and, in the event of the insolvency of the surplus lines insurer, losses will 26 not be covered under AS 21.80 (Alaska Insurance Guaranty Association Act). 27 * Sec. 46. AS 21.34.110 is amended to read: 28 Sec. 21.34.110. SURPLUS LINES BROKER'S DUTY TO NOTIFY 29 INSURED. (a) A contract of insurance placed by a surplus lines broker under this 30 chapter is not binding upon the insured and a premium charged is not due and payable 31 until
01 (1) the surplus lines broker has notified the insured in writing, a copy 02 of which shall be maintained by the licensee with the records of the contract, available 03 for examination, that the insurer with which the surplus lines broker places the 04 insurance does not hold a certificate of authority issued by this state and is not subject 05 to its supervision, and in the event of the insolvency of the surplus lines insurer, losses 06 will not be covered under AS 21.80 (Alaska Insurance Guaranty Association Act); or 07 (2) the surplus lines broker has obtained the affidavit of the 08 producing broker that the notice required under AS 21.34.080(c) has been given 09 to the insured; a licensee shall maintain a copy of the affidavit with the record of 10 the contract available for examination. 11 (b) Nothing in this section may be construed as nullifying [SHALL 12 NULLIFY] an agreement by an insurer to provide insurance. 13 * Sec. 47. AS 21.34.190(a) is amended to read: 14 (a) The fee for filing the statement under AS 21.34.180(b) is an amount equal 15 to one percent on gross premium charged less any return premiums during the 16 preceding calendar year [QUARTER]. The surplus lines broker shall pay the fee at 17 the time of filing of the statement. 18 * Sec. 48. AS 21.36.120(d) is amended to read: 19 (d) Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting the payment of 20 commissions or other compensation to persons duly transacting business under 21 AS 21.27 [LICENSED AGENTS OR SOLICITORS], or as prohibiting an insurer from 22 allowing or returning to its participating policyholders, members, or subscribers, lawful 23 dividends, savings, or unabsorbed premium deposits. 24 * Sec. 49. AS 21.36.195 is amended to read: 25 Sec. 21.36.195. SURPLUS LINES BROKERS AND INSURANCE 26 PRODUCERS; PROHIBITED ACTS. A surplus lines broker or an insurance 27 producer may not fail to provide evidence [THE EVIDENCES] of insurance, 28 affidavits, filings, or reports, or fail to maintain the records, or fail to pay the taxes and 29 fees, required under AS 21.34. 30 * Sec. 50. AS 21.36.235(a) is amended to read: 31 (a) Except as provided in AS 21.36.305 [AS 21.36.420], if the renewal
01 premium is increased more than 10 percent for a reason other than an increase in 02 coverage or exposure base, or if after renewal there will be a material restriction or 03 reduction in coverage not specifically requested by the insured, written notice shall be 04 mailed to the insured and to the agent or broker of record as required by AS 21.36.260 05 (1) at least 20 days before expiration of a personal insurance policy; 06 or 07 (2) at least 45 days before expiration of a business or commercial 08 policy. 09 * Sec. 51. AS 21.36.290 is amended to read: 10 Sec. 21.36.290. POLICY PERIOD. Except as described in (b) of this 11 section, a [A] policy with a policy period or term of less than 12 months shall, for the 12 purposes of AS 21.36.210 - 21.36.310, be considered to be written for a policy period 13 or term of 12 months except in case of cancellation under any of the circumstances 14 specified in AS 21.36.210, and a policy written for a term longer than one year or a 15 policy with no fixed expiration date shall be considered to be written for successive 16 policy periods or terms of one year and termination by an insurer effective on an 17 anniversary date of the policy shall be considered a failure to renew. 18 * Sec. 52. AS 21.36.290 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 19 (b) For determining the appropriate rate or premium, a personal automobile 20 insurance policy with a policy period or term of less than six months shall, for the 21 purposes of AS 21.36.210 - 21.36.310, be considered to be written for a policy period 22 or term of six months. 23 * Sec. 53. AS 21.36 is amended by adding a new section to read: 24 Sec. 21.36.305. PREMIUM INCREASES ON PERSONAL AUTOMOBILE 25 INSURANCE POLICIES. (a) An insurer may not increase the premium on a personal 26 automobile insurance policy unless the increase applies to all insureds of the same 27 class. 28 (b) An insurer may not increase the premium or add a surcharge to a personal 29 automobile insurance policy because of the issuance of a citation for a moving traffic 30 violation unless the insured or another person who resides in the insured's household 31 and is covered by the policy has been convicted of the violation or has entered a plea
01 of no contest to the violation. 02 (c) The director shall adopt regulations to determine circumstances under 03 which an insurer may increase the premium or add a surcharge to a personal 04 automobile insurance policy. 05 (d) An insurer that increases the premium or adds a surcharge to a personal 06 automobile insurance policy may only make the increase or surcharge effective on the 07 renewal date of the policy. 08 (e) An insurer that increases the premium or adds a surcharge to a personal 09 automobile insurance policy shall give written notice of the increase or surcharge at 10 least 20 days before it takes effect, stating the reason for the change and the right of 11 appeal under AS 21.39.090. This subsection does not apply to 12 (1) premium increase resulting from a change requested by an insured, 13 if the insured is notified at the time the request is made that the amount of the 14 insured's premium will change as a result of the requested policy change; or 15 (2) rate approved by the director if the insurer gives written notice of 16 a premium increase to the insured at least 20 days before the renewal date of the 17 affected policy. 18 * Sec. 54. AS 21.36.360(i) is amended to read: 19 (i) A criminal insurance act is committed by a person [AN INSURER] doing 20 business in this state or relative to a subject resident, located, or to be performed 21 in this state who knowingly 22 (1) writes, places, or causes to be written or placed in this state or 23 relative to a subject resident, located, or to be performed in this state a policy, 24 duplicate policy, or contract of insurance of any kind or character, or general or 25 floating policy upon persons or property resident, situated, or located in this state, from 26 or through a person not authorized to transact business under AS 21.27 or a risk 27 retention group or purchasing group not registered under AS 21.89.070 28 [BROKER, AGENT, SURPLUS LINE BROKER, OR PERSON WHO HAS NOT 29 SECURED A GENERAL AGENT LICENSE IN THIS STATE]; or 30 (2) pays a commission or other form of remuneration to a person, firm, 31 or organization for the writing or placing of insurance coverage in this state or relative
