AB 938: Reinsurance.
- Session Year: 2017-2018
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2017-09-01
Existing law requires every insurer doing business in the state to make and file annual financial statements with the Insurance Commissioner, as specified. Existing law, for the purposes of those financial statements, allows a domestic insurer that cedes reinsurance to an assuming reinsurer to take a credit for the reinsurance as either an asset or a deduction from liability if the reinsurer meets specified requirements. If the reinsurer does not meet those requirements, existing law allows a credit for reinsurance to be taken either as an asset or a deduction from liability in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that the ceding insurer provides security in the form of funds or letters of credit, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to prescribe requirements consistent with those provisions, as specified.
This bill would authorize the commissioner to adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified. The bill would authorize the commissioner, with regard to credit for reinsurance, to adopt by regulation, pursuant to specified provisions, specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, and the circumstances pursuant to which a credit described above would be reduced or eliminated. The bill would require that any regulations adopted by the Department of Insurance in accordance with this act be based upon, and consistent with, the current version of the model regulations adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as provided.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law requires every insurer doing business in the state to make and file annual financial statements with the Insurance Commissioner, as specified. Existing law, for the purposes of those financial statements, allows a domestic insurer that cedes reinsurance to an assuming reinsurer to take a credit for the reinsurance as either an asset or a deduction from liability if the reinsurer meets specified requirements. If the reinsurer does not meet those requirements, existing law allows a credit for reinsurance to be taken either as an asset or a deduction from liability in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that the ceding insurer provides security in the form of funds or letters of credit, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to prescribe requirements consistent with those provisions, as specified.
This bill would authorize the commissioner to adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified. The bill would authorize the commissioner, with regard to credit for reinsurance, to adopt by regulation, pursuant to specified provisions, specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, and the circumstances pursuant to which a credit described above would be reduced or eliminated. The bill would require that any regulations adopted by the Department of Insurance in accordance with this act be based upon, and consistent with, the current version of the model regulations adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as provided.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law requires every insurer doing business in the state to make and file annual financial statements with the Insurance Commissioner, as specified. Existing law, for the purposes of those financial statements, allows a domestic insurer that cedes reinsurance to an assuming reinsurer to take a credit for the reinsurance as either an asset or a deduction from liability if the reinsurer meets specified requirements. If the reinsurer does not meet those requirements, existing law allows a credit for reinsurance to be taken either as an asset or a deduction from liability in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that the ceding insurer provides security in the form of funds or letters of credit, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to prescribe requirements consistent with those provisions, as specified.
This bill would authorize the commissioner to adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified. The bill would authorize the commissioner, with regard to credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting certain requirements, to adopt by regulation, pursuant to specified provisions, specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, and the circumstances pursuant to which a credit described above would be reduced or eliminated. The bill would require that any regulations adopted by the Department of Insurance in accordance with this act be based upon, and consistent with, the current version of the model regulations adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as provided.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law requires every insurer doing business in the state to make and file annual financial statements with the Insurance Commissioner, as specified. Existing law, for the purposes of those financial statements, allows a domestic insurer that cedes reinsurance to an assuming reinsurer to take a credit for the reinsurance as either an asset or a deduction from liability if the reinsurer meets specified requirements. If the reinsurer does not meet those requirements, existing law allows a credit for reinsurance to be taken either as an asset or a deduction from liability in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that the ceding insurer provides security in the form of funds or letters of credit, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to prescribe requirements consistent with those provisions, as specified.
This bill would authorize the commissioner to adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified. The bill would authorize the commissioner, with regard to credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer, insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting certain requirements, to adopt by regulation, pursuant to specified provisions, specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting those reinsurance arrangements, reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, and the circumstances pursuant to which a credit described above would be reduced or eliminated.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law requires every insurer doing business in the state to make and file annual financial statements with the Insurance Commissioner, as specified. Existing law, for the purposes of those financial statements, allows a domestic insurer that cedes reinsurance to an assuming reinsurer to take a credit for the reinsurance as either an asset or a deduction from liability if the reinsurer meets specified requirements. If the reinsurer does not meet those requirements, existing law allows a credit for reinsurance to be taken either as an asset or a deduction from liability in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that the ceding insurer provides security in the form of funds or letters of credit, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to prescribe requirements consistent with those provisions, as specified.
This bill would authorize the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified. The bill would authorize the commissioner, with regard to credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer, to adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting those reinsurance arrangements, and the circumstances pursuant to which a credit described above would be reduced or eliminated.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law requires every insurer doing business in the state to make and file annual financial statements with the Insurance Commissioner, as specified. Existing law, for the purposes of those financial statements, allows a domestic insurer that cedes reinsurance to an assuming reinsurer to take a credit for the reinsurance as either an asset or a deduction from liability if the reinsurer meets specified requirements. If the reinsurer does not meet those requirements, existing law allows a credit for reinsurance to be taken either as an asset or a deduction from liability in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that the ceding insurer provides security in the form of funds or letters of credit, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to prescribe requirements consistent with those provisions, as specified.
This bill would authorize the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements for certain life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified. The bill would authorize the commissioner, with regard to credit for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer, to adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting those reinsurance arrangements, and the circumstances pursuant to which a credit described above would be reduced or eliminated.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Any regulations adopted by the Department of Insurance, based on the provisions in Assembly Bill 938 of the 201718 Regular Session, shall be based upon, and consistent with, the current version of the model regulations adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), to the extent the practices and procedures contained in the NAIC model regulations do not conflict with any other provision of the Insurance Code.
SEC. 2.Section 922.4 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.4.Credit for reinsurance shall be allowed a domestic ceding insurer as either an asset or a deduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e). Credit shall be allowed under subdivision (a), (b), or (c) only for cessions of those kinds or classes of business that the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or assume in its state of domicile or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance. The commissioner may adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
(a)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition.
(b)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition. An accredited reinsurer is one that does all of the following:
(A)Files with the commissioner evidence of its submission to this states jurisdiction.
(B)Submits to this states authority to examine its books and records.
(C)Designates the commissioner or a designated attorney in this state as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
(D)Is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state, or in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state.
(E)Files annually with the commissioner a copy of its annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile and a copy of its most recent audited financial statement and other financial information requested by the commissioner.
(F)Submits a statement, signed and verified by an officer of the assuming insurer to be true and correct, that discloses whether the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer is currently known to be the subject of any of the following:
(i)Any order or proceeding regarding conservation, liquidation, or receivership.
(ii)Any order or proceeding regarding the revocation or suspension of a license or accreditation to transact insurance or reinsurance in any jurisdiction.
(iii)Any order or proceeding brought by an insurance regulator in any jurisdiction seeking to restrict or stop the assuming insurer from transacting insurance or reinsurance based upon a hazardous financial condition.
The assuming insurer shall provide the commissioner with copies of any orders or other documents initiating proceedings subject to disclosure under this paragraph. The statement shall affirm that no actions, proceedings, or orders subject to this subparagraph are outstanding against the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer, except as disclosed in the statement.
(G)Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that it has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers. An assuming insurer is deemed to meet this requirement if it maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount that is not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) and whose accreditation has not been denied by the commissioner within 90 days of its submission. An assuming insurer who is not deemed to meet this requirement shall obtain the affirmative approval of the commissioner. The approval of the commissioner shall be based upon a finding that the assuming insurer has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers.
(2)The commissioner may deny or revoke an assuming insurers accreditation if the assuming insurer does not meet all of the standards required of an accredited reinsurer, or if its accreditation would be hazardous to the policyholders of this state. In determining whether to deny or revoke accreditation, the commissioner may consider the qualifications of the assuming insurer with respect to all the following subjects:
(A)Its financial stability.
(B)The lawfulness and quality of its investments.
(C)The competency, character, and integrity of its management.
(D)The competency, character, and integrity of persons who own or have a controlling interest in the assuming insurer.
(E)Whether claims under its contracts are promptly and fairly adjusted and are promptly and fully paid in accordance with the law and the terms of the contracts.
(3)Credit shall not be allowed a domestic ceding insurer if the assuming insurers accreditation has been revoked by the commissioner after notice and hearing.
(c)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the commissioner pursuant to Section 922.41.
(d)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial institution as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7 for the payment of the valid claims of its United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest. To enable the commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund the assuming insurer shall report annually to the commissioner information substantially the same as that required to be reported on the NAIC Annual Statement form by licensed insurers or any other form required by the NAIC.
(2)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the form of the trust and any amendments to the trust have been approved by either:
(A)The commissioner of the state where the trust is domiciled.
(B)The commissioner of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument, has accepted principal regulatory oversight of the trust.
The trust and any trust amendments shall also be filed with the commissioner of every state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries of the trust are domiciled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the commissioner from disapproving the form of the trust if it is not in compliance with this states laws and regulations.
(3)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the following requirements are met:
(A)The trust instrument shall provide that contested claims shall be valid, enforceable, and payable out of funds in trust to the extent remaining unsatisfied 30 days after entry of the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.
(B)The trust shall vest legal title to its assets in the trustees of the trust for the benefit of the grantors United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest.
(C)The trust and the assuming insurer shall be subject to examination as determined by the commissioner.
(D)The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer, or any member or former member of a group of insurers, shall have outstanding obligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust.
(E)No later than February 28 of each year, the trustees of the trust shall report to the commissioner in writing setting forth the balance of the trust and listing the trusts investments at the preceding yearend and shall certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify that the trust shall not expire within the next 18 months.
(F)The assuming insurer shall do both of the following:
(i)Submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction, and abide by the final decision of the court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal.
(ii)Designate the commissioner or an attorney in this state as its true and lawful agent upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
This subparagraph is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if this obligation is created in the agreement.
(G)The assuming insurer shall agree in the trust agreement that notwithstanding any other provision in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because it contains an amount less than the amount required by paragraph (4), or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile:
(i)The trustee shall comply with an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.
(ii)The assets shall be distributed by, and insurance claims shall be filed with and valued by, the commissioner with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.
(iii)If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the assets or part thereof shall be returned by the commissioner with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.
(iv)The grantor hereby waives any right otherwise available to it under United States law that is inconsistent with this provision.
(4)The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer:
(A)The trust fund for a single assuming insurer shall consist of funds in trust in an amount not less than the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers, and, in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000), except as provided in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D).
(B)In the case of a group including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters:
(i)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception, amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any underwriter of the group.
(ii)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992, and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States.
(iii)In addition to the trusts required in clauses (i) and (ii), the group shall maintain in trust a trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of the United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all years of account.
(iv)The incorporated members of the group shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and shall be subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the groups domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.
(v)The group shall, within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the groups domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or, if a certification is unavailable, financial statements prepared by independent public accountants of each underwriter member of the group.
(C)In the case of a group of incorporated insurers under common administration, the group shall meet all of the following requirements:
(i)Have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at least three years immediately prior to making application for accreditation and be in good standing with its domiciliary regulator.
(ii)Demonstrate that individual insurer members maintain standards and financial conditions reasonably comparable to admitted insurers.
(iii)Maintain aggregate policyholders surplus of at least ten billion dollars ($10,000,000,000).
(iv)Maintain a trust fund in an amount not less than the groups several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the name of such group.
(v)In addition, maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of United States ceding insurers of any member of the group as additional security for these liabilities. The commissioner shall have the authority to require additional amounts to be held in the trust as a condition for initial or continued accreditation if the commissioner determines that these additional amounts are required for the protection of ceding insurers.
