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H.B. 201 Enrolled

                 

LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES LAW

                 
AMENDMENTS

                 
2005 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Chief Sponsor: James A. Dunnigan

                 
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

                 
                  LONG TITLE
                  General Description:
                      This bill modifies Insurance Code provisions dealing with life insurance and annuities.
                  Highlighted Provisions:
                      This bill:
                      .    addresses provisions of the standard nonforfeiture law for individual deferred
                  annuities;
                      .    makes permissive a requirement that the commissioner make rules to establish
                  standards for materials used in the solicitation or sale of life insurance;
                      .    requires each life insurance policy or annuity contract to contain a description on its
                  cover page and explains what must be included in the description;
                      .    requires insurers to maintain records that affect the legal effect of a life insurance
                  policy, annuity contract, or certificate of life insurance, for the policy term plus five
                  years;
                      .    creates and defines an employer group category and exempts the groups' life
                  insurance policies from certain requirements;
                      .    exempts credit union groups and creditor groups that insure debtors from
                  requirements that they notify their members of conversion rights and information;
                  and
                      .    makes technical changes.
                  Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
                      None


                  Other Special Clauses:
                      None
                  Utah Code Sections Affected:
                  AMENDS:
                      31A-22-409, as last amended by Chapter 97, Laws of Utah 2004
                      31A-22-425, as enacted by Chapter 96, Laws of Utah 2004
                      31A-22-501, as last amended by Chapter 96, Laws of Utah 2004
                      31A-22-506, as enacted by Chapter 242, Laws of Utah 1985
                      31A-22-507, as enacted by Chapter 242, Laws of Utah 1985
                  ENACTS:
                      31A-22-426, Utah Code Annotated 1953
                      31A-22-427, Utah Code Annotated 1953
                      31A-22-501.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
                 
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 31A-22-409 is amended to read:
                       31A-22-409. Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Individual Deferred Annuities.
                      (1) This section is known as the "Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Individual Deferred
                  Annuities."
                      (2) This section does not apply to:
                      (a) any reinsurance;
                      (b) a group annuity purchased under a retirement plan or plan of deferred compensation:
                      (i) established or maintained by:
                      (A) an employer, including a partnership or sole proprietorship;
                      (B) an employee organization; or
                      (C) both an employer and an employee organization; and
                      (ii) other than a plan providing individual retirement accounts or individual retirement
                  annuities under Section 408, Internal Revenue Code;


                      (c) a premium deposit fund;
                      (d) a variable annuity;
                      (e) an investment annuity;
                      (f) an immediate annuity;
                      (g) a deferred annuity contract after annuity payments have commenced;
                      (h) a reversionary annuity; or
                      (i) any contract that shall be delivered outside this state through an agent or other
                  representative of the company issuing the contract.
                      (3) (a) If a policy is issued after this section takes effect as set forth in Subsection (15), a
                  contract of annuity, except as stated in Subsection (2), may not be delivered or issued for delivery
                  in this state unless the contract of annuity contains in substance:
                      (i) the provisions described in Subsection (3)(b); or
                      (ii) provisions corresponding to the provisions described in Subsection (3)(b) that in the
                  opinion of the commissioner are at least as favorable to the contractholder, governing cessation
                  of payment of consideration under the contract.
                      (b) Subsection (3)(a)(i) requires the following provisions:
                      (i) the company shall grant a paid-up annuity benefit on a plan stipulated in the contract
                  of such a value as specified in Subsections (7), (8), (9), (10), and (12):
                      (A) upon cessation of payment of consideration under a contract; or
                      (B) upon a written request of the contract owner;
                      (ii) if a contract provides for a lump-sum settlement at maturity, or at any other time,
                  upon surrender of the contract at or before the commencement of any annuity payments, the
                  company shall pay in lieu of any paid-up annuity benefit a cash surrender benefit of such amount
                  as is specified in Subsections (7), (8), (10), and (12);
                      (iii) a statement of the mortality table, if any, and interest rates used in calculating any of
                  the following that are guaranteed under the contract:
                      (A) minimum paid-up annuity benefits;
                      (B) cash surrender benefits; or