01 to a subject resident, located, or to be performed in this state unless that person, 02 firm, or organization is authorized under AS 21.27 to transact [HOLDS A LICENSE 03 ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR FOR] the kind or class of insurance written or placed, 04 or, in the case of a risk retention group or purchasing group, is registered under 05 AS 21.89.070. 06 * Sec. 55. AS 21.36.360(j) is amended to read: 07 (j) A criminal insurance act is committed by a person in this state or relative 08 to a subject resident, located, or to be performed in this state who acts as an 09 insurance producer, managing general agent, third-party administrator, 10 reinsurance intermediary broker, reinsurance intermediary manager, surplus lines 11 broker [SOLICITOR], or independent adjuster without being licensed by the director 12 as required under this title or as a risk retention group or purchasing group 13 without being registered as required under AS 21.89.070. A criminal insurance act 14 is committed by an insurance producer, managing general agent, third-party 15 administrator, reinsurance intermediary broker, reinsurance intermediary 16 manager, or surplus lines broker [OR SOLICITOR] who solicits or takes application 17 for, procures, or places for others any insurance for which the person is not licensed 18 as required under AS 21.27 or for which the license of the person has been 19 suspended or revoked. A criminal insurance act is committed by a person in this 20 state or relative to a subject resident, located, or to be performed in this state who 21 acts as or on behalf of a risk retention group or a purchasing group that is not 22 registered under AS 21.89.070 [THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A 23 PERSON DESCRIBED IN AS 21.90.910 OR TO A PERSON SECURING AND 24 FORWARDING INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF A GROUP 25 INSURANCE COVERING THE UNPAID BALANCE OR REMAINING PAYMENTS 26 PROPOSED TO BE MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF 27 MERCHANDISE OR SERVICES IF NO COMMISSION OR OTHER 28 COMPENSATION IS PAYABLE ON ACCOUNT OF THE INSURANCE TO THE 29 PERSON]. 30 * Sec. 56. AS 21.36.360(k) is amended to read: 31 (k) A criminal insurance act is committed by an insurance producer,
01 managing general agent, [GENERAL AGENT,] third-party administrator, 02 reinsurance intermediary broker, reinsurance intermediary manager, or surplus 03 lines broker [OR SOLICITOR] who knowingly compensates or offers to compensate 04 in any manner a person other than an insurance producer, managing [AGENT,] 05 general agent, third-party administrator, reinsurance intermediary broker, 06 reinsurance intermediary manager, or surplus lines broker [OR SOLICITOR] 07 licensed as required under this title in this or another jurisdiction [STATE OR 08 PROVINCE], for procuring or in any manner helping to procure applications for or to 09 place insurance in this state. A criminal insurance act is committed by a person in 10 this state or relative to a subject resident, located, or to be performed in this state 11 who acts as or on behalf of a risk retention group or a purchasing group that is 12 not registered under AS 21.89.070 [THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO 13 THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION THAT IS NOT CONTINGENT UPON 14 VOLUME OF BUSINESS TRANSACTED IN THE FORM OF SALARIES TO THE 15 REGULAR EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENT, GENERAL AGENT, BROKER, OR 16 SOLICITOR]. 17 * Sec. 57. AS 21.36.360(n) is amended to read: 18 (n) A criminal insurance act is committed by an agent, managing general 19 agent, third-party administrator, reinsurance intermediary broker, reinsurance 20 intermediary manager, or other representative of an insurer involved in the procuring 21 or issuance of an insurance contract who intentionally fails to report to the insurer the 22 exact amount of consideration charged as premium for the contract and to maintain 23 records showing that information. 24 * Sec. 58. AS 21.36.380 is amended to read: 25 Sec. 21.36.380. NOTICE ON CLAIM FORM. A claim form must contain a 26 statement that states in substance the following: "A person who knowingly and with 27 intent to injure, defraud, or deceive an insurance company files a claim containing 28 false, incomplete, or misleading information may be prosecuted under state law [IS 29 GUILTY OF A FELONY]." A lack of the statement on a claim form does not 30 constitute a defense to prosecution under this title. 31 * Sec. 59. AS 21.39.040 is amended by adding new subsections to read:
01 (j) An insurer who has submitted an application for a certificate of authority 02 under AS 21.09.110 and a filing of policy forms under AS 21.42.120 may file a 03 proposed rating system as described in this section. The director's approval of the 04 rating system is contingent upon the issuance of a certificate of authority under 05 AS 21.09.120. 06 (k) The director may adopt regulations detailing the format and content of a 07 rating system filing under this section. 08 * Sec. 60. AS 21.39 is amended by adding a new section to read: 09 Sec. 21.39.055. CANCELLATION OF APPROVED FILING. The voluntary 10 surrender of a certificate of authority or the failure of the surrendering admitted foreign 11 insurer to continue a certificate of authority in force has the effect of cancelling an 12 approval that the insurer may have received under this chapter, unless the approval has 13 been affirmed by the director at the time of the surrender or noncontinuation of the 14 certificate of authority. 15 * Sec. 61. AS 21.42.120 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 16 (f) This section does not apply to a type of insurance subject to AS 21.57. 17 (g) An insurer who has submitted an application for a certificate of authority 18 under AS 21.09.110 may file a proposed policy form as described in this section. The 19 director's approval of the policy form is contingent upon the issuance of a certificate 20 of authority under AS 21.09.120. 21 (h) The director may adopt regulations detailing the format and content of the 22 filing of a policy form under this section. 23 * Sec. 62. AS 21.42.345 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 24 (b) An insurer authorized under AS 21.09 to offer, issue for delivery, deliver, 25 or renew an individual or group disability insurance policy for medical coverage on 26 an expense incurred basis in the state, or a hospital or medical service corporation 27 authorized under AS 21.87 to offer or renew an individual or group subscriber's 28 contract for medical coverage in the state, shall offer coverage for family members, 29 including newly born children, adopted children, or children placed for adoption and 30 is subject to the conditions in (a) of this section, regardless of the marital status of the 31 covered person.