(vi)Within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, make available to the commissioner an annual certification of each underwriter members solvency by the members domiciliary regulator, and financial statements for each underwriter member of the group prepared by its independent public accountant.
(D)At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least three full years, the commissioner may authorize a reduction in the required trusteed surplus, but only after a finding, based on an assessment of the risk, that the new required surplus level is adequate for the protection of United States ceding insurers, policyholders, and claimants in light of reasonably foreseeable adverse loss development. The risk assessment may involve an actuarial review, including an independent analysis of reserves and cashflows, and shall consider all material risk factors, including, when applicable, the lines of business involved, the stability of the incurred loss estimates, and the effect of the surplus requirements on the assuming insurers liquidity or solvency. The minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 50 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust, unless the commissioner expressly finds that appropriate circumstances justify a lower level of minimum required trusteed surplus, provided the minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 30 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust.
(e)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), but only as to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction. As used in this section, jurisdiction means state, district, or territory of the United States and any lawful national government.
SEC. 3.Section 922.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.5.(a)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent of either of the following:
(1)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held by the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with that assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and those funds are held in the United States under the exclusive control of the ceding insurer.
(2)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held in a trust, satisfactory to the commissioner, on behalf of the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and is held in a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7, subject to withdrawal solely by the ceding insurer.
The security under this subdivision may be in the form of cash or securities authorized as general investments under Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170) of Chapter 2, or securities listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC, including those deemed exempt from filing, as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office, qualifying as admitted assets under this code and with liquidity meeting the requirements of Section 706.5, and not otherwise disallowed in the commissioners discretion.
(b)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that security is provided in the form of letters of credit, satisfactory to the commissioner, which shall be:
(1)Clean, irrevocable, unconditional letters of credit, issued or confirmed by qualified United States financial institutions, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 922.7, effective no later than December 31st in respect of the year for which filing is being made, and in the possession of the ceding insurer on or before the filing date of its annual statement.
(2)Letters of credit meeting applicable standards of issuer acceptability as of the dates of their issuance or confirmation and shall, notwithstanding the issuing or confirming institutions subsequent failure to meet applicable standards of issuer acceptability, continue to be acceptable as security until their expiration, extension, renewal, modification, or amendment, whichever first occurs.
(c)For purposes of this section, the phrase deemed exempt from filing as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office shall mean all United States government securities, and all other securities or bonds with a rating of SVO 1 or FE 1 listed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office as exempt.
(d)The commissioner may adopt, by regulation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
SEC. 4.Section 922.85 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.85.(a)The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the procedures provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code or otherwise prescribe requirements consistent with Sections 922.4, 922.41, 922.42, 922.43, and 922.5, provided the commissioner may update subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) and subdivision (i) of Section 922.41 to add other nationally recognized statistical rating agencies, or to modify the rating categories, the corresponding financial ratings, or the percentage of security required to conform to changes in these factors adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
(b)(1)The commissioner may adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2).
(2)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may apply only to reinsurance relating to the following:
(A)Life insurance policies with guaranteed nonlevel gross premiums or guaranteed nonlevel benefits.
(B)Universal life insurance policies with a provision resulting in the ability of a policyholder to keep a policy in force over a secondary guarantee period.
(C)Variable annuities with guaranteed death or living benefits.
(D)Long-term care insurance policies.
(E)Other life and health insurance and annuity products as to which the NAIC adopts model regulatory requirements with respect to credit for reinsurance.
(3)A regulation adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) may apply to any treaty containing the following:
(A)Policies issued on or after January 1, 2015.
(B)Policies issued prior to January 1, 2015, if risk pertaining to those policies is ceded in connection with the treaty, in whole or in part, on or after January 1, 2015.
(4)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may require the ceding insurer, in calculating the amounts or forms of security required to be held under regulations promulgated under this authority, to use the Valuation Manual adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 10489.96, including all amendments in effect on the date as of which the calculation is made, to the extent applicable.
(5)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall not apply to cessions to an assuming insurer that satisfies either of the following:
(A)The insurer is certified in this state, or certified in a minimum of five other states.
(B)The insurer maintains at least two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) in capital and surplus when determined in accordance with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, including all amendments thereto adopted by the NAIC, excluding the impact of any permitted or prescribed practices, and satisfies either of the following:
(i)The insurer is licensed in at least 26 states.
(ii)The insurer is licensed in at least 10 states, and licensed or accredited in a total of at least 35 states.
(6)The authority to adopt regulations pursuant to this subdivision does not limit the commissioners general authority to adopt regulations pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 5.This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to provide the commissioner with the specific authority to issue regulations on term and universal life financing arrangements as soon as possible, and in order to establish uniform minimum standards for securing a life reinsurers obligations under captive reinsurance treaties and reserve financing arrangements by providing regulations that establish an actuarial method to calculate the portion of the ceded reserve that must be collateralized by primary security, and the types of assets that qualify as primary security, as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
Any regulations adopted by the Department of Insurance, based on the provisions in Assembly Bill 938 of the 201718 Regular Session, shall be based upon, and consistent with, the current version of the model regulations adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), to the extent the practices and procedures contained in the NAIC model regulations do not conflict with any other provision of the Insurance Code.
SEC. 2.Section 922.4 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.4.Credit for reinsurance shall be allowed a domestic ceding insurer as either an asset or a deduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e). Credit shall be allowed under subdivision (a), (b), or (c) only for cessions of those kinds or classes of business that the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or assume in its state of domicile or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance. The commissioner may adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
(a)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition.
(b)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition. An accredited reinsurer is one that does all of the following:
(A)Files with the commissioner evidence of its submission to this states jurisdiction.
(B)Submits to this states authority to examine its books and records.
(C)Designates the commissioner or a designated attorney in this state as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
(D)Is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state, or in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state.
(E)Files annually with the commissioner a copy of its annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile and a copy of its most recent audited financial statement and other financial information requested by the commissioner.
(F)Submits a statement, signed and verified by an officer of the assuming insurer to be true and correct, that discloses whether the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer is currently known to be the subject of any of the following:
(i)Any order or proceeding regarding conservation, liquidation, or receivership.
(ii)Any order or proceeding regarding the revocation or suspension of a license or accreditation to transact insurance or reinsurance in any jurisdiction.
(iii)Any order or proceeding brought by an insurance regulator in any jurisdiction seeking to restrict or stop the assuming insurer from transacting insurance or reinsurance based upon a hazardous financial condition.
The assuming insurer shall provide the commissioner with copies of any orders or other documents initiating proceedings subject to disclosure under this paragraph. The statement shall affirm that no actions, proceedings, or orders subject to this subparagraph are outstanding against the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer, except as disclosed in the statement.
(G)Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that it has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers. An assuming insurer is deemed to meet this requirement if it maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount that is not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) and whose accreditation has not been denied by the commissioner within 90 days of its submission. An assuming insurer who is not deemed to meet this requirement shall obtain the affirmative approval of the commissioner. The approval of the commissioner shall be based upon a finding that the assuming insurer has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers.
(2)The commissioner may deny or revoke an assuming insurers accreditation if the assuming insurer does not meet all of the standards required of an accredited reinsurer, or if its accreditation would be hazardous to the policyholders of this state. In determining whether to deny or revoke accreditation, the commissioner may consider the qualifications of the assuming insurer with respect to all the following subjects:
(A)Its financial stability.
(B)The lawfulness and quality of its investments.
(C)The competency, character, and integrity of its management.
(D)The competency, character, and integrity of persons who own or have a controlling interest in the assuming insurer.
(E)Whether claims under its contracts are promptly and fairly adjusted and are promptly and fully paid in accordance with the law and the terms of the contracts.
(3)Credit shall not be allowed a domestic ceding insurer if the assuming insurers accreditation has been revoked by the commissioner after notice and hearing.
(c)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the commissioner pursuant to Section 922.41.
(d)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial institution as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7 for the payment of the valid claims of its United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest. To enable the commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund the assuming insurer shall report annually to the commissioner information substantially the same as that required to be reported on the NAIC Annual Statement form by licensed insurers or any other form required by the NAIC.
(2)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the form of the trust and any amendments to the trust have been approved by either:
(A)The commissioner of the state where the trust is domiciled.
(B)The commissioner of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument, has accepted principal regulatory oversight of the trust.
The trust and any trust amendments shall also be filed with the commissioner of every state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries of the trust are domiciled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the commissioner from disapproving the form of the trust if it is not in compliance with this states laws and regulations.
(3)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the following requirements are met:
(A)The trust instrument shall provide that contested claims shall be valid, enforceable, and payable out of funds in trust to the extent remaining unsatisfied 30 days after entry of the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.
(B)The trust shall vest legal title to its assets in the trustees of the trust for the benefit of the grantors United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest.
(C)The trust and the assuming insurer shall be subject to examination as determined by the commissioner.
(D)The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer, or any member or former member of a group of insurers, shall have outstanding obligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust.
(E)No later than February 28 of each year, the trustees of the trust shall report to the commissioner in writing setting forth the balance of the trust and listing the trusts investments at the preceding yearend and shall certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify that the trust shall not expire within the next 18 months.
(F)The assuming insurer shall do both of the following:
(i)Submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction, and abide by the final decision of the court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal.
(ii)Designate the commissioner or an attorney in this state as its true and lawful agent upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
This subparagraph is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if this obligation is created in the agreement.
(G)The assuming insurer shall agree in the trust agreement that notwithstanding any other provision in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because it contains an amount less than the amount required by paragraph (4), or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile:
(i)The trustee shall comply with an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.
(ii)The assets shall be distributed by, and insurance claims shall be filed with and valued by, the commissioner with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.
(iii)If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the assets or part thereof shall be returned by the commissioner with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.
(iv)The grantor hereby waives any right otherwise available to it under United States law that is inconsistent with this provision.
(4)The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer:
(A)The trust fund for a single assuming insurer shall consist of funds in trust in an amount not less than the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers, and, in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000), except as provided in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D).
(B)In the case of a group including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters:
(i)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception, amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any underwriter of the group.
(ii)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992, and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States.
(iii)In addition to the trusts required in clauses (i) and (ii), the group shall maintain in trust a trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of the United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all years of account.
(iv)The incorporated members of the group shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and shall be subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the groups domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.
(v)The group shall, within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the groups domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or, if a certification is unavailable, financial statements prepared by independent public accountants of each underwriter member of the group.
(C)In the case of a group of incorporated insurers under common administration, the group shall meet all of the following requirements:
(i)Have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at least three years immediately prior to making application for accreditation and be in good standing with its domiciliary regulator.
(ii)Demonstrate that individual insurer members maintain standards and financial conditions reasonably comparable to admitted insurers.
(iii)Maintain aggregate policyholders surplus of at least ten billion dollars ($10,000,000,000).
(iv)Maintain a trust fund in an amount not less than the groups several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the name of such group.
(v)In addition, maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of United States ceding insurers of any member of the group as additional security for these liabilities. The commissioner shall have the authority to require additional amounts to be held in the trust as a condition for initial or continued accreditation if the commissioner determines that these additional amounts are required for the protection of ceding insurers.
(vi)Within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, make available to the commissioner an annual certification of each underwriter members solvency by the members domiciliary regulator, and financial statements for each underwriter member of the group prepared by its independent public accountant.