                      (C) death benefits;
                      (iv) sufficient information to determine the amounts of the benefits described in
                  Subsection (3)(b)(iii);
                      (v) a statement that any paid-up annuity, cash surrender, or death benefits that may be
                  available under the contract are not less than the minimum benefits required by any statute of the
                  state in which the contract is delivered; and
                      (vi) an explanation of the manner in which the benefits described in Subsection (3)(b)(v)
                  are altered by the existence of any:
                      (A) additional amounts credited by the company to the contract;
                      (B) indebtedness to the company on the contract; or
                      (C) prior withdrawals from or partial surrender of the contract.
                      (c) Notwithstanding the requirements of this Subsection (3), any deferred annuity
                  contract may provide that if no consideration has been received under a contract for a period of
                  two full years and the portion of the paid-up annuity benefit at maturity on the plan stipulated in
                  the contract arising from consideration paid before the period would be less than $20 monthly:
                      (i) the company may at the company's option terminate the contract by payment in cash
                  of the then present value of such portion of the paid-up annuity benefit, calculated on the basis of
                  the mortality table specified in the contract, if any, and the interest rate specified in the contract
                  for determining the paid-up annuity benefit; and
                      (ii) the payment described in Subsection (3)(c)(i), relieves the company of any further
                  obligation under the contract.
                      (d) A company may reserve the right to defer the payment of cash surrender benefit for a
                  period not to exceed six months after demand for the payment of the cash surrender benefit with
                  surrender of the contract.
                      (4) For a policy issued before June 1, 2006, the minimum values as specified in
                  Subsections (7), (8), (9), (10), and (12) of any paid-up annuity, cash surrender, or death benefits
                  available under an annuity contract shall be based upon minimum nonforfeiture amounts as
                  established in this Subsection (4).


                      (a) (i) With respect to contracts providing for flexible considerations, the minimum
                  nonforfeiture amount at any time at or before the commencement of any annuity payments shall
                  be equal to an accumulation up to such time, at a rate of interest of 3% per annum of percentages
                  of the net considerations paid prior to such time:
                      (A) decreased by the sum of:
                      (I) any prior withdrawals from or partial surrenders of the contract accumulated at a rate
                  of interest of 3% per annum; and
                      (II) the amount of any indebtedness to the company on the contract, including interest
                  due and accrued; and
                      (B) increased by any existing additional amounts credited by the company to the
                  contract.
                      (ii) For purposes of this Subsection (4)(a), the net consideration for a given contract year
                  used to define the minimum nonforfeiture amount shall be:
                      (A) an amount not less than zero; and
                      (B) equal to the corresponding gross considerations credited to the contract during that
                  contract year less:
                      (I) an annual contract charge of $30; and
                      (II) a collection charge of $1.25 per consideration credited to the contract during that
                  contract year.
                      (iii) The percentages of net considerations shall be:
                      (A) 65% of the net consideration for the first contract year; and
                      (B) 87-1/2% of the net considerations for the second and later contract years.
                      (iv) Notwithstanding Subsection (4)(a)(iii), the percentage shall be 65% of the portion of
                  the total net consideration for any renewal contract year that exceeds by not more than two times
                  the sum of those portions of the net considerations in all prior contract years for which the
                  percentage was 65%.
                      (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsections (4)(b)(ii) and (iii), with respect to contracts
                  providing for fixed scheduled consideration, minimum nonforfeiture amounts shall be:


                      (A) calculated on the assumption that considerations are paid annually in advance; and
                      (B) defined as for contracts with flexible considerations that are paid annually.
                      (ii) The portion of the net consideration for the first contract year to be accumulated shall
                  be equal to an amount that is the sum of:
                      (A) 65% of the net consideration for the first contract year; and
                      (B) 22-1/2% of the excess of the net consideration for the first contract year over the
                  lesser of the net considerations for:
                      (I) the second contract year; and
                      (II) the third contract year.
                      (iii) The annual contract charge shall be the lesser of $30 or 10% of the gross annual
                  consideration.
                      (c) With respect to contracts providing for a single consideration payment, minimum
                  nonforfeiture amounts shall be defined as for contracts with flexible considerations except that:
                      (i) the percentage of net consideration used to determine the minimum nonforfeiture
                  amount shall be equal to 90%; and
                      (ii) the net consideration shall be the gross consideration less a contract charge of $75.
                      (5) For a policy issued on or after June 1, 2006, the minimum values as specified in
                  Subsections (7), (8), (9), (10), and (12) of any paid-up annuity, cash surrender, or death benefits
                  available under an annuity contract shall be based upon minimum nonforfeiture amounts as
                  established in this Subsection (5).
                      (a) The minimum nonforfeiture amount at any time at or before the commencement of
                  any annuity payments shall be equal to an accumulation up to such time, at rates of interest as
                  indicated in Subsection (5)(b), of 87-1/2% of the gross considerations paid before such time
                  decreased by the sum of:
                      (i) any prior withdrawals from or partial surrenders of the contract accumulated at rates
                  of interest as indicated in Subsection (5)(b);
                      (ii) an annual contract charge of $50, accumulated at rates of interest as indicated in
                  Subsection (5)(b);