01 * Sec. 63. AS 21.57.010 is amended to read: 02 Sec. 21.57.010. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to promote the 03 public welfare by regulating consumer credit [LIFE INSURANCE AND CREDIT 04 DISABILITY] insurance. Nothing in this chapter is intended to prohibit or discourage 05 reasonable competition. The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed. 06 * Sec. 64. AS 21.57.020 is repealed and reenacted to read: 07 Sec. 21.57.020. APPLICABILITY. Consumer credit insurance transacted in 08 connection with a credit transaction for a personal, household, or family purpose is 09 subject to the provisions of this chapter except 10 (1) insurance written in connection with a credit transaction that is 11 (A) secured by a first mortgage or first deed of trust; and 12 (B) made to finance the purchase of real property, the 13 construction of a dwelling, or to refinance a prior credit transaction made for 14 that purpose; 15 (2) an isolated insurance transaction by the insurer not related to an 16 agreement or a plan for insuring debtors of the creditor; or 17 (3) insurance for which no identifiable charge is made to the debtor. 18 * Sec. 65. AS 21.57.030 is repealed and reenacted to read: 19 Sec. 21.57.030. AUTHORIZED TYPES OF CONSUMER CREDIT 20 INSURANCE. A type of consumer credit insurance defined in AS 21.57.160 may be 21 written separately or in combination with other types of consumer credit insurance on 22 an individual or group basis. 23 * Sec. 66. AS 21.57.040 is repealed and reenacted to read: 24 Sec. 21.57.040. AMOUNT OF CONSUMER CREDIT INSURANCE. (a) The 25 amount of coverage for credit life insurance payable at the time of loss 26 (1) may not exceed the greater of the actual net debt or the scheduled 27 net debt, except insurance on an 28 (A) agricultural credit transaction commitment, not exceeding 29 one year in duration, may be written up to the amount of the loan commitment 30 on a nondecreasing or level term plan; and 31 (B) educational credit transaction commitment may be written
01 for the net outstanding balance plus any unused commitment; 02 (2) may not be less than the actual net debt less any payments more 03 than two months overdue if the coverage is written on the actual outstanding net debt; 04 (3) may not exceed the following if the coverage is written on the 05 scheduled outstanding net debt: 06 (A) the scheduled net debt if the actual net debt is less than or 07 equal to the scheduled net debt; 08 (B) the actual net debt if the actual net debt is greater than the 09 scheduled net debt but less than or equal to the scheduled net debt plus two 10 months of payments; or 11 (C) the scheduled net debt plus two months of payments if the 12 actual net debt is greater than the scheduled net debt plus two months of 13 payments; 14 (4) must equal the actual net debt on the date of death if a premium is 15 assessed to the debtor on a monthly basis and is based on the actual net debt; and 16 (5) may be less than the net debt when the partial coverage is 17 calculated using one of the following: 18 (A) the amount of insurance is the lesser of a stated amount and 19 the amount is determined by (2) of this subsection; 20 (B) the amount of insurance is the lesser of a stated amount and 21 the amount is determined by (3) of this subsection; 22 (C) the amount of insurance is a constant percentage of the 23 amount determined by (2) or (3) of this subsection; or 24 (D) in the absence of any preexisting condition exclusion, the 25 amount of insurance payable in the event of death due to natural causes is 26 limited to the balance as it existed six months before the date of death if 27 (i) there has been at least one increase in the outstanding 28 balance during that six-month period, other than an increase due to the 29 accrual of interest or late charges; and 30 (ii) evidence of individual insurability has not been 31 required during that six-month period.
01 (b) The director may provide for other patterns of insurance consistent with 02 (a) of this section by regulation. 03 (c) The total amount of periodic indemnity payable in the event of disability 04 or unemployment, as defined in the policy, may not exceed the sum of the periodic 05 scheduled unpaid installments of the gross debt. The amount of a periodic indemnity 06 payment may not exceed the original gross debt divided by the number of periodic 07 installments. 08 (d) If credit disability insurance or credit unemployment insurance is written 09 in connection with an open-end consumer credit agreement, the amount of insurance 10 may not exceed the gross debt that would accrue on the amount using the creditor's 11 minimum repayment schedule. The periodic indemnity need not relate to the creditor's 12 minimum repayment schedule. 13 * Sec. 67. AS 21.57.050 is repealed and reenacted to read: 14 Sec. 21.57.050. DURATION OF COVERAGE. (a) The effective date of 15 coverage for 16 (1) consumer credit insurance that is elected by the debtor before or 17 contemporaneous with a credit transaction is the date when the debtor becomes 18 obligated to the creditor, except that when evidence of individual insurability is 19 required and the evidence is furnished more than 30 days after the date when the 20 debtor becomes obligated to the creditor, the effective date may be the date on which 21 the insurance company determines the evidence to be satisfactory; 22 (2) insurance coverage that is elected by the debtor on a date 23 subsequent to the date of the credit transaction is, subject to acceptance by the insurer, 24 a date not earlier than the date the election is made by the debtor or later than 30 days 25 following the date on which the insurer accepts the risk for coverage; an insurer shall 26 determine if a risk is acceptable by an objective method, including one related to a 27 particular date within a billing or repayment cycle or a calendar month; and 28 (3) a group policy that provides coverage with respect to a debt existing 29 on the policy effective date, must be on or after the effective date of the group policy. 30 (b) A charge for insurance may not be made to the debtor and retained by the 31 creditor or insurer for a time before commencement of the consumer credit insurance