(D)At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least three full years, the commissioner may authorize a reduction in the required trusteed surplus, but only after a finding, based on an assessment of the risk, that the new required surplus level is adequate for the protection of United States ceding insurers, policyholders, and claimants in light of reasonably foreseeable adverse loss development. The risk assessment may involve an actuarial review, including an independent analysis of reserves and cashflows, and shall consider all material risk factors, including, when applicable, the lines of business involved, the stability of the incurred loss estimates, and the effect of the surplus requirements on the assuming insurers liquidity or solvency. The minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 50 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust, unless the commissioner expressly finds that appropriate circumstances justify a lower level of minimum required trusteed surplus, provided the minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 30 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust.
(e)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), but only as to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction. As used in this section, jurisdiction means state, district, or territory of the United States and any lawful national government.
SEC. 3.Section 922.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.5.(a)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent of either of the following:
(1)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held by the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with that assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and those funds are held in the United States under the exclusive control of the ceding insurer.
(2)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held in a trust, satisfactory to the commissioner, on behalf of the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and is held in a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7, subject to withdrawal solely by the ceding insurer.
The security under this subdivision may be in the form of cash or securities authorized as general investments under Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170) of Chapter 2, or securities listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC, including those deemed exempt from filing, as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office, qualifying as admitted assets under this code and with liquidity meeting the requirements of Section 706.5, and not otherwise disallowed in the commissioners discretion.
(b)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that security is provided in the form of letters of credit, satisfactory to the commissioner, which shall be:
(1)Clean, irrevocable, unconditional letters of credit, issued or confirmed by qualified United States financial institutions, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 922.7, effective no later than December 31st in respect of the year for which filing is being made, and in the possession of the ceding insurer on or before the filing date of its annual statement.
(2)Letters of credit meeting applicable standards of issuer acceptability as of the dates of their issuance or confirmation and shall, notwithstanding the issuing or confirming institutions subsequent failure to meet applicable standards of issuer acceptability, continue to be acceptable as security until their expiration, extension, renewal, modification, or amendment, whichever first occurs.
(c)For purposes of this section, the phrase deemed exempt from filing as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office shall mean all United States government securities, and all other securities or bonds with a rating of SVO 1 or FE 1 listed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office as exempt.
(d)The commissioner may adopt, by regulation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
SEC. 4.Section 922.85 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.85.(a)The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the procedures provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code or otherwise prescribe requirements consistent with Sections 922.4, 922.41, 922.42, 922.43, and 922.5, provided the commissioner may update subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) and subdivision (i) of Section 922.41 to add other nationally recognized statistical rating agencies, or to modify the rating categories, the corresponding financial ratings, or the percentage of security required to conform to changes in these factors adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
(b)(1)The commissioner may adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2).
(2)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may apply only to reinsurance relating to the following:
(A)Life insurance policies with guaranteed nonlevel gross premiums or guaranteed nonlevel benefits.
(B)Universal life insurance policies with a provision resulting in the ability of a policyholder to keep a policy in force over a secondary guarantee period.
(C)Variable annuities with guaranteed death or living benefits.
(D)Long-term care insurance policies.
(E)Other life and health insurance and annuity products as to which the NAIC adopts model regulatory requirements with respect to credit for reinsurance.
(3)A regulation adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) may apply to any treaty containing the following:
(A)Policies issued on or after January 1, 2015.
(B)Policies issued prior to January 1, 2015, if risk pertaining to those policies is ceded in connection with the treaty, in whole or in part, on or after January 1, 2015.
(4)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may require the ceding insurer, in calculating the amounts or forms of security required to be held under regulations promulgated under this authority, to use the Valuation Manual adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 10489.96, including all amendments in effect on the date as of which the calculation is made, to the extent applicable.
(5)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall not apply to cessions to an assuming insurer that satisfies either of the following:
(A)The insurer is certified in this state, or certified in a minimum of five other states.
(B)The insurer maintains at least two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) in capital and surplus when determined in accordance with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, including all amendments thereto adopted by the NAIC, excluding the impact of any permitted or prescribed practices, and satisfies either of the following:
(i)The insurer is licensed in at least 26 states.
(ii)The insurer is licensed in at least 10 states, and licensed or accredited in a total of at least 35 states.
(6)The authority to adopt regulations pursuant to this subdivision does not limit the commissioners general authority to adopt regulations pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 5.This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to provide the commissioner with the specific authority to issue regulations on term and universal life financing arrangements as soon as possible, and in order to establish uniform minimum standards for securing a life reinsurers obligations under captive reinsurance treaties and reserve financing arrangements by providing regulations that establish an actuarial method to calculate the portion of the ceded reserve that must be collateralized by primary security, and the types of assets that qualify as primary security, as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
Any regulations adopted by the Department of Insurance, based on the provisions in Assembly Bill 938 of the 201718 Regular Session, shall be based upon, and consistent with, the current version of the model regulations adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), to the extent the practices and procedures contained in the NAIC model regulations do not conflict with any other provision of the Insurance Code.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2.Section 922.4 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.4.Credit for reinsurance shall be allowed a domestic ceding insurer as either an asset or a deduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e). Credit shall be allowed under subdivision (a), (b), or (c) only for cessions of those kinds or classes of business that the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or assume in its state of domicile or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance. The commissioner may adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
(a)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition.
(b)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition. An accredited reinsurer is one that does all of the following:
(A)Files with the commissioner evidence of its submission to this states jurisdiction.
(B)Submits to this states authority to examine its books and records.
(C)Designates the commissioner or a designated attorney in this state as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
(D)Is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state, or in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state.
(E)Files annually with the commissioner a copy of its annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile and a copy of its most recent audited financial statement and other financial information requested by the commissioner.
(F)Submits a statement, signed and verified by an officer of the assuming insurer to be true and correct, that discloses whether the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer is currently known to be the subject of any of the following:
(i)Any order or proceeding regarding conservation, liquidation, or receivership.
(ii)Any order or proceeding regarding the revocation or suspension of a license or accreditation to transact insurance or reinsurance in any jurisdiction.
(iii)Any order or proceeding brought by an insurance regulator in any jurisdiction seeking to restrict or stop the assuming insurer from transacting insurance or reinsurance based upon a hazardous financial condition.
The assuming insurer shall provide the commissioner with copies of any orders or other documents initiating proceedings subject to disclosure under this paragraph. The statement shall affirm that no actions, proceedings, or orders subject to this subparagraph are outstanding against the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer, except as disclosed in the statement.
(G)Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that it has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers. An assuming insurer is deemed to meet this requirement if it maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount that is not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) and whose accreditation has not been denied by the commissioner within 90 days of its submission. An assuming insurer who is not deemed to meet this requirement shall obtain the affirmative approval of the commissioner. The approval of the commissioner shall be based upon a finding that the assuming insurer has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers.
(2)The commissioner may deny or revoke an assuming insurers accreditation if the assuming insurer does not meet all of the standards required of an accredited reinsurer, or if its accreditation would be hazardous to the policyholders of this state. In determining whether to deny or revoke accreditation, the commissioner may consider the qualifications of the assuming insurer with respect to all the following subjects:
(A)Its financial stability.
(B)The lawfulness and quality of its investments.
(C)The competency, character, and integrity of its management.
(D)The competency, character, and integrity of persons who own or have a controlling interest in the assuming insurer.
(E)Whether claims under its contracts are promptly and fairly adjusted and are promptly and fully paid in accordance with the law and the terms of the contracts.
(3)Credit shall not be allowed a domestic ceding insurer if the assuming insurers accreditation has been revoked by the commissioner after notice and hearing.
(c)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the commissioner pursuant to Section 922.41.
(d)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial institution as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7 for the payment of the valid claims of its United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest. To enable the commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund the assuming insurer shall report annually to the commissioner information substantially the same as that required to be reported on the NAIC Annual Statement form by licensed insurers or any other form required by the NAIC.
(2)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the form of the trust and any amendments to the trust have been approved by either:
(A)The commissioner of the state where the trust is domiciled.
(B)The commissioner of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument, has accepted principal regulatory oversight of the trust.
The trust and any trust amendments shall also be filed with the commissioner of every state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries of the trust are domiciled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the commissioner from disapproving the form of the trust if it is not in compliance with this states laws and regulations.
(3)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the following requirements are met:
(A)The trust instrument shall provide that contested claims shall be valid, enforceable, and payable out of funds in trust to the extent remaining unsatisfied 30 days after entry of the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.
(B)The trust shall vest legal title to its assets in the trustees of the trust for the benefit of the grantors United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest.
(C)The trust and the assuming insurer shall be subject to examination as determined by the commissioner.
(D)The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer, or any member or former member of a group of insurers, shall have outstanding obligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust.
(E)No later than February 28 of each year, the trustees of the trust shall report to the commissioner in writing setting forth the balance of the trust and listing the trusts investments at the preceding yearend and shall certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify that the trust shall not expire within the next 18 months.
(F)The assuming insurer shall do both of the following:
(i)Submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction, and abide by the final decision of the court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal.
(ii)Designate the commissioner or an attorney in this state as its true and lawful agent upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
This subparagraph is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if this obligation is created in the agreement.
(G)The assuming insurer shall agree in the trust agreement that notwithstanding any other provision in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because it contains an amount less than the amount required by paragraph (4), or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile:
(i)The trustee shall comply with an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.
(ii)The assets shall be distributed by, and insurance claims shall be filed with and valued by, the commissioner with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.
(iii)If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the assets or part thereof shall be returned by the commissioner with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.
(iv)The grantor hereby waives any right otherwise available to it under United States law that is inconsistent with this provision.
(4)The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer:
(A)The trust fund for a single assuming insurer shall consist of funds in trust in an amount not less than the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers, and, in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000), except as provided in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D).
(B)In the case of a group including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters:
(i)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception, amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any underwriter of the group.
(ii)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992, and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States.
(iii)In addition to the trusts required in clauses (i) and (ii), the group shall maintain in trust a trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of the United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all years of account.
(iv)The incorporated members of the group shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and shall be subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the groups domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.
(v)The group shall, within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the groups domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or, if a certification is unavailable, financial statements prepared by independent public accountants of each underwriter member of the group.
(C)In the case of a group of incorporated insurers under common administration, the group shall meet all of the following requirements:
(i)Have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at least three years immediately prior to making application for accreditation and be in good standing with its domiciliary regulator.
(ii)Demonstrate that individual insurer members maintain standards and financial conditions reasonably comparable to admitted insurers.
(iii)Maintain aggregate policyholders surplus of at least ten billion dollars ($10,000,000,000).
(iv)Maintain a trust fund in an amount not less than the groups several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the name of such group.
(v)In addition, maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of United States ceding insurers of any member of the group as additional security for these liabilities. The commissioner shall have the authority to require additional amounts to be held in the trust as a condition for initial or continued accreditation if the commissioner determines that these additional amounts are required for the protection of ceding insurers.
(vi)Within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, make available to the commissioner an annual certification of each underwriter members solvency by the members domiciliary regulator, and financial statements for each underwriter member of the group prepared by its independent public accountant.
(D)At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least three full years, the commissioner may authorize a reduction in the required trusteed surplus, but only after a finding, based on an assessment of the risk, that the new required surplus level is adequate for the protection of United States ceding insurers, policyholders, and claimants in light of reasonably foreseeable adverse loss development. The risk assessment may involve an actuarial review, including an independent analysis of reserves and cashflows, and shall consider all material risk factors, including, when applicable, the lines of business involved, the stability of the incurred loss estimates, and the effect of the surplus requirements on the assuming insurers liquidity or solvency. The minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 50 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust, unless the commissioner expressly finds that appropriate circumstances justify a lower level of minimum required trusteed surplus, provided the minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 30 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust.