                      (iii) any premium tax paid by the company for the contract, accumulated at rates of
                  interest as indicated in Subsection (5)(b); and
                      (iv) the amount of any indebtedness to the company on the contract, including interest
                  due and accrued.
                      (b) (i) The interest rate used in determining minimum nonforfeiture amounts shall be an
                  annual rate of interest determined as the lesser of:
                      (A) 3% per annum; and
                      (B) the five-year Constant Maturity Treasury Rate reported by the Federal Reserve,
                  rounded to the nearest 1/20th of 1%, as of a date or average over a period no longer than 15
                  months prior to the contract issue date or redetermination date under Subsection (5)(b)(iii):
                      (I) reduced by 125 basis points; and
                      (II) where the resulting interest rate is not less than 1%.
                      (ii) The interest rate shall apply for an initial period and may be redetermined for
                  additional periods.
                      (iii) (A) If the interest rate will be reset, the contract shall state:
                      (I) the initial period;
                      (II) the redetermination date;
                      (III) the redetermination basis; and
                      (IV) the redetermination period.
                      (B) The basis is the date or average over a specified period that produces the value of the
                  five-year Constant Maturity Treasury Rate to be used at each redetermination date.
                      (c) (i) During the period or term that a contract provides substantive participation in an
                  equity indexed benefit, the reduction described in Subsection (5)(b)(i)(B)(I) may be increased by
                  up to an additional 100 basis points to reflect the value of the equity index benefit.
                      (ii) The present value of the additional reduction at the contract issue date and at each
                  redetermination date may not exceed the market value of the benefit.
                      (iii) (A) The commissioner may require a demonstration that the present value of the
                  additional reduction does not exceed the market value of the benefit.


                      (B) If the demonstration required under Subsection (5)(c)(iii)(A) is not made to the
                  satisfaction of the commissioner, the commissioner may disallow or limit the additional
                  reduction.
                      (6) Notwithstanding Subsection (4), for a policy issued on or after June 1, 2004 and
                  before June 1, 2006, at the election of a company, on a contract form-by-contract form basis, the
                  minimum values as specified in Subsections (7), (8), (9), (10), and (12) of any paid-up annuity,
                  cash surrender, or death benefits available under an annuity contract may be based upon
                  minimum nonforfeiture amounts as established in Subsection (5).
                      (7) (a) Any paid-up annuity benefit available under a contract shall be such that the
                  contract's present value on the date annuity payments are to commence is at least equal to the
                  minimum nonforfeiture amount on that date.
                      (b) The present value described in Subsection (7)(a) shall be computed using the
                  mortality table, if any, and the interest rate specified in the contract for determining the minimum
                  paid-up annuity benefits guaranteed in the contract.
                      (8) (a) For contracts that provide cash surrender benefits, the cash surrender benefits
                  available before maturity may not be less than the present value as of the date of surrender of that
                  portion of the cash surrender value that would be provided under the contract at maturity arising
                  from considerations paid before the time of cash surrender:
                      (i) decreased by the amount appropriate to reflect any prior withdrawals from or partial
                  surrender of the contract;
                      (ii) decreased by the amount of any indebtedness to the company on the contract,
                  including interest due and accrued; and
                      (iii) increased by any existing additional amounts credited by the company to the
                  contract.
                      (b) For purposes of this Subsection (8), the present value being calculated on the basis of
                  an interest rate not more than 1% higher than the interest rate specified in the contract for
                  accumulating the net considerations to determine the maturity value.
                      (c) In no event shall any cash surrender benefit be less than the minimum nonforfeiture


                  amount at that time.
                      (d) The death benefit under a contract described in Subsection (8)(a) shall be at least
                  equal to the cash surrender benefit.
                      (9) (a) For contracts that do not provide cash surrender benefits, the present value of any
                  paid-up annuity benefit available as a nonforfeiture option at any time prior to maturity may not
                  be less than the present value of that portion of the maturity value of the paid-up annuity benefit
                  provided under the contract arising from considerations paid before the time the contract is
                  surrendered in exchange for, or changed to, a deferred paid-up annuity increased by any existing
                  additional amounts credited by the company to the contract.
                      (b) For purposes of this Subsection (9), the present value being calculated for the period
                  prior to the maturity date on the basis of the interest rate specified in the contract for
                  accumulating the net considerations to determine maturity value.
                      (c) For contracts that do not provide any death benefits before commencement of any
                  annuity payments, the present values shall be calculated on the basis of the interest rate and the
                  mortality table specified in the contract for determining the maturity value of the paid-up annuity
                  benefit.
                      (d) In no event shall the present value of a paid-up annuity benefit be less than the
                  minimum nonforfeiture amount at that time.
                      (10) (a) For the purpose of determining the benefits calculated under Subsections (8) and
                  (9), the maturity date shall be considered to be the latest date permitted by the contract, except
                  that it may not be considered to be later than the later of:
                      (i) the anniversary of the contract next following the annuitant's 70th birthday; or
                      (ii) the tenth anniversary of the contract.
                      (b) For a contract that provides cash surrender benefits [on or past the maturity date], the
                  cash surrender value on or past the maturity date shall be equal to the amount used to determine
                  the annuity benefit payments.
                      (c) A surrender charge may not be imposed on or past maturity.
                      (11) Any contract that does not provide cash surrender benefits or does not provide death