01 to which the charge is related. 02 (c) The duration of coverage for consumer credit insurance may not extend 03 (1) beyond the termination date specified in the policy; the termination 04 date of insurance may precede, coincide with, or follow the scheduled maturity date 05 of the debt to which it relates, subject to any other requirements and restrictions of this 06 chapter; and 07 (2) more than 15 days beyond the scheduled maturity date of the debt 08 except when extended 09 (A) without additional cost to the debtor; or 10 (B) under a written agreement signed by the debtor, in 11 connection with a variable interest rate credit transaction or a deferral, renewal, 12 refinancing, or consolidation of debt. 13 (d) If the debt is discharged due to renewal, refinancing, or consolidation 14 before the scheduled termination date of the insurance, insurance in force must be 15 terminated before new insurance may be written in connection with the renewed, 16 refinanced, or consolidated debt. 17 (e) If insurance coverage terminates before the scheduled termination of the 18 insurance, the insurer shall make an appropriate refund or credit to the debtor. The 19 refund or credit must consist of the unearned insurance charge paid by the debtor for 20 insurance after the date of the termination, except that a refund is not required of a 21 charge made for insurance if the insurance is terminated by performance of the 22 insurer's obligation with respect to the insurance. 23 (f) An insured debtor may terminate consumer credit insurance at any time by 24 providing advance notice to the insurer. The individual policy or group certificate may 25 require that the notice be in writing or that the debtor surrender the individual policy 26 or group certificate, or both. The debtor's right to terminate coverage may also be 27 subject to the terms of the credit transaction contract. 28 * Sec. 68. AS 21.57 is amended by adding a new section to read: 29 Sec. 21.57.055. DISCLOSURE TO DEBTORS. (a) Before a debtor elects to 30 purchase consumer credit insurance in connection with a credit transaction, the insurer 31 shall disclose the following in writing to the debtor:
01 (1) the purchase of consumer credit insurance is optional and not a 02 condition of obtaining credit approval; 03 (2) if more than one kind of consumer credit insurance is being made 04 available to the debtor, whether the debtor can purchase the insurance separately or the 05 multiple coverage only as a package; 06 (3) the conditions of eligibility; 07 (4) if the debtor has other insurance that covers the risk, the debtor may 08 not want or need credit insurance; 09 (5) if the creditor requires consumer credit insurance as additional 10 security for a debt, the debtor has the option of furnishing the required amount of 11 insurance through existing policies owned or procured by the debtor or of procuring 12 and furnishing the required insurance through an insurer authorized to transact 13 insurance business in this state; 14 (6) the effective date of the coverage; 15 (7) the debtor may cancel the coverage within the first 30 days after 16 receiving the individual policy or group certificate and have a premium paid by the 17 debtor refunded or credited; thereafter, the debtor may cancel the policy at any time 18 during the term of the loan and receive a refund of unearned premium; 19 (8) a brief description of the coverage, including 20 (A) the amount; 21 (B) the term; 22 (C) any exceptions, limitations, or exclusions; 23 (D) the insured event; 24 (E) any waiting or elimination period; 25 (F) any deductible; 26 (G) any applicable waiver of premium provision; 27 (H) to whom the benefits would be paid; and 28 (I) the premium rate for a coverage or for multiple coverage in 29 a package; 30 (9) if the premium or insurance charge is financed, it is subject to 31 finance charges at the rate applicable to the credit transaction or at another specified
01 rate; and 02 (10) whether or not the benefits provided are sufficient to pay off the 03 debt in full, including finance charges unearned at the time of the claim. 04 (b) The disclosure required in (a) of this section shall be provided in the 05 following manner: 06 (1) in connection with consumer credit insurance offered 07 contemporaneously with the extension of credit or offered through direct mail 08 advertisements, the disclosure shall be presented to the consumer in a clear and 09 conspicuous manner; or 10 (2) in conjunction with the offer of credit insurance subsequent to the 11 extension of credit by other than direct mail advertisements, the initial disclosure may 12 be provided orally as long as written disclosure is provided to the debtor not later than 13 10 days after the offer or the date any other written material is provided to the debtor, 14 whichever occurs first. 15 (c) If the debtor elects to purchase coverage, the delivery of the disclosure 16 required in (b) of this section shall be acknowledged by the debtor at the time of 17 delivery, and the insurer shall maintain the debtor's written acknowledgement for at 18 least five years. 19 * Sec. 69. AS 21.57.060 is repealed and reenacted to read: 20 Sec. 21.57.060. PROVISIONS OF POLICIES AND CERTIFICATES OF 21 INSURANCE. (a) Consumer credit insurance shall be evidenced by an individual 22 policy or a group certificate of insurance. 23 (b) The individual policy or group certificate must, in addition to other 24 requirements of law, set out 25 (1) the name and home office address of the insurer; 26 (2) the name of the debtor; 27 (3) the premium to be paid by the debtor disclosed separately for each 28 kind of coverage or for all coverage in a package, except that for open-ended loans, 29 the premium rate and the basis of premium calculation must be specified; 30 (4) a full description of the coverage including the amount, the term, 31 and any exceptions, limitations, or exclusions;
01 (5) a statement that the benefits shall be paid to the creditor to reduce 02 or extinguish the unpaid debt and that, whenever the amount of insurance benefit 03 exceeds the unpaid debt, the excess is payable to the debtor, a beneficiary other than 04 the creditor named by the debtor, or the debtor's estate; 05 (6) an explanation of how refunds are calculated in the event of policy 06 termination; and 07 (7) if the benefit is not adequate to completely pay off the debt existing 08 on the date of death or disability, a statement to that effect on the face of the 09 individual policy or group certificate in not smaller than 10 point, bold face type. 10 * Sec. 70. AS 21.57.070 is repealed and reenacted to read: 11 Sec. 21.57.070. REQUIREMENTS FOR EVIDENCE OF INSURANCE. (a) 12 Unless the individual policy or group certificate of insurance is delivered to the debtor 13 at the time the debt is incurred or when the debtor elects to purchase coverage, a copy 14 of the application for the policy or a notice of proposed insurance, signed by the 15 debtor and setting out (1) the name and home office address of the insurer, (2) the 16 name of the debtor, (3) the premium rate to be paid by the debtor for the insurance, 17 and (4) the amount, term, and a brief description of the coverage provided, shall be 18 delivered to the debtor at the time the debt is incurred or the election to purchase 19 coverage is made. The copy of the application for or notice of proposed insurance 20 must refer exclusively to insurance coverage and must be separate and apart from the 21 loan, sale, other credit statement of account, instrument, or agreement, unless the 22 information required by this subsection is prominently set out in it. Upon acceptance 23 of the insurance by the insurer and within 30 days of the date upon which the debt is 24 incurred or the election to purchase coverage is made, the insurer shall deliver the 25 individual policy or group certificate of insurance to the debtor. The application or 26 notice of proposed insurance must state that upon acceptance by the insurer, the 27 insurance shall become effective as provided in AS 21.57.050(a). 28 (b) The application or notice of proposed insurance may be used to fulfill all 29 of the requirements of AS 21.57.055(a) and 21.57.060(b) if it contains all of the 30 information required by those subsections. 31 (c) A debtor has 30 days from the date the debtor receives the individual