(e)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), but only as to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction. As used in this section, jurisdiction means state, district, or territory of the United States and any lawful national government.
SEC. 2.SEC. 3.Section 922.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.5.(a)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent of either of the following:
(1)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held by the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with that assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and those funds are held in the United States under the exclusive control of the ceding insurer.
(2)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held in a trust, satisfactory to the commissioner, on behalf of the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and is held in a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7, subject to withdrawal solely by the ceding insurer.
The security under this subdivision may be in the form of cash or securities authorized as general investments under Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170) of Chapter 2, or securities listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC, including those deemed exempt from filing, as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office, qualifying as admitted assets under this code and with liquidity meeting the requirements of Section 706.5, and not otherwise disallowed in the commissioners discretion.
(b)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that security is provided in the form of letters of credit, satisfactory to the commissioner, which shall be:
(1)Clean, irrevocable, unconditional letters of credit, issued or confirmed by qualified United States financial institutions, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 922.7, effective no later than December 31st in respect of the year for which filing is being made, and in the possession of the ceding insurer on or before the filing date of its annual statement.
(2)Letters of credit meeting applicable standards of issuer acceptability as of the dates of their issuance or confirmation and shall, notwithstanding the issuing or confirming institutions subsequent failure to meet applicable standards of issuer acceptability, continue to be acceptable as security until their expiration, extension, renewal, modification, or amendment, whichever first occurs.
(c)For purposes of this section, the phrase deemed exempt from filing as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office shall mean all United States government securities, and all other securities or bonds with a rating of SVO 1 or FE 1 listed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office as exempt.
(d)The commissioner may adopt, by regulation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
SEC. 3.SEC. 4.Section 922.85 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.85.(a)The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the procedures provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code or otherwise prescribe requirements consistent with Sections 922.4, 922.41, 922.42, 922.43, and 922.5, provided the commissioner may update subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) and subdivision (i) of Section 922.41 to add other nationally recognized statistical rating agencies, or to modify the rating categories, the corresponding financial ratings, or the percentage of security required to conform to changes in these factors adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
(b)(1)The commissioner may adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2).
(2)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may apply only to reinsurance relating to the following:
(A)Life insurance policies with guaranteed nonlevel gross premiums or guaranteed nonlevel benefits.
(B)Universal life insurance policies with a provision resulting in the ability of a policyholder to keep a policy in force over a secondary guarantee period.
(C)Variable annuities with guaranteed death or living benefits.
(D)Long-term care insurance policies.
(E)Other life and health insurance and annuity products as to which the NAIC adopts model regulatory requirements with respect to credit for reinsurance.
(3)A regulation adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) may apply to any treaty containing the following:
(A)Policies issued on or after January 1, 2015.
(B)Policies issued prior to January 1, 2015, if risk pertaining to those policies is ceded in connection with the treaty, in whole or in part, on or after January 1, 2015.
(4)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may require the ceding insurer, in calculating the amounts or forms of security required to be held under regulations promulgated under this authority, to use the Valuation Manual adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 10489.96, including all amendments in effect on the date as of which the calculation is made, to the extent applicable.
(5)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall not apply to cessions to an assuming insurer that satisfies either of the following:
(A)The insurer is certified in this state, or certified in a minimum of five other states.
(B)The insurer maintains at least two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) in capital and surplus when determined in accordance with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, including all amendments thereto adopted by the NAIC, excluding the impact of any permitted or prescribed practices, and satisfies either of the following:
(i)The insurer is licensed in at least 26 states.
(ii)The insurer is licensed in at least 10 states, and licensed or accredited in a total of at least 35 states.
(6)The authority to adopt regulations pursuant to this subdivision does not limit the commissioners general authority to adopt regulations pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 4.SEC. 5.This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to provide the commissioner with the specific authority to issue regulations on term and universal life financing arrangements as soon as possible, and in order to establish uniform minimum standards for securing a life reinsurers obligations under captive reinsurance treaties and reserve financing arrangements by providing regulations that establish an actuarial method to calculate the portion of the ceded reserve that must be collateralized by primary security, and the types of assets that qualify as primary security, as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
Credit for reinsurance shall be allowed a domestic ceding insurer as either an asset or a deduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e). Credit shall be allowed under subdivision (a), (b), or (c) only for cessions of those kinds or classes of business that the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or assume in its state of domicile or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance. The commissioner may adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
(a)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition.
(b)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition. An accredited reinsurer is one that does all of the following:
(A)Files with the commissioner evidence of its submission to this states jurisdiction.
(B)Submits to this states authority to examine its books and records.
(C)Designates the commissioner or a designated attorney in this state as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
(D)Is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state, or in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state.
(E)Files annually with the commissioner a copy of its annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile and a copy of its most recent audited financial statement and other financial information requested by the commissioner.
(F)Submits a statement, signed and verified by an officer of the assuming insurer to be true and correct, that discloses whether the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer is currently known to be the subject of any of the following:
(i)Any order or proceeding regarding conservation, liquidation, or receivership.
(ii)Any order or proceeding regarding the revocation or suspension of a license or accreditation to transact insurance or reinsurance in any jurisdiction.
(iii)Any order or proceeding brought by an insurance regulator in any jurisdiction seeking to restrict or stop the assuming insurer from transacting insurance or reinsurance based upon a hazardous financial condition.
The assuming insurer shall provide the commissioner with copies of any orders or other documents initiating proceedings subject to disclosure under this paragraph. The statement shall affirm that no actions, proceedings, or orders subject to this subparagraph are outstanding against the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer, except as disclosed in the statement.
(G)Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that it has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers. An assuming insurer is deemed to meet this requirement if it maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount that is not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) and whose accreditation has not been denied by the commissioner within 90 days of its submission. An assuming insurer who is not deemed to meet this requirement shall obtain the affirmative approval of the commissioner. The approval of the commissioner shall be based upon a finding that the assuming insurer has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers.
(2)The commissioner may deny or revoke an assuming insurers accreditation if the assuming insurer does not meet all of the standards required of an accredited reinsurer, or if its accreditation would be hazardous to the policyholders of this state. In determining whether to deny or revoke accreditation, the commissioner may consider the qualifications of the assuming insurer with respect to all the following subjects:
(A)Its financial stability.
(B)The lawfulness and quality of its investments.
(C)The competency, character, and integrity of its management.
(D)The competency, character, and integrity of persons who own or have a controlling interest in the assuming insurer.
(E)Whether claims under its contracts are promptly and fairly adjusted and are promptly and fully paid in accordance with the law and the terms of the contracts.
(3)Credit shall not be allowed a domestic ceding insurer if the assuming insurers accreditation has been revoked by the commissioner after notice and hearing.
(c)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the commissioner pursuant to Section 922.41.
(d)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial institution as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7 for the payment of the valid claims of its United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest. To enable the commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund the assuming insurer shall report annually to the commissioner information substantially the same as that required to be reported on the NAIC Annual Statement form by licensed insurers or any other form required by the NAIC.
(2)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the form of the trust and any amendments to the trust have been approved by either:
(A)The commissioner of the state where the trust is domiciled.
(B)The commissioner of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument, has accepted principal regulatory oversight of the trust.
The trust and any trust amendments shall also be filed with the commissioner of every state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries of the trust are domiciled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the commissioner from disapproving the form of the trust if it is not in compliance with this states laws and regulations.
(3)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the following requirements are met:
(A)The trust instrument shall provide that contested claims shall be valid, enforceable, and payable out of funds in trust to the extent remaining unsatisfied 30 days after entry of the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.
(B)The trust shall vest legal title to its assets in the trustees of the trust for the benefit of the grantors United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest.
(C)The trust and the assuming insurer shall be subject to examination as determined by the commissioner.
(D)The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer, or any member or former member of a group of insurers, shall have outstanding obligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust.
(E)No later than February 28 of each year, the trustees of the trust shall report to the commissioner in writing setting forth the balance of the trust and listing the trusts investments at the preceding yearend and shall certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify that the trust shall not expire within the next 18 months.
(F)The assuming insurer shall do both of the following:
(i)Submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction, and abide by the final decision of the court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal.
(ii)Designate the commissioner or an attorney in this state as its true and lawful agent upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
This subparagraph is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if this obligation is created in the agreement.
(G)The assuming insurer shall agree in the trust agreement that notwithstanding any other provision in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because it contains an amount less than the amount required by paragraph (4), or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile:
(i)The trustee shall comply with an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.
(ii)The assets shall be distributed by, and insurance claims shall be filed with and valued by, the commissioner with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.
(iii)If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the assets or part thereof shall be returned by the commissioner with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.
(iv)The grantor hereby waives any right otherwise available to it under United States law that is inconsistent with this provision.
(4)The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer:
(A)The trust fund for a single assuming insurer shall consist of funds in trust in an amount not less than the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers, and, in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000), except as provided in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D).
(B)In the case of a group including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters:
(i)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception, amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any underwriter of the group.
(ii)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992, and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States.
(iii)In addition to the trusts required in clauses (i) and (ii), the group shall maintain in trust a trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of the United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all years of account.
(iv)The incorporated members of the group shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and shall be subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the groups domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.
(v)The group shall, within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the groups domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or, if a certification is unavailable, financial statements prepared by independent public accountants of each underwriter member of the group.
(C)In the case of a group of incorporated insurers under common administration, the group shall meet all of the following requirements:
(i)Have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at least three years immediately prior to making application for accreditation and be in good standing with its domiciliary regulator.
(ii)Demonstrate that individual insurer members maintain standards and financial conditions reasonably comparable to admitted insurers.
(iii)Maintain aggregate policyholders surplus of at least ten billion dollars ($10,000,000,000).
(iv)Maintain a trust fund in an amount not less than the groups several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the name of such group.
(v)In addition, maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of United States ceding insurers of any member of the group as additional security for these liabilities. The commissioner shall have the authority to require additional amounts to be held in the trust as a condition for initial or continued accreditation if the commissioner determines that these additional amounts are required for the protection of ceding insurers.
(vi)Within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, make available to the commissioner an annual certification of each underwriter members solvency by the members domiciliary regulator, and financial statements for each underwriter member of the group prepared by its independent public accountant.
(D)At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least three full years, the commissioner may authorize a reduction in the required trusteed surplus, but only after a finding, based on an assessment of the risk, that the new required surplus level is adequate for the protection of United States ceding insurers, policyholders, and claimants in light of reasonably foreseeable adverse loss development. The risk assessment may involve an actuarial review, including an independent analysis of reserves and cashflows, and shall consider all material risk factors, including, when applicable, the lines of business involved, the stability of the incurred loss estimates, and the effect of the surplus requirements on the assuming insurers liquidity or solvency. The minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 50 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust, unless the commissioner expressly finds that appropriate circumstances justify a lower level of minimum required trusteed surplus, provided the minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 30 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust.
(e)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), but only as to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction. As used in this section, jurisdiction means state, district, or territory of the United States and any lawful national government.
SEC. 2.Section 922.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.5.(a)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent of either of the following:
(1)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held by the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with that assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and those funds are held in the United States under the exclusive control of the ceding insurer.