                  benefits at least equal to the minimum nonforfeiture amount before the commencement of any
                  annuity payments shall include a statement in a prominent place in the contract that these benefits
                  are not provided.
                      (12) Any paid-up annuity, cash surrender, or death benefits available at any time, other
                  than on the contract anniversary under any contract with fixed scheduled considerations, shall be
                  calculated with allowance for the lapse of time and the payment of any scheduled considerations
                  beyond the beginning of the contract year in which cessation of payment of considerations under
                  the contract occurs.
                      (13) (a) For any contract that provides, within the same contract by rider or supplemental
                  contract provisions, both annuity benefits and life insurance benefits that are in excess of the
                  greater of cash surrender benefits or a return of the gross considerations with interest, the
                  minimum nonforfeiture benefits shall:
                      (i) be equal to the sum of:
                      (A) the minimum nonforfeiture benefits for the annuity portion; and
                      (B) the minimum nonforfeiture benefits, if any, for the life insurance portion; and
                      (ii) computed as if each portion were a separate contract.
                      (b) (i) Notwithstanding Subsections (7), (8), (9), (10), and (12), additional benefits
                  payable, as described in Subsection (13)(b)(ii), and consideration for the additional benefits
                  payable, shall be disregarded in ascertaining, if required by this section:
                      (A) the minimum nonforfeiture amounts;
                      (B) paid-up annuity;
                      (C) cash surrender; and
                      (D) death benefits.
                      (ii) For purposes of this Subsection (13), an additional benefit is a benefit payable:
                      (A) in the event of total and permanent disability;
                      (B) as reversionary annuity or deferred reversionary annuity benefits; or
                      (C) as other policy benefits additional to life insurance, endowment, and annuity benefits.
                      (iii) The inclusion of the additional benefits described in this Subsection (13) may not be


                  required in any paid-up benefits, unless the additional benefits separately would require:
                      (A) minimum nonforfeiture amounts;
                      (B) paid-up annuity;
                      (C) cash surrender; and
                      (D) death benefits.
                      (14) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
                  commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including:
                      (a) ensuring that any additional reduction under Subsection (5)(c) is consistent with the
                  requirements imposed by Subsection (5)(c); and
                      (b) providing for adjustments in addition to the adjustments allowed under Subsection
                  (5)(c) to the calculation of minimum nonforfeiture amounts for:
                      (i) contracts that provide substantive participation in an equity index benefit; and
                      (ii) other contracts for which the commissioner determines adjustments are justified.
                      (15) (a) After this section takes effect, any company may file with the commissioner a
                  written notice of its election to comply with this section after a specified date before July 1, 1988.
                      (b) This section applies to annuity contracts of a company issued on or after the date the
                  company specifies in the notice.
                      (c) If a company makes no election under Subsection (15)(a), the operative date of this
                  section for such company is July 1, 1988.
                      Section 2. Section 31A-22-425 is amended to read:
                       31A-22-425. Rulemaking authority for standards related to materials used in
                  solicitation or sale of life insurance.
                      In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
                  commissioner [shall] may make rules to establish standards for any of the following used in
                  connection with the solicitation or sale of life insurance policies and contracts:
                      (1) a buyer's guide;
                      (2) a disclosure;
                      (3) an illustration;