01 policy or the group certificate to review the coverage purchased. At any time within 02 the 30-day period, the debtor may contact the creditor or insurer issuing the policy or 03 certificate and request that the coverage be cancelled. An individual policy or group 04 certificate may require the request be in writing, that the policy or certificate be 05 returned to the insurer, or both. If a policy is cancelled, the insurer shall return a full 06 refund or credit of all premiums or insurance charges to the debtor within 30 days. 07 (d) If the named insurer does not accept the risk, the debtor shall receive a 08 policy or certificate of insurance listing the name and home office address of the 09 substituted insurer and the amount of the premium to be charged. If the amount of 10 premium is less than the amount in the notice of proposed insurance, the insurer shall 11 issue an appropriate refund within 30 days. If the risk is not accepted by an insurer, 12 a premium paid by the debtor shall be refunded or credited to the debtor within 30 13 days of the date of application. 14 (e) For the purposes of (a) of this section, an individual policy or group 15 certificate delivered in conjunction with an open-end consumer credit agreement or 16 consumer credit insurance requested by the debtor after the date of the debt is 17 considered to be delivered at the time the debt is incurred or election to purchase 18 coverage is made if the delivery occurs within 30 days of the date the insurance is 19 effective. 20 (f) An individual policy or group certificate delivered in conjunction with an 21 open-end consumer credit agreement shall continue from its effective date through the 22 term of the agreement unless the individual policy or group certificate is terminated 23 under its terms at an earlier date. 24 * Sec. 71. AS 21.57.080 is repealed and reenacted to read: 25 Sec. 21.57.080. FILING OF FORMS AND RATES. (a) An insurance policy, 26 certificate of insurance, notice of proposed insurance, insurance disclosure notice, 27 insurance advertisement, application for insurance, endorsement, and rider delivered 28 or issued for delivery in this state, and the applicable schedules of premium rates shall 29 be filed with the director before being used. 30 (b) A document required to be filed under (a) of this section must be on file 31 for a waiting period of 30 days before it is used or becomes effective, unless the
01 director gives prior written approval. This period may be extended for an additional 02 30 days if the director gives written notice within the waiting period to the insurer 03 making the filing. The director shall disapprove a filing if the premium rate charged 04 is not reasonable in relation to benefits or if it contains provisions that are unjust, 05 unfair, inequitable, misleading, deceptive, encourage misrepresentation of the policy, 06 or are contrary to a provision of this title or a regulation adopted under this title. A 07 filing is considered to be approved unless it is disapproved by the director within the 08 waiting period. 09 (c) If the director notifies the insurer that a document required to be filed 10 under (a) of this section is disapproved, the insurer may not issue or use any part of 11 the document. In providing notice of disapproval to the insurer, the director shall 12 specify the reason for disapproval and indicate that the insurer is entitled to a hearing. 13 (d) The director may, at any time after a hearing, withdraw approval of a filing 14 on the grounds specified under (b) of this section. The director shall provide the 15 insurer at least 20 days' prior written notice of a hearing scheduled by the director, and 16 the notice of the hearing must state the reason for the proposed withdrawal. 17 (e) An insurer may not issue or use a document required to be filed under (a) 18 of this section after the effective date of a withdrawal of approval under (d) of this 19 section. 20 (f) If a group policy of consumer credit insurance (1) has been delivered in 21 this state before July 1, 1994, or (2) has been or is delivered in another state before 22 or after July 1, 1994, the insurer shall be required to file only the group certificate and 23 notice of proposed insurance delivered or issued for delivery in this state as specified 24 in AS 21.57.060(b) and 21.57.070(a). 25 (g) Consumer credit insurance forms used for insurance described under (f) of 26 this section shall be approved by the director if they conform with the requirements 27 specified in this section and if the schedules of premium rates applicable to the 28 insurance evidenced by the certificate or notice are in accordance with the insurer's 29 schedules of premium rates filed with the director. An item required to be filed under 30 (a) of this section shall also be filed as specified in this chapter unless the item relates 31 to a group policy that is delivered in another state and the director has determined that