(2)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held in a trust, satisfactory to the commissioner, on behalf of the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and is held in a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7, subject to withdrawal solely by the ceding insurer.
The security under this subdivision may be in the form of cash or securities authorized as general investments under Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170) of Chapter 2, or securities listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC, including those deemed exempt from filing, as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office, qualifying as admitted assets under this code and with liquidity meeting the requirements of Section 706.5, and not otherwise disallowed in the commissioners discretion.
(b)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that security is provided in the form of letters of credit, satisfactory to the commissioner, which shall be:
(1)Clean, irrevocable, unconditional letters of credit, issued or confirmed by qualified United States financial institutions, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 922.7, effective no later than December 31st in respect of the year for which filing is being made, and in the possession of the ceding insurer on or before the filing date of its annual statement.
(2)Letters of credit meeting applicable standards of issuer acceptability as of the dates of their issuance or confirmation and shall, notwithstanding the issuing or confirming institutions subsequent failure to meet applicable standards of issuer acceptability, continue to be acceptable as security until their expiration, extension, renewal, modification, or amendment, whichever first occurs.
(c)For purposes of this section, the phrase deemed exempt from filing as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office shall mean all United States government securities, and all other securities or bonds with a rating of SVO 1 or FE 1 listed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office as exempt.
(d)For the purposes of an asset or a deduction from liability described in subdivisions (a) and (b), the commissioner may adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the following:(1)The valuation of assets or reserve credits.(2)The amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in subdivision (b) of Section 922.85.(3)The circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.(d)The commissioner may adopt, by regulation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
SEC. 3.Section 922.85 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.85.(a)The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the procedures provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code or otherwise prescribe requirements consistent with Sections 922.4, 922.41, 922.42, 922.43, and 922.5, provided the commissioner may update subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) and subdivision (i) of Section 922.41 to add other nationally recognized statistical rating agencies, or to modify the rating categories, the corresponding financial ratings, or the percentage of security required to conform to changes in these factors adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
(b)(1)The commissioner may adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2).
(2)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may apply only to reinsurance relating to the following:
(A)Life insurance policies with guaranteed nonlevel gross premiums or guaranteed nonlevel benefits.
(B)Universal life insurance policies with a provision resulting in the ability of a policyholder to keep a policy in force over a secondary guarantee period.
(C)Variable annuities with guaranteed death or living benefits.
(D)Long-term care insurance policies.
(E)Other life and health insurance and annuity products as to which the NAIC adopts model regulatory requirements with respect to credit for reinsurance.
(3)A regulation adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) may apply to any treaty containing the following:
(A)Policies issued on or after January 1, 2015.
(B)Policies issued prior to January 1, 2015, if risk pertaining to those policies is ceded in connection with the treaty, in whole or in part, on or after January 1, 2015.
(4)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may require the ceding insurer, in calculating the amounts or forms of security required to be held under regulations promulgated under this authority, to use the Valuation Manual adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 10489.96, including all amendments in effect on the date as of which the calculation is made, to the extent applicable.
(5)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall not apply to cessions to an assuming insurer that satisfies either of the following:
(A)The insurer is certified in this state, or certified in a minimum of five other states.
(B)The insurer maintains at least two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) in capital and surplus when determined in accordance with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, including all amendments thereto adopted by the NAIC, excluding the impact of any permitted or prescribed practices, and satisfies either of the following:
(i)The insurer is licensed in at least 26 states.
(ii)The insurer is licensed in at least 10 states, and licensed or accredited in a total of at least 35 states.
(6)The authority to adopt regulations pursuant to this subdivision does not limit the commissioners general authority to adopt regulations pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 4.This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to provide the commissioner with the specific authority to issue regulations on term and universal life financing arrangements as soon as possible, and in order to establish uniform minimum standards for securing a life reinsurers obligations under captive reinsurance treaties and reserve financing arrangements by providing regulations that establish an actuarial method to calculate the portion of the ceded reserve that must be collateralized by primary security, and the types of assets that qualify as primary security, as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
Credit for reinsurance shall be allowed a domestic ceding insurer as either an asset or a deduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e). Credit shall be allowed under subdivision (a), (b), or (c) only for cessions of those kinds or classes of business that the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or assume in its state of domicile or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance. The commissioner may adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
(a)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition.
(b)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition. An accredited reinsurer is one that does all of the following:
(A)Files with the commissioner evidence of its submission to this states jurisdiction.
(B)Submits to this states authority to examine its books and records.
(C)Designates the commissioner or a designated attorney in this state as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
(D)Is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state, or in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state.
(E)Files annually with the commissioner a copy of its annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile and a copy of its most recent audited financial statement and other financial information requested by the commissioner.
(F)Submits a statement, signed and verified by an officer of the assuming insurer to be true and correct, that discloses whether the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer is currently known to be the subject of any of the following:
(i)Any order or proceeding regarding conservation, liquidation, or receivership.
(ii)Any order or proceeding regarding the revocation or suspension of a license or accreditation to transact insurance or reinsurance in any jurisdiction.
(iii)Any order or proceeding brought by an insurance regulator in any jurisdiction seeking to restrict or stop the assuming insurer from transacting insurance or reinsurance based upon a hazardous financial condition.
The assuming insurer shall provide the commissioner with copies of any orders or other documents initiating proceedings subject to disclosure under this paragraph. The statement shall affirm that no actions, proceedings, or orders subject to this subparagraph are outstanding against the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer, except as disclosed in the statement.
(G)Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that it has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers. An assuming insurer is deemed to meet this requirement if it maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount that is not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) and whose accreditation has not been denied by the commissioner within 90 days of its submission. An assuming insurer who is not deemed to meet this requirement shall obtain the affirmative approval of the commissioner. The approval of the commissioner shall be based upon a finding that the assuming insurer has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers.
(2)The commissioner may deny or revoke an assuming insurers accreditation if the assuming insurer does not meet all of the standards required of an accredited reinsurer, or if its accreditation would be hazardous to the policyholders of this state. In determining whether to deny or revoke accreditation, the commissioner may consider the qualifications of the assuming insurer with respect to all the following subjects:
(A)Its financial stability.
(B)The lawfulness and quality of its investments.
(C)The competency, character, and integrity of its management.
(D)The competency, character, and integrity of persons who own or have a controlling interest in the assuming insurer.
(E)Whether claims under its contracts are promptly and fairly adjusted and are promptly and fully paid in accordance with the law and the terms of the contracts.
(3)Credit shall not be allowed a domestic ceding insurer if the assuming insurers accreditation has been revoked by the commissioner after notice and hearing.
(c)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the commissioner pursuant to Section 922.41.
(d)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial institution as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7 for the payment of the valid claims of its United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest. To enable the commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund the assuming insurer shall report annually to the commissioner information substantially the same as that required to be reported on the NAIC Annual Statement form by licensed insurers or any other form required by the NAIC.
(2)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the form of the trust and any amendments to the trust have been approved by either:
(A)The commissioner of the state where the trust is domiciled.
(B)The commissioner of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument, has accepted principal regulatory oversight of the trust.
The trust and any trust amendments shall also be filed with the commissioner of every state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries of the trust are domiciled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the commissioner from disapproving the form of the trust if it is not in compliance with this states laws and regulations.
(3)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the following requirements are met:
(A)The trust instrument shall provide that contested claims shall be valid, enforceable, and payable out of funds in trust to the extent remaining unsatisfied 30 days after entry of the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.
(B)The trust shall vest legal title to its assets in the trustees of the trust for the benefit of the grantors United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest.
(C)The trust and the assuming insurer shall be subject to examination as determined by the commissioner.
(D)The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer, or any member or former member of a group of insurers, shall have outstanding obligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust.
(E)No later than February 28 of each year, the trustees of the trust shall report to the commissioner in writing setting forth the balance of the trust and listing the trusts investments at the preceding yearend and shall certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify that the trust shall not expire within the next 18 months.
(F)The assuming insurer shall do both of the following:
(i)Submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction, and abide by the final decision of the court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal.
(ii)Designate the commissioner or an attorney in this state as its true and lawful agent upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
This subparagraph is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if this obligation is created in the agreement.
(G)The assuming insurer shall agree in the trust agreement that notwithstanding any other provision in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because it contains an amount less than the amount required by paragraph (4), or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile:
(i)The trustee shall comply with an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.
(ii)The assets shall be distributed by, and insurance claims shall be filed with and valued by, the commissioner with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.
(iii)If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the assets or part thereof shall be returned by the commissioner with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.
(iv)The grantor hereby waives any right otherwise available to it under United States law that is inconsistent with this provision.
(4)The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer:
(A)The trust fund for a single assuming insurer shall consist of funds in trust in an amount not less than the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers, and, in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000), except as provided in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D).
(B)In the case of a group including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters:
(i)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception, amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any underwriter of the group.
(ii)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992, and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States.
(iii)In addition to the trusts required in clauses (i) and (ii), the group shall maintain in trust a trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of the United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all years of account.
(iv)The incorporated members of the group shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and shall be subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the groups domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.
(v)The group shall, within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the groups domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or, if a certification is unavailable, financial statements prepared by independent public accountants of each underwriter member of the group.
(C)In the case of a group of incorporated insurers under common administration, the group shall meet all of the following requirements:
(i)Have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at least three years immediately prior to making application for accreditation and be in good standing with its domiciliary regulator.
(ii)Demonstrate that individual insurer members maintain standards and financial conditions reasonably comparable to admitted insurers.
(iii)Maintain aggregate policyholders surplus of at least ten billion dollars ($10,000,000,000).
(iv)Maintain a trust fund in an amount not less than the groups several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the name of such group.
(v)In addition, maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of United States ceding insurers of any member of the group as additional security for these liabilities. The commissioner shall have the authority to require additional amounts to be held in the trust as a condition for initial or continued accreditation if the commissioner determines that these additional amounts are required for the protection of ceding insurers.
(vi)Within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, make available to the commissioner an annual certification of each underwriter members solvency by the members domiciliary regulator, and financial statements for each underwriter member of the group prepared by its independent public accountant.
(D)At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least three full years, the commissioner may authorize a reduction in the required trusteed surplus, but only after a finding, based on an assessment of the risk, that the new required surplus level is adequate for the protection of United States ceding insurers, policyholders, and claimants in light of reasonably foreseeable adverse loss development. The risk assessment may involve an actuarial review, including an independent analysis of reserves and cashflows, and shall consider all material risk factors, including, when applicable, the lines of business involved, the stability of the incurred loss estimates, and the effect of the surplus requirements on the assuming insurers liquidity or solvency. The minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 50 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust, unless the commissioner expressly finds that appropriate circumstances justify a lower level of minimum required trusteed surplus, provided the minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 30 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust.
(e)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), but only as to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction. As used in this section, jurisdiction means state, district, or territory of the United States and any lawful national government.
SEC. 2.Section 922.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.5.(a)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent of either of the following:
(1)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held by the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with that assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and those funds are held in the United States under the exclusive control of the ceding insurer.
(2)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held in a trust, satisfactory to the commissioner, on behalf of the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and is held in a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7, subject to withdrawal solely by the ceding insurer.
The security under this subdivision may be in the form of cash or securities authorized as general investments under Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170) of Chapter 2, or securities listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC, including those deemed exempt from filing, as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office, qualifying as admitted assets under this code and with liquidity meeting the requirements of Section 706.5, and not otherwise disallowed in the commissioners discretion.