                      (4) a policy summary; or
                      (5) a recommendation.
                      Section 3. Section 31A-22-426 is enacted to read:
                      31A-22-426. Coverage description.
                      (1) Each life insurance policy, annuity contract, and certificate of life insurance shall
                  contain a brief description printed on the cover page.
                      (2) The description shall include:
                      (a) the type of insurance;
                      (b) whether it is participating or nonparticipating;
                      (c) a significant limitation stated or included in the filed policy, contract, or certificate;
                  and
                      (d) a significant specific feature stated or included in the filed policy, contract, or
                  certificate.
                      Section 4. Section 31A-22-427 is enacted to read:
                      31A-22-427. Life insurance and annuity policy records.
                      A life insurer, and its successors, shall maintain all records that affect the legal effect of a
                  life insurance policy, annuity contract, or certificate of life insurance for the term of the insurance
                  plus five years.
                      Section 5. Section 31A-22-501 is amended to read:
                       31A-22-501. Eligible groups.
                      A group or blanket policy of life insurance may not be delivered in Utah unless the
                  insured group:
                      (1) falls within at least one of the classifications under Sections [ 31A-22-502 ]
                  31A-22-501.1 through 31A-22-509 ; and
                      (2) is formed for a reason other than the purchase of insurance.
                      Section 6. Section 31A-22-501.1 is enacted to read:
                      31A-22-501.1. Employer groups.
                      (1) The lives of a group of individuals may be insured under a policy:


                      (a) issued as a policyholder, to:
                      (i) an employer; or
                      (ii) an employer sponsored trust for the benefit of the employer's employees;
                      (b) having an insurable interest as stated in Subsection 31A-21-104 (2)(a)(v); and
                      (c) subject to the requirement of Subsection 31A-21-104 (9).
                      (2) A policy issued under this section is not subject to:
                      (a) Section 31A-21-311 ; and
                      (b) Sections 31A-22-516 through 31A-22-522 .
                      Section 7. Section 31A-22-506 is amended to read:
                       31A-22-506. Creditor groups to insure debtors.
                      [A] (1) To insure debtors of a creditor, a group life insurance policy may be issued to a
                  policyholder who is [a] any of the following:
                      (a) the creditor [or];
                      (b) the creditor's parent holding company; or [to]
                      (c) trustees or agents designated by two or more creditors[, to insure debtors of the
                  creditors. The policies are].
                      (2) A policy described in Subsection (1) is subject to the [following] requirements[:] of
                  this Subsection (2).
                      [(1)] (a) (i) The persons eligible for insurance are:
                      (A) all of the debtors of the creditors; or
                      (B) all of any classes of debtors.
                      (ii) The policy may provide that "debtors" includes:
                      [(a)] (A) borrowers of money, or purchasers or lessees of goods, services, property,
                  rights, or privileges for which payment is arranged through a credit transaction; and
                      [(b)] (B) the debtors of one or more affiliated corporations, proprietorships, or
                  partnerships under common control with the policyholder.
                      [(2)] (b) (i) The premiums shall be paid by the policyholder, from:
                      (A) the creditor's funds[, from];


                      (B) charges collected from the insured debtors[,]; or
                      (C) from both Subsections (2)(b)(i)(A) and (B).
                      (ii) Except as provided under Section 31A-22-512 , a policy on which no part of the
                  premium is contributed by insured debtors specifically for their insurance shall insure all eligible
                  debtors.
                      [(3)] (c) (i) To the extent of the creditor's interest, the insurance may be payable to the
                  creditor or to any successor to the right, title, and interest of the creditor.
                      (ii) The payment shall reduce or extinguish the obligation of the debtor to the extent of
                  the payment.
                      (iii) When the amount of insurance exceeds the debt, the excess is payable to a
                  beneficiary other than the creditor named by the debtor, or to the debtor's estate.
                      [(4)] (d) Group policies issued under this section are not subject to Sections 31A-22-516
                  through [ 31A-22-520 ] 31A-22-521 .
                      Section 8. Section 31A-22-507 is amended to read:
                       31A-22-507. Credit union groups.
                      (1) The lives of a group of individuals may be insured under a policy issued to a
                  policyholder who is:
                      (a) a credit union [or to]; or
                      (b) trustees or agents designated by two or more credit unions. [This]
                      (2) A policy described in Subsection (1) shall insure members of [the] a credit [unions]
                  union for the benefit of persons other than:
                      (a) the credit [unions,] union;
                      (b) trustees[, or] of the credit union;
                      (c) agents [or any of their officials.] of the credit union; or
                      (d) an official of an entity described in Subsections (2)(a) through (c).
                      (3) The policies are subject to the [following] requirements[:] of this Subsection (3).
                      [(1)] (a) The persons eligible for insurance are:
                      (i) all of the members of the credit [unions,] union; or


                      (ii) all of any classes of [it.] the members of the credit union.
                      [(2)] (b) The premiums shall be paid by the policyholder. Except as provided in Section
                  31A-22-512 , a policy on which no part of the premium is collected from the covered members
                  specifically for their insurance shall insure all eligible members.
                      [(3) Group policies] (c) A group policy issued under this section [are] is not subject to
                  Sections 31A-22-517 through [ 31A-22-520 ] 31A-22-521 .


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