01 the other state has substantially similar statutes or regulations to this chapter. Upon 02 this determination, the items required to be filed under (a) of this section shall be filed 03 for informational purposes. If the director subsequently determines that the 04 informational filing is not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, the 05 insurer may not use the insurance policy, form, certificate, notice of proposed 06 insurance, disclosure notice, advertisement, application for insurance, endorsement, or 07 rider. 08 * Sec. 72. AS 21.57.090 is amended to read: 09 Sec. 21.57.090. PREMIUMS AND REFUNDS. (a) An insurer may revise its 10 schedules of premium rates from time to time, and file the revised schedules with the 11 director. An insurer may not issue a consumer credit [LIFE INSURANCE POLICY 12 OR CREDIT DISABILITY] insurance policy for which the premium rate differs from 13 [EXCEEDS] that determined by the schedules of the insurer then approved by [ON 14 FILE WITH] the director. 15 (b) An [EACH] individual policy or group certificate must provide for a 16 refund in the event of termination of [THAT IF] the insurance [IS TERMINATED] 17 before the scheduled maturity date of the insurance and upon notice to the insurer. 18 The [INDEBTEDNESS, ANY] refund of an amount paid by the debtor for insurance 19 shall be paid or credited promptly to the person entitled to it; provided, however, that 20 the director shall prescribe a minimum refund and a [NO] refund that would be less 21 than the minimum need not be made. A refund formula that an insurer desires to 22 use must provide refunds that are at least as favorable to the debtor as refunds 23 based on the rule of anticipation. The formula to be used in computing refunds shall 24 be filed with and approved by the director. 25 (c) If a creditor requires a debtor to make a payment for consumer credit 26 [LIFE INSURANCE OR CREDIT DISABILITY] insurance and an individual policy 27 or group certificate of insurance is not issued, the creditor shall immediately give 28 written notice to the debtor and shall promptly make an appropriate credit to the 29 account or issue a refund. 30 (d) The amount charged to a debtor for consumer credit [LIFE OR CREDIT 31 DISABILITY] insurance may not exceed the premium charged by the insurer, as
01 computed at the time the charge to the debtor is determined. 02 * Sec. 73. AS 21.57.090 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 03 (e) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to authorize a payment for 04 insurance prohibited under other provisions of law governing credit transactions. 05 * Sec. 74. AS 21.57.120 is amended to read: 06 Sec. 21.57.120. SELECTION RIGHTS OF INSURED [EXISTING 07 INSURANCE]. When consumer credit [LIFE INSURANCE OR CREDIT 08 DISABILITY] insurance is required as additional security for a debt [AN 09 INDEBTEDNESS], the debtor shall, upon request to the creditor, have the option of 10 furnishing the required amount of insurance through existing policies of insurance 11 owned or controlled by the debtor or of procuring and furnishing the required coverage 12 through an insurer authorized to transact an insurance business in this state. 13 * Sec. 75. AS 21.57 is amended by adding a new section to read: 14 Sec. 21.57.125. DUTIES OF AN INSURER. Except as otherwise prohibited 15 by law, duties imposed upon an insurer by this chapter may be carried out by a 16 creditor if the creditor is licensed under AS 21.27 as an insurance producer, a 17 managing general agent, or a third-party administrator, and transacts business within 18 the scope of its license on behalf of the insurer. 19 * Sec. 76. AS 21.57.150 is repealed and reenacted to read: 20 Sec. 21.57.150. PENALTIES. (a) In addition to any other penalty provided 21 by law, a person licensed under AS 21.27 that the director determines under 22 AS 21.06.170 - 21.06.240 has violated the provisions of this chapter is subject to 23 (1) a civil penalty equal to the compensation promised, paid, or to be 24 paid, directly or indirectly, to the licensee in regard to a violation; 25 (2) either a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for a violation or, 26 if the director determines that the person wilfully violated the provisions of this 27 chapter, a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for a violation; and 28 (3) denial, nonrenewal, suspension, or revocation of a license. 29 (b) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, an insurer that the 30 director determines under AS 21.06.170 - 21.06.240 has violated the provisions of this 31 chapter is subject to
01 (1) a civil penalty equal to the premium earned, directly or indirectly, 02 by the insurer in regard to a violation; 03 (2) either a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for a violation or, 04 if the director determines that the insurer wilfully violated the provisions of this 05 chapter, a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for a violation; and 06 (3) denial, suspension, or revocation of a certificate of authority. 07 (c) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person that the 08 director determines under AS 21.06.170 - 21.06.240 has violated the provisions of this 09 chapter is subject to 10 (1) either a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for a violation or, 11 if the director determines that the person wilfully violated the provisions of this 12 chapter, a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for a violation; and 13 (2) denial of a license. 14 * Sec. 77. AS 21.57.160 is repealed and reenacted to read: 15 Sec. 21.57.160. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter, 16 (1) "agriculture credit transaction commitment" means a binding 17 agreement to loan money up to a fixed amount as needed for agricultural purposes; 18 (2) "compensation" means commissions, dividends, retrospective rate 19 credits, service fees, expense allowances or reimbursements, gifts, furnishing 20 equipment, facilities, goods, or services, or any other form of remuneration resulting 21 directly from the sale of consumer credit insurance; 22 (3) "consumer credit insurance" means credit life insurance, credit 23 disability insurance, or credit unemployment insurance; 24 (4) "credit disability insurance" means insurance on a debtor to provide 25 indemnity for payments or debt becoming due on a specific loan or other credit 26 transaction while the debtor is disabled; 27 (5) "credit life insurance" means insurance on the life of a debtor under 28 or in connection with all or a part of a specific loan or other credit transaction; 29 (6) "credit unemployment insurance" means insurance on a debtor to 30 provide indemnity for payments or debt becoming due on a specific loan or other 31 credit transaction while the debtor is involuntarily unemployed;