(b)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that security is provided in the form of letters of credit, satisfactory to the commissioner, which shall be:
(1)Clean, irrevocable, unconditional letters of credit, issued or confirmed by qualified United States financial institutions, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 922.7, effective no later than December 31st in respect of the year for which filing is being made, and in the possession of the ceding insurer on or before the filing date of its annual statement.
(2)Letters of credit meeting applicable standards of issuer acceptability as of the dates of their issuance or confirmation and shall, notwithstanding the issuing or confirming institutions subsequent failure to meet applicable standards of issuer acceptability, continue to be acceptable as security until their expiration, extension, renewal, modification, or amendment, whichever first occurs.
(c)For purposes of this section, the phrase deemed exempt from filing as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office shall mean all United States government securities, and all other securities or bonds with a rating of SVO 1 or FE 1 listed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office as exempt.
(d)For the purposes of an asset or a deduction from liability described in subdivisions (a) and (b), the commissioner may adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the following:
(1)The valuation of assets or reserve credits.
(2)The amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in subdivision (b) of Section 922.85.
(3)The circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
SEC. 3.Section 922.85 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.85.(a)The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the procedures provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code or otherwise prescribe requirements consistent with Sections 922.4, 922.41, 922.42, 922.43, and 922.5, provided the commissioner may update subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) and subdivision (i) of Section 922.41 to add other nationally recognized statistical rating agencies, or to modify the rating categories, the corresponding financial ratings, or the percentage of security required to conform to changes in these factors adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
(b)(1)The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2).
(2)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may apply only to reinsurance relating to the following:
(A)Life insurance policies with guaranteed nonlevel gross premiums or guaranteed nonlevel benefits.
(B)Universal life insurance policies with a provision resulting in the ability of a policyholder to keep a policy in force over a secondary guarantee period.
(C)Variable annuities with guaranteed death or living benefits.
(D)Long-term care insurance policies.
(E)Other life and health insurance and annuity products as to which the NAIC adopts model regulatory requirements with respect to credit for reinsurance.
(3)A regulation adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) may apply to any treaty containing the following:
(A)Policies issued on or after January 1, 2015.
(B)Policies issued prior to January 1, 2015, if risk pertaining to those policies is ceded in connection with the treaty, in whole or in part, on or after January 1, 2015.
(4)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may require the ceding insurer, in calculating the amounts or forms of security required to be held under regulations promulgated under this authority, to use the Valuation Manual adopted by the NAIC under Section 11 of the NAIC Standard Valuation Law, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 10489.96, including all amendments adopted by the NAIC and in effect on the date as of which the calculation is made, to the extent applicable.
(5)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall not apply to cessions to an assuming insurer that satisfies either of the following:
(A)The insurer is certified in this state, or certified in a minimum of five other states.
(B)The insurer maintains at least two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) in capital and surplus when determined in accordance with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, including all amendments thereto adopted by the NAIC, excluding the impact of any permitted or prescribed practices, and satisfies either of the following:
(i)The insurer is licensed in at least 26 states.
(ii)The insurer is licensed in at least 10 states, and licensed or accredited in a total of at least 35 states.
(6)The authority to adopt regulations pursuant to this subdivision does not limit the commissioners general authority to adopt regulations pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 4.This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to provide the commissioner with the specific authority to issue regulations on term and universal life financing arrangements as soon as possible, and in order to establish uniform minimum standards for securing a life reinsurers obligations under captive reinsurance treaties and reserve financing arrangements by providing regulations that establish an actuarial method to calculate the portion of the ceded reserve that must be collateralized by primary security, and the types of assets that qualify as primary security, as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
Credit for reinsurance shall be allowed a domestic ceding insurer as either an asset or a deduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e). Credit shall be allowed under subdivision (a), (b), or (c) only for cessions of those kinds or classes of business that the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or assume in its state of domicile or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance. The commissioner may adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in subdivision (b) of Section 922.85, and the circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
(a)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition.
(b)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this state unless the assuming insurer is the subject of a regulatory order or regulatory oversight by any state in which it is licensed based upon a commissioners determination that the assuming insurer is in a hazardous financial condition. An accredited reinsurer is one that does all of the following:
(A)Files with the commissioner evidence of its submission to this states jurisdiction.
(B)Submits to this states authority to examine its books and records.
(C)Designates the commissioner or a designated attorney in this state as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
(D)Is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state, or in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state.
(E)Files annually with the commissioner a copy of its annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile and a copy of its most recent audited financial statement and other financial information requested by the commissioner.
(F)Submits a statement, signed and verified by an officer of the assuming insurer to be true and correct, that discloses whether the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer is currently known to be the subject of any of the following:
(i)Any order or proceeding regarding conservation, liquidation, or receivership.
(ii)Any order or proceeding regarding the revocation or suspension of a license or accreditation to transact insurance or reinsurance in any jurisdiction.
(iii)Any order or proceeding brought by an insurance regulator in any jurisdiction seeking to restrict or stop the assuming insurer from transacting insurance or reinsurance based upon a hazardous financial condition.
The assuming insurer shall provide the commissioner with copies of any orders or other documents initiating proceedings subject to disclosure under this paragraph. The statement shall affirm that no actions, proceedings, or orders subject to this subparagraph are outstanding against the assuming insurer or any affiliated person who owns or has a controlling interest in the assuming insurer, except as disclosed in the statement.
(G)Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that it has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers. An assuming insurer is deemed to meet this requirement if it maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount that is not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) and whose accreditation has not been denied by the commissioner within 90 days of its submission. An assuming insurer who is not deemed to meet this requirement shall obtain the affirmative approval of the commissioner. The approval of the commissioner shall be based upon a finding that the assuming insurer has adequate financial capacity to meet its reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers.
(2)The commissioner may deny or revoke an assuming insurers accreditation if the assuming insurer does not meet all of the standards required of an accredited reinsurer, or if its accreditation would be hazardous to the policyholders of this state. In determining whether to deny or revoke accreditation, the commissioner may consider the qualifications of the assuming insurer with respect to all the following subjects:
(A)Its financial stability.
(B)The lawfulness and quality of its investments.
(C)The competency, character, and integrity of its management.
(D)The competency, character, and integrity of persons who own or have a controlling interest in the assuming insurer.
(E)Whether claims under its contracts are promptly and fairly adjusted and are promptly and fully paid in accordance with the law and the terms of the contracts.
(3)Credit shall not be allowed a domestic ceding insurer if the assuming insurers accreditation has been revoked by the commissioner after notice and hearing.
(c)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the commissioner pursuant to Section 922.41.
(d)(1)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial institution as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7 for the payment of the valid claims of its United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest. To enable the commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund the assuming insurer shall report annually to the commissioner information substantially the same as that required to be reported on the NAIC Annual Statement form by licensed insurers or any other form required by the NAIC.
(2)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the form of the trust and any amendments to the trust have been approved by either:
(A)The commissioner of the state where the trust is domiciled.
(B)The commissioner of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument, has accepted principal regulatory oversight of the trust.
The trust and any trust amendments shall also be filed with the commissioner of every state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries of the trust are domiciled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the commissioner from disapproving the form of the trust if it is not in compliance with this states laws and regulations.
(3)Credit for reinsurance shall not be granted under this subdivision unless the following requirements are met:
(A)The trust instrument shall provide that contested claims shall be valid, enforceable, and payable out of funds in trust to the extent remaining unsatisfied 30 days after entry of the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.
(B)The trust shall vest legal title to its assets in the trustees of the trust for the benefit of the grantors United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest.
(C)The trust and the assuming insurer shall be subject to examination as determined by the commissioner.
(D)The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer, or any member or former member of a group of insurers, shall have outstanding obligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust.
(E)No later than February 28 of each year, the trustees of the trust shall report to the commissioner in writing setting forth the balance of the trust and listing the trusts investments at the preceding yearend and shall certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify that the trust shall not expire within the next 18 months.
(F)The assuming insurer shall do both of the following:
(i)Submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction, and abide by the final decision of the court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal.
(ii)Designate the commissioner or an attorney in this state as its true and lawful agent upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.
This subparagraph is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if this obligation is created in the agreement.
(G)The assuming insurer shall agree in the trust agreement that notwithstanding any other provision in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because it contains an amount less than the amount required by paragraph (4), or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile:
(i)The trustee shall comply with an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.
(ii)The assets shall be distributed by, and insurance claims shall be filed with and valued by, the commissioner with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.
(iii)If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the assets or part thereof shall be returned by the commissioner with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.
(iv)The grantor hereby waives any right otherwise available to it under United States law that is inconsistent with this provision.
(4)The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer:
(A)The trust fund for a single assuming insurer shall consist of funds in trust in an amount not less than the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers, and, in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000), except as provided in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D).
(B)In the case of a group including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters:
(i)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception, amendment, or renewal date on or after January 1, 1993, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any underwriter of the group.
(ii)For reinsurance ceded under reinsurance agreements with an inception date on or before December 31, 1992, and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters several insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States.
(iii)In addition to the trusts required in clauses (i) and (ii), the group shall maintain in trust a trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of the United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all years of account.
(iv)The incorporated members of the group shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and shall be subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the groups domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.
(v)The group shall, within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the groups domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or, if a certification is unavailable, financial statements prepared by independent public accountants of each underwriter member of the group.
(C)In the case of a group of incorporated insurers under common administration, the group shall meet all of the following requirements:
(i)Have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at least three years immediately prior to making application for accreditation and be in good standing with its domiciliary regulator.
(ii)Demonstrate that individual insurer members maintain standards and financial conditions reasonably comparable to admitted insurers.
(iii)Maintain aggregate policyholders surplus of at least ten billion dollars ($10,000,000,000).
(iv)Maintain a trust fund in an amount not less than the groups several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the name of such group.
(v)In addition, maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be held jointly for the benefit of United States ceding insurers of any member of the group as additional security for these liabilities. The commissioner shall have the authority to require additional amounts to be held in the trust as a condition for initial or continued accreditation if the commissioner determines that these additional amounts are required for the protection of ceding insurers.
(vi)Within 90 days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the groups domiciliary regulator, make available to the commissioner an annual certification of each underwriter members solvency by the members domiciliary regulator, and financial statements for each underwriter member of the group prepared by its independent public accountant.
(D)At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least three full years, the commissioner may authorize a reduction in the required trusteed surplus, but only after a finding, based on an assessment of the risk, that the new required surplus level is adequate for the protection of United States ceding insurers, policyholders, and claimants in light of reasonably foreseeable adverse loss development. The risk assessment may involve an actuarial review, including an independent analysis of reserves and cashflows, and shall consider all material risk factors, including, when applicable, the lines of business involved, the stability of the incurred loss estimates, and the effect of the surplus requirements on the assuming insurers liquidity or solvency. The minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 50 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust, unless the commissioner expressly finds that appropriate circumstances justify a lower level of minimum required trusteed surplus, provided the minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than 30 percent of the assuming insurers liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust.
(e)Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), but only as to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction. As used in this section, jurisdiction means state, district, or territory of the United States and any lawful national government.
SEC. 2.Section 922.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.5.(a)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent of either of the following:
(1)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held by the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with that assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and such those funds are held in the United States under the exclusive control of the ceding insurer.
(2)The asset or deduction is not greater than the amount of funds held in a trust, satisfactory to the commissioner, on behalf of the ceding insurer under a reinsurance contract with such the assuming insurer as security for the payment of obligations thereunder and is held in a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 922.7, subject to withdrawal solely by the ceding insurer.