01 (7) "credit transaction" means a transaction by which the repayment for 02 money loaned or a loan commitment made or payment for goods, services, or 03 properties sold or leased is made at a future date; 04 (8) "creditor" means a person who lends money or who sells or leases 05 goods, services, property, rights, or privileges, for which payment is arranged through 06 a credit transaction, and includes a person who is a successor to the right, title, or 07 interest of the lender, seller, or lessor; 08 (9) "debtor" means a person who borrows money, or purchases or 09 leases goods, services, property, rights, or privileges for which payment is arranged 10 through a credit transaction; 11 (10) "educational credit transaction commitment" means a binding 12 agreement to loan money up to a fixed amount as needed for educational purposes; 13 (11) "gross debt" means the total of the remaining payments owed to 14 the creditor by the debtor; 15 (12) "identifiable charge" means a charge for consumer credit insurance 16 that is made to a debtor having the benefit of the insurance, including a charge for 17 insurance that is disclosed in the consumer credit agreement or other instrument 18 furnished to the debtor, and any difference in the finance, interest, service, or other 19 similar charge made to a debtor in a like circumstance, except for their insured or 20 noninsured status; 21 (13) "net debt" means the amount necessary to liquidate the remaining 22 debt in a single lump sum payment, excluding all unearned finance charges; 23 (14) "open-end consumer credit" means consumer credit extended by 24 a creditor under an agreement in which 25 (A) the creditor reasonably contemplates repeated transactions; 26 (B) the creditor imposes a periodic finance charge on an 27 outstanding unpaid balance; and 28 (C) the amount of consumer credit that may be extended to the 29 debtor during the term of the agreement, up to any limit set by the creditor, is 30 generally made available to the extent that any outstanding balance is repaid; 31 (15) "rule of anticipation" means a refund method that results in
01 refunds equal to the premium cost of scheduled benefits subsequent to the date of 02 cancellation or termination, computed at the schedule of premium rates in effect on the 03 date of issue. 04 * Sec. 78. AS 21.69 is amended by adding new sections to read: 05 Sec. 21.69.645. REDOMESTICATION. (a) An insurer organized under the 06 laws of another state and admitted to do business in this state may become a domestic 07 insurer of this state by complying with the requirements of this title relative to the 08 organization and licensing of a domestic insurer and by designating its principal place 09 of business at a place in this state. 10 (b) A domestic insurer may, upon approval of the director, transfer its domicile 11 to another state in which it is admitted to transact the business of insurance. Upon a 12 transfer as described in this subsection, the insurer shall cease to be a domestic insurer 13 of this state, but shall be considered admitted to this state. The insurer shall meet the 14 qualifications to remain admitted to this state for a period of three years or, if ordered 15 by the director, a longer period. The director may approve a proposed transfer unless 16 the transfer is not in the interest of the policyholders of the insurer or the insurance 17 marketplace of this state. 18 (c) Upon transfer of domestic status to or from this state, the certificate of 19 authority, appointments under AS 21.27.100, rates, and other items that the director 20 allows, and that are in existence at the time the insurer is licensed to transact the 21 business of insurance in this state, shall continue in full force and effect and the 22 insurer shall remain duly qualified to transact the business of insurance in this state. 23 Outstanding policies of a transferring insurer shall remain in full force and effect and 24 shall be endorsed with the new name of the company, its new location, and any other 25 information the director may require. A transferring insurer shall notify the director 26 of the details of the proposed transfer 30 days before the effective date of the transfer 27 and shall promptly file any resulting amendments to corporate documents filed or 28 required to be filed with the director. 29 (d) A transfer of domestic status by merger, consolidation, or any other lawful 30 method of combination must meet the requirements of AS 21.69.590 or 21.69.600. 31 The certificate of authority, appointments under AS 21.27.100, rates, and other items
01 that the director allows, and that are in existence at the time the insurer is licensed to 02 transact the business of insurance in this state, shall continue in full force and effect 03 and the insurer shall remain duly qualified to transact the business of insurance in this 04 state. Outstanding policies of a domestic insurer being merged, consolidated, or 05 otherwise combined shall remain in full force and effect and shall be endorsed with 06 the new name of the company, its new location, and any other information the director 07 may require. 08 (e) An insurer that is transferring its domicile to this state shall file its revised 09 policy forms for approval under AS 21.42. 10 (f) A domestic insurer that is transferring its domicile to another state is not 11 required to file policy forms at the time of transfer if the forms have already been 12 approved under AS 21.42. 13 Sec. 21.69.648. VOLUNTARY SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATE OF 14 AUTHORITY. To voluntarily surrender the certificate of authority of a domestic 15 insurer, a request shall be made to the director to extinguish the certificate of authority 16 six months before the planned effective date of the extinguishment of the charter. 17 Before the request is granted, the director shall conduct an examination under 18 AS 21.06.120. The examination shall be completed within 12 months before the 19 effective date of an extinguishment and all issues contained in the examination report 20 must be resolved to the satisfaction of the director. Insurance business of the domestic 21 insurer shall be cancelled or reinsured as required under AS 21.69.610 or 21.69.620. 22 * Sec. 79. AS 21.72 is amended by adding a new section to read: 23 Sec. 21.72.125. QUARTERLY STATEMENTS. The director may require a 24 benevolent association to file quarterly financial statements as provided in 25 AS 21.09.205. The statements must exhibit the items and facts required under 26 AS 21.72.120(a). 27 * Sec. 80. AS 21.75 is amended by adding a new section to read: 28 Sec. 21.75.135. QUARTERLY STATEMENTS. (a) The director may require 29 a reciprocal insurer's attorney-in-fact to file a quarterly financial statement as provided 30 in AS 21.09.205. 31 (b) A statement required under (a) of this section shall be supplemented by