The security under this subdivision may be in the form of cash or securities authorized as general investments under Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170) of Chapter 2, or securities listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC, including those deemed exempt from filing, as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office, qualifying as admitted assets under this code and with liquidity meeting the requirements of Section 706.5, and not otherwise disallowed in the commissioners discretion.
(b)An asset or a deduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of Section 922.4 shall be allowed in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent that security is provided in the form of letters of credit, satisfactory to the commissioner, which shall be:
(1)Clean, irrevocable, unconditional letters of credit, issued or confirmed by qualified United States financial institutions, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 922.7, effective no later than December 31st in respect of the year for which filing is being made, and in the possession of the ceding insurer on or before the filing date of its annual statement.
(2)Letters of credit meeting applicable standards of issuer acceptability as of the dates of their issuance or confirmation and shall, notwithstanding the issuing or confirming institutions subsequent failure to meet applicable standards of issuer acceptability, continue to be acceptable as security until their expiration, extension, renewal, modification, or amendment, whichever first occurs.
(c)For purposes of this section, the phrase deemed exempt from filing as defined by the Purposes and Procedures Manual of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office shall mean all United States government securities, and all other securities or bonds with a rating of SVO 1 or FE 1 listed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Securities Valuation Office as exempt.
(d)For the purposes of an asset or a deduction from liability described in subdivisions (a) and (b), the commissioner may adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the following:
(1)The valuation of assets or reserve credits.
(2)The amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements described in subdivision (b) of Section 922.85.
(3)The circumstances pursuant to which credit will be reduced or eliminated.
SEC. 3.Section 922.85 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:922.85.The (a)The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the procedures provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code or otherwise prescribe requirements consistent with Sections 922.4, 922.41, 922.42, 922.43, and 922.5, provided the commissioner may update subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) and subdivision (i) of Section 922.41 to add other nationally recognized statistical rating agencies, or to modify the rating categories, the corresponding financial ratings, or the percentage of security required to conform to changes in these factors adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Commissioners (NAIC).
(b)(1)The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements described in paragraph (2).
(2)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may apply only to reinsurance relating to the following:
(A)Life insurance policies with guaranteed nonlevel gross premiums or guaranteed nonlevel benefits.
(B)Universal life insurance policies with a provision resulting in the ability of a policyholder to keep a policy in force over a secondary guarantee period.
(C)Variable annuities with guaranteed death or living benefits.
(D)Long-term care insurance policies.
(E)Other life and health insurance and annuity products as to which the NAIC adopts model regulatory requirements with respect to credit for reinsurance.
(3)A regulation adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) may apply to any treaty containing the following:
(A)Policies issued on or after January 1, 2015.
(B)Policies issued prior to January 1, 2015, if risk pertaining to those policies is ceded in connection with the treaty, in whole or in part, on or after January 1, 2015.
(4)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision may require the ceding insurer, in calculating the amounts or forms of security required to be held under regulations promulgated under this authority, to use the Valuation Manual adopted by the NAIC under Section 11 of the NAIC Standard Valuation Law, including all amendments adopted by the NAIC and in effect on the date as of which the calculation is made, to the extent applicable.
(5)A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall not apply to cessions to an assuming insurer that satisfies either of the following:
(A)The insurer is certified in this state, or certified in a minimum of five other states.
(B)The insurer maintains at least two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) in capital and surplus when determined in accordance with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, including all amendments thereto adopted by the NAIC, excluding the impact of any permitted or prescribed practices, and satisfies either of the following:
(i)The insurer is licensed in at least 26 states.
(ii)The insurer is licensed in at least 10 states, and licensed or accredited in a total of at least 35 states.
(6)The authority to adopt regulations pursuant to this subdivision does not limit the commissioners general authority to adopt regulations pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 4.This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to provide the commissioner with the specific authority to issue regulations on term and universal life financing arrangements as soon as possible, and in order to establish uniform minimum standards for securing a life reinsurers obligations under captive reinsurance treaties and reserve financing arrangements by providing regulations that establish an actuarial method to calculate the portion of the ceded reserve that must be collateralized by primary security, and the types of assets that qualify as primary security, as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2017 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 202, Statutes of 2017. |
| Sep 1, 2017 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug 30, 2017 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m. |
| Aug 24, 2017 | In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Aug 24, 2017 | Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Aug 22, 2017 | Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. |
| Aug 21, 2017 | From committee: Be placed on second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar. |
| Jul 10, 2017 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| Jun 28, 2017 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun 1, 2017 | Referred to Com. on I., B. & F.I. |
| May 18, 2017 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| May 18, 2017 | Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1618.). |
| May 11, 2017 | Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. |
| May 10, 2017 | From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (May 10). |
| Apr 26, 2017 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 25, 2017 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 24, 2017 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 19). |
| Apr 18, 2017 | Re-referred to Com. on INS. |
| Apr 17, 2017 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 14, 2017 | Re-referred to Com. on INS. |
| Mar 13, 2017 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 2, 2017 | Referred to Com. on INS. |
| Feb 17, 2017 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 19. |
| Feb 16, 2017 | Read first time. To print. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 2017 | Consent Calendar 2nd AB938 Cooley Urgency Clause | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Jun 28, 2017 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Insurance, Banking and Financial Institutions |
Passed |
|
| May 18, 2017 | AB 938 COOLEY Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 10, 2017 | Do pass. To Consent Calendar. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 19, 2017 | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| American Insurance Association | ** Support | Aug 22, 2017 |
| Association Of California Life And Health Insurance Companies | ** Support | Aug 22, 2017 |
| California Department of Insurance | ** Support | Aug 22, 2017 |
| opposition none received. | ** Support | Jun 26, 2017 |
| Prior and Related Legislation POSITIONS | ** Support | Jun 26, 2017 |
| Reinsurance Association Of America | ** Support | Aug 22, 2017 |
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB |
CONSENT
Bill No: AB 938
:
SENATE INS., BANK. & FIN. COMMITTEE: 9-0, 6/28/17
AYES: Mendoza, Galgiani, Glazer, Hernandez, Lara, Morrell, Newman, Portantino, Roth
NO VOTE RECORDED: Berryhill, Gaines, Hueso, Mitchell
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 69-0, 5/18/17 (Consent) - See last page for vote
SOURCE: California Department of Insurance
DIGEST:
This bill authorizes the Insurance Commissioner (IC) to adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements relating to the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount or value of securities, and the extent to which credit will be reduced or eliminated for life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified.
Existing law:
- Requires every insurer doing business in the state to make and file annual financial statements with the IC, as specified.
- Requires life insurers to establish reserves sufficient to pay anticipated claims for life insurance policies according to either statutory formulas that incorporate uniform mortality and interest rate assumptions or based on statistical modeling known as “principal based reserving” that is tailored to the individual insurer’s book of business and economic forecast.
- Requires those reserves to be funded with high quality assets (generally highly rated government and corporate bonds).
- Allows life insurers to include reinsurance purchased as part of its funding of reserves.
- Allows an insurer to take a credit for the reinsurance as either an asset or a deduction from liability if the reinsurer meets specified requirements.
- Allows, if the reinsurer does not meet those requirements, a credit for reinsurance to be taken in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent the ceding insurer provides security in the form of funds or letters of credit, as specified.
- Provides, generally, that the direct financial regulation of a life insurer is by the insurance regulator in the insurer’s home state.
This bill:
- Authorizes the IC to adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements relating to the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount or value of securities, and the extent to which credit will be reduced or eliminated for life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified.
- Limits the new rulemaking authority to reinsurance agreements covering the following insurance products:
- Life insurance policies with guaranteed non-level gross premiums or guaranteed non-level benefits.
- Universal life insurance policies with a secondary guarantee period.
- Variable annuities with guaranteed death or living benefits.
- Long-term care insurance policies.
- Other life and health insurance and annuity products as to which the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopts model regulatory requirements with respect to credit for reinsurance.
- Specifies that any regulations adopted by the IC pursuant to this authority be based upon, and be consistent with, the current version of the NAIC model regulations to the extent they do not conflict with California law.
- Declares it is essential that this authority take effect immediately in order to establish uniform minimum standards for securing life reinsurers’ obligations under captive reinsurance treaties and financing arrangements.
Background
When a new life insurance policy is issued, an insurer is required to set aside money as a "reserve" to ensure that sufficient funds are available to pay claims against the policy, and that reserve amount is adjusted periodically throughout the time the policy remains in force. Reserves are an expense the life insurer incurs as part of the sale of a life insurance policy, and existing law requires that the reserves be composed of very safe, liquid assets (generally high quality bonds). Insurers commonly purchase reinsurance to spread some or all of the risk attached to its policies to another insurer to help satisfy reserve requirements. This is a well-accepted practice and it can protect both insurers and policyholders. Many entities offering reinsurance are licensed and regulated as insurance companies, and as licensed reinsurers they are required to provide high quality assets to secure the reinsurance that they sell.
Some insurers, believing these reserve requirements are excessive, have attempted to fulfill their reserves requirements through questionable "captive" reinsurance arrangements. They use another entity within the parent holding company (known as a "captive") as a reinsurer. Captives are used in various lines of insurance and are accepted, as a general matter, as legitimate reinsurance by insurance regulators. However life insurers greatly increased their use of captive reinsurance transactions in recent years. Many of these reinsurance transactions have been characterized as "shadow insurance" where the life insurer purchases reinsurance from captive reinsurer located in a jurisdiction with lower capital and reserve requirements (commonly in offshore havens). This can free up existing reserves for other uses, or to sell more policies without increasing reserves. This may leave the insurer without the needed reserves to pay claims in the event of catastrophic or unexpected losses.
The NAIC recently completed its process of updating its model law governing the credit granted for reinsurance, and making these requirements permanent. California must adopt those changes into California law to maintain its accreditation status with the NAIC.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:
California Department of Insurance (source)
Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies
American Insurance Association
Reinsurance Association of America
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/22/17)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The California Department of Insurance sponsored this bill because it ensures that California law and practice is in line with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners model law regarding credit for reinsurance. According to the Reinsurance Association of America, AB 938 will make many transactions more transparent by changing rules that address the regulation of credit for reinsurance with respect to captive insurance transactions.
The Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies and the American Insurance Association support AB 938 because they argue the effectiveness of state-based insurance regulation depends on uniform enactment of model laws as developed by the NAIC. Without uniform enactment, state regulators cannot rely on each other to regulate insurers’ solvency to protect policyholders.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 69-0, 5/18/17
AYES: Acosta, Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonta, Brough, Burke, Caballero, Cervantes, Chávez, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gomez, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Harper, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kiley, Lackey, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Steinorth, Mark
Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, Wood
NO VOTE RECORDED: Aguiar-Curry, Calderon, Chau, Frazier, Friedman, Gipson, Gloria, Holden, Mullin, Santiago, Rendon
8/22/17 11:11:55
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Senator Tony Mendoza, Chair
2017 - 2018 Regular
Bill No: AB 938 Hearing Date: June 28, 2017
Author: | Cooley | ||
Version: | April 25, 2017 Amended | ||
Urgency: | Yes | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | Erin Ryan | ||
Subject: Reinsurance
SUMMARY
Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner (IC) to adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements relating to the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount or value of securities, and the extent to which credit will be reduced or eliminated for life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified.