01 information that may be required by the director relative to the affairs and transactions 02 of the attorney-in-fact that relate to the reciprocal insurer. 03 * Sec. 81. AS 21.75.170(e) is amended to read: 04 (e) Special meetings of the committee may be called by the attorney-in-fact, 05 the chair of the committee, three members of the committee, or a signed petition of 06 at least one percent of the subscribers or three individual subscribers, whichever is 07 greater, as of the most recent annual report of the reciprocal insurer. 08 * Sec. 82. AS 21.75.170 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 09 (g) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, a domestic reciprocal insurer 10 transacting all of its insurance activities on a subject resident, located, and to be 11 performed in this state may, with the prior written approval of the director, have a 12 subscriber's advisory committee that consists of not less than five individuals who are 13 elected by the subscribers, and who otherwise meet the requirements of (a) of this 14 section. 15 * Sec. 83. AS 21.79.900(6) is amended to read: 16 (6) "member insurer" means an insurer licensed to transact insurance 17 in the state that issues a policy described in AS 21.79.020(a) and (b), or a subscriber 18 contract providing benefits described in AS 21.87.120(a)(2) - (4) or 21.87.130(a)(2) 19 and (3), and includes an insurer whose license or certificate of authority in this state 20 may have been suspended, revoked, not renewed, or voluntarily withdrawn; "member 21 insurer" does not include 22 (A) a health maintenance organization licensed under 23 AS 21.86; 24 (B) a fraternal benefit society licensed under AS 21.84; 25 (C) a mandatory state pooling plan; 26 (D) a mutual assessment company or an entity that operates on 27 an assessment basis; 28 (E) an insurance exchange licensed under AS 21.75; or 29 (F) a nonprofit hospital or medical service organization 30 licensed under AS 21.87; 31 * Sec. 84. AS 21.80.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
01 (b) This chapter does not apply to a risk retention group formed under 15 02 U.S.C. 3901 - 3906 (Liability Risk Retention Act). 03 * Sec. 85. AS 21.84.340 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 04 (d) The director may require a society to file quarterly financial statements. 05 If quarterly financial statements are required, the statements must follow for a given 06 quarter the reporting specified in the quarterly financial statement blank form and 07 instructions most recently approved by the National Association of Insurance 08 Commissioners. 09 * Sec. 86. AS 21.86.080 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 10 (b) The director may require a health maintenance organization to file quarterly 11 financial statements. If quarterly financial statements are required, the statements must 12 follow for a given quarter the reporting specified in the quarterly financial statement 13 blank form and instructions most recently approved by the National Association of 14 Insurance Commissioners. 15 (c) A filing under this section is subject to AS 21.09.200 and 21.09.205. 16 * Sec. 87. AS 21.89.030 is amended to read: 17 Sec. 21.89.030. PAYMENT. An insurance company doing business in this 18 state may not pay a judgment or settlement of a claim in this state for a loss incurred 19 in this state with an instrument other than a negotiable bank check payable on demand 20 and bearing even date with the date of writing or by electronic funds transfer. 21 * Sec. 88. AS 21.89 is amended by adding new sections to read: 22 Sec. 21.89.070. ELECTRONIC DATA TRANSFER. The director may adopt 23 regulations to facilitate electronic data transfer. Electronic data transferred under 24 regulations may, at the discretion of the director, be in place of another method of 25 filing or communication otherwise required under this title. 26 Sec. 21.89.080. RISK RETENTION GROUPS AND PURCHASING GROUPS. 27 (a) A risk retention group or a purchasing group formed under and in compliance with 28 15 U.S.C. 3901 - 3906 (Liability Risk Retention Act) shall register with the director 29 and shall at all times transact business in compliance with federal law and the laws of 30 this state. 31 (b) A risk retention group or a purchasing group shall apply for initial
01 registration on forms prescribed by the director. Payment of a registration fee 02 established under AS 21.06.250 shall be submitted with the application. 03 (c) A risk retention group or a purchasing group may continue its registration 04 if it is in compliance with federal law and the laws of this state. Payment of an annual 05 continuation fee established under AS 21.06.250 shall be submitted with the 06 continuation application. 07 (d) A risk retention group holding a valid certificate of authority as a domestic 08 insurer or a purchasing group duly licensed under AS 21.27 as a resident license is not 09 required to be additionally registered under this section. 10 (e) A risk retention group or purchasing group that is not in compliance with 11 15 U.S.C. 3901 - 3906 (Liability Risk Retention Act) is not eligible for registration or 12 annual continuation of its registration. 13 (f) Failure to comply with 15 U.S.C. 3901 - 3906 (Liability Risk Retention 14 Act) is a violation of this title. 15 (g) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person that the director 16 determines under AS 21.06.170 - 21.06.240 has violated a provision of this title 17 relative to a risk retention group or a purchasing group is subject to 18 (1) a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for a violation or, if the 19 director determines that the person wilfully violated a provision of this title, a civil 20 penalty of not more than $25,000 for a violation; and 21 (2) denial, noncontinuation, or revocation of a registration. 22 (h) The director may adopt regulations on the operation and reporting 23 requirements of a risk retention group that are not in conflict with 15 U.S.C 3901 - 24 3906 (Liability Risk Retention Act). 25 * Sec. 89. AS 21.90.900(26) is amended to read: 26 (26) "managing general agent" means a person, firm, or corporation that 27 (A) has authority to exercise general supervision over the 28 business, or any part of the business, of one or more admitted insurers; and 29 (B) performs administrative functions normally performed by 30 the insurer including claims administration and payment, marketing 31 administration, agent appointment, premium accounting, premium billing,
01 coverage verification, final underwriting authority, or [AND] certificate 02 issuance; 03 * Sec. 90. AS 21.27.650(f)(3) and AS 21.36.420 are repealed. 04 * Sec. 91. AS 21.57.110 and 21.57.170 are repealed. 05 * Sec. 92. AS 21.09.300(c), enacted in sec. 13 of this Act, has the effect of amending 06 Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 45, by providing that certain insurer reports of material 07 transactions are not subject to subpoena. 08 * Sec. 93. TRANSITION. This Act applies to a policy of insurance that is entered into 09 or renewed on or after the effective date of the relevant provision of this Act. 10 * Sec. 94. Sections 14 and 15 of this Act take effect only if legislation is passed by the 11 Eighteenth Alaska State Legislature and becomes law that establishes risk based capital 12 requirements for insurers. 13 * Sec. 95. If secs. 14 and 15 of this Act take effect, they take effect on the effective date 14 of the legislation described in sec. 94 of this Act. 15 * Sec. 96. Sections 63 - 77 and 91 of this Act take effect October 1, 1994. 16 * Sec. 97. Except as provided in secs. 95 and 96 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 17 1994.