DIGEST
Existing law
- Requires every insurer doing business in the state to make and file annual financial statements with the IC, as specified.
- Requires life insurers to establish reserves sufficient to pay anticipated claims for life insurance policies according to either statutory formulas that incorporate uniform mortality and interest rate assumptions or based on statistical modeling known as “principal based reserving” (PBR) that is tailored to the individual insurer’s book of business and economic forecast.
- Requires those reserves to be funded with high quality assets (generally highly rated government and corporate bonds).
- Allows life insurers to include reinsurance purchased as part of its funding of reserves.
- Allows an insurer to take a credit for the reinsurance as either an asset or a deduction from liability if the reinsurer meets specified requirements.
- If the reinsurer does not meet those requirements, allows a credit for reinsurance to be taken in an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer to the extent the ceding insurer provides security in the form of funds or letters of credit, as specified.
- Generally provides that the direct financial regulation of a life insurer is by the insurance regulator in the insurer’s home state.
This bill
- Authorizes the IC to adopt regulations applicable to reinsurance arrangements relating to the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount or value of securities, and the extent to which credit will be reduced or eliminated for life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, as specified.
- Limits the new rulemaking authority to reinsurance agreements covering the following insurance products:
- Life insurance policies with guaranteed non-level gross premiums or guaranteed non-level benefits.
- Universal life insurance policies with a secondary guarantee period.
- Variable annuities with guaranteed death or living benefits.
- Long-term care insurance policies.
- Other life and health insurance and annuity products as to which the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopts model regulatory requirements with respect to credit for reinsurance.
- Specifies that any regulations adopted by the IC pursuant to this authority be based upon, and be consistent with, the current version of the NAIC model regulations to the extent they do not conflict with California law.
- Declares it is essential that this authority take effect immediately in order to establish uniform minimum standards for securing life reinsurers’ obligations under captive reinsurance treaties and financing arrangements.
COMMENTS
- Purpose of the bill To allow the IC to adopt rules and regulations relative to reinsurance arrangements for life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policies, and annuities, aligning California law with model laws adopted and updated by the NAIC.
- Background When a new life insurance policy is issued, an insurer is required to set aside money as a "reserve" to ensure that sufficient funds are available to pay claims against the policy, and that reserve amount is adjusted periodically throughout the time the policy remains in force. Reserves are an expense the life insurer incurs as part of the sale of a life insurance policy, and existing law requires that the reserves be composed of very safe, liquid assets (generally high quality bonds). Insurers commonly purchase reinsurance to spread some or all of the risk attached to its policies to another insurer to help satisfy reserve requirements. This is a well-accepted practice and it can protect both insurers and policyholders. Many entities offering reinsurance are licensed and regulated as insurance companies, and as licensed reinsurers they are required to provide high quality assets to secure the reinsurance that they sell.
Some insurers, believing these reserve requirements are excessive, have attempted to fulfill their reserves requirements through questionable "captive" reinsurance arrangements. They use another entity within the parent holding company (known as a "captive") as a reinsurer. Captives are used in various lines of insurance and are accepted, as a general matter, as legitimate reinsurance by insurance regulators. However life insurers greatly increased their use of captive reinsurance transactions in recent years. Many of these reinsurance transactions have been characterized as "shadow insurance" where the life insurer purchases reinsurance from captive reinsurer located in a jurisdiction with lower capital and reserve requirements (commonly in offshore havens). This can free up existing reserves for other uses, or to sell more policies without increasing reserves. This may leave the insurer without the needed reserves to pay claims in the event of catastrophic or unexpected losses.
The NAIC recently completed its process of updating its model law governing the credit granted for reinsurance, and making these requirements permanent. California must adopt those changes into California law to maintain its accreditation status with the NAIC.
- Support The CDI sponsored this bill because it ensures that California law and practice is in line with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners model law regarding credit for reinsurance. According to the Reinsurance Association of America, AB 938 will make many transactions more transparent by changing rules that address the regulation of credit for reinsurance with respect to captive insurance transactions.
The Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies and the American Insurance Association support AB 938 because they argue the effectiveness of state-based insurance regulation depends on uniform enactment of model laws as developed by the NAIC. Without uniform enactment, state regulators cannot rely on each other to regulate insurers’ solvency to protect policyholders.
- Opposition None received.
- Prior and Related Legislation
- SB 1216 (Lowenthal, Chap. 277 Statutes of 2012) conformed California law to the NAIC Credit for Reinsurance Model Law.
- SB 696 (Roth, Chap. 658 Statutes of 2015) conformed California law to the model Standard Valuation Law, adopted by the NAIC, and replaced the method of calculating reserves for most life insurance products with a new method known as PBR for contracts issued on or after the effective date.
POSITIONS
Support
Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies
American Insurance Association
California Department of Insurance (sponsor)
Reinsurance Association of America
Oppose
None received
-- END --
Date of Hearing: May 10, 2017
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 938
Author:(Cooley) – As Amended Ver:April 25, 2017
Policy Committee: | Insurance | Vote: | 12 - 0 |
|
|
Urgency: Yes State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill, and urgency measure, authorizes the Insurance Commissioner (commissioner) to adopt regulations regarding reinsurance agreements for life insurers.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Approximate costs to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) of $30,000 for fiscal year 2017-18, and 2018-19, with no ongoing costs.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. Consistent with model law adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), this bill expands the commissioner's authority to adopt regulations to strengthen the financial reserve requirements for insurers. This effort is part of NAIC's ongoing effort to update model rules on the financial regulation of life insurers to keep pace with an evolving industry. This bill is sponsored by CDI and has no opposition.
- Background. Existing law requires insurers to hold financial reserves so that claims can be paid in the event of major losses. The amount and type of financial reserves required varies based on the underlying insurance product. In addition to holding highly-rated government and corporate bonds, insurers can use reinsurance agreements to satisfy reserve requirements. Many entities offering reinsurance are licensed and regulated as insurance companies. These licensed reinsurers are required to provide high-quality assets to secure the reinsurance they sell. However, regulators recently have been concerned with the adequacy of assets backing up other types of reinsurance transactions. For instance, a parent company can establish a so-called "captive" reinsurer to transfer some risk. Questions have been raised about whether such reinsurers are adequately funded. The regulations issued pursuant to this bill are intended to establish firmer parameters related to reinsurance, to ensure reserves are adequate to cover losses.
Analysis Prepared by: Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: April 19, 2017
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE
Tom Daly, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 938 (
Author:Cooley) – As Amended Ver:April 17, 2017
SUBJECT: Reinsurance
SUMMARY: Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner (commissioner) to adopt regulations regarding reinsurance agreements for life insurers. Specifically, this bill:
- Authorizes the commissioner to adopt regulations specifying how assets supporting reinsurance agreements are valued.
- Limits the applicability of this new rulemaking authority to reinsurance agreements for the following products:
- Life insurance policies with guaranteed non-level gross premiums or guaranteed non-level benefits.
- Universal life insurance policies with a secondary guarantee period.
- Variable annuities with guaranteed death or living benefits.
- Long-term care insurance policies.
- Other life and health insurance and annuity products if the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopts model regulatory reinsurance requirements.
- Declares this bill to be an urgency statute.
EXISTING LAW:
- Requires life insurers to establish reserves for life insurance policies according to either a) statutory formulas that incorporate uniform mortality and interest rate assumptions, or b) based on statistical modeling known as "principle based reserving" (PBR) that is tailored to the indiviudal insurer's book of business and economic forecast.
- Requries those reserves to be funded with high quality assets (generally highly rated government and corporate bonds).
- Permits life insurers to include reinsurance purchased as part of its funding of reserves.
- Provides for direct financial regulation of a life insurer by the insurance regulator in the insurer's home state.
- Permits a life insurer to sell products in another state if it obtains a certificate of authority from that state.
FISCAL EFFECT: Undetermined
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. This bill expands the commissioner's authority to adopt regulations to strengthen the financial reserve requirements for insurers based on model law adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC has been working on model statutes and regulations to address concerns about the use of "captive" reinsurance arrangements by some life insurers. This effort is part of NAIC's ongoing effort to update model rules on the financial regulation of life insurers to keep pace with changes in the life insurance industry.
- Captive Reinsurers. Existing law requires insurers to hold financial reserves to ensure that claims on existing policies can be paid in the event of major losses. The amount of the financial reserves required is determined by statutory formulas and rules that vary based on the underlying insurance product. Insurers can use reinsurance agreements to satisfy reserve requirements. It is common for an insurer to purchase reinsurance in order to spread some or all of the risk attached to its policies to another insurer. This is a well-accepted practice and it can protect both insurers and policyholders. Many entities offering reinsurance are licensed and regulated as insurance companies, and, as licensed reinsurers, they are required to provide high quality assets to secure the reinsurance that they sell.
Some insurers choose to use another entity within the parent holding company (known as a "captive") as a reinsurer. Captives are used in various lines of insurance and are accepted, as a general matter, as legitimate reinsurance by insurance regulators. In recent years, some insurance companies have begun using reinsurance arrangements referred to as “shadow insurance” to shift blocks of policy claims to underfunded special entities. These transactions have the effect of reducing the amount or quality of reserves. In these “shadow insurance” transactions, an insurance company creates a “captive” insurance subsidiary, essentially a shell company owned by the parent insurer, and diverts the reserves that it had previously set aside to pay policyholders. Reserve and collateral requirements for the captive reinsurer are typically much lower than those the parent insurer is required to meet.
In addition to the question of whether such captive transactions provide any real risk transfer, some regulators have been concerned with the adequacy of assets backing up these reinsurance transactions. The New York Department of Financial Services (New York) reviewed "shadow insurance" transactions by New York life insurers and found that a number of captive reinsurers were allowed to use "hollow assets" such as a letters of credit or a promise that the holding company will pay any claims on the reinsurance (referred to as a "naked parental guarantee") as reserves. New York also found that these transactions had the perverse effect of boosting the "risk-based capital" scores (a regulatory measure of a life insurer's financial well-being). This method of reinsurance does not actually transfer the risk for those insurance policies away from the parent insurer. Having diverted their reserves, the parent company may not have the needed reserve buffer to cover the claims of multiple policyholders in the event of catastrophic loss.
- NAIC. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is an association composed of the insurance commissioners for each state and has a number of functions. Among those is promoting consistency in insurance law by developing model laws and guidelines for the states. Adopting some NAIC model laws related to the financial solvency of insurers is required for a state to maintain its accreditation status with NAIC. Accreditation is crucial to the effective functioning of the oversight of financial solvency and states effectively have to adopt NAIC model laws that are part of the accreditation standards. NAIC model laws and guidelines that are not part of the accreditation standards are strictly advisory and states are under no obligation to enact them.
- DOI Regulations. The DOI has begun drafting the regulations authorized by this bill. AB 938 is an urgency statute and the regulations are being prepared in parallel to allow faster implementation. DOI's early draft of the regulations contains language that appears to apply the regulations to insurers domiciled in other states. As a general matter, financial regulation is the responsibility of the state in which the insurer is domiciled. Some insurers have expressed concern regarding the application of these regulations to insurers domiciled in other states and expressed the position that both the bill and the regulations should closely track the NAIC standards. The author may want to consider amending the bill to require that the regulations adopted by the DOI based on this new legislative authority be fully consistent with the NAIC model regulations.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Department of Insurance (sponsor)
Association of California Life & Health Insurance Companies (support if amended)
American Insurance Association (support if amended)
Opposition
None received
Analysis Prepared by: Paul Riches / INS. /
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):