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S.B. 143 Enrolled
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INSURANCE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
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2008 GENERAL SESSION
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STATE OF UTAH
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Chief Sponsor: Kevin T. VanTassell
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House Sponsor:
Todd E. Kiser
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill modifies the Insurance Code to address financial requirements related to
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insurers or insurance products.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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. modifies the requirements for when a domestic ceding insurer is allowed credit for
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reinsurance;
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. modifies the requirements for when a foreign ceding insurer is allowed credit for
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reinsurance or reduction from liability;
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. grants rulemaking authority related to credits and reinsurance;
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. provides a transition for the modified requirements on credit or reductions from
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liability;
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. modifies what are permitted investments;
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. modifies limitations on investments;
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. addresses requirements for assumption agreements and reinsurance contracts; and
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. makes technical and conforming amendments.
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Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.
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This bill provides revisor instructions.
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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31A-2-309, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 2
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31A-15-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 90
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31A-17-404, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1992, Chapter 230
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31A-18-101, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1985, Chapter 242
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31A-18-105, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 176
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31A-18-106, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 309
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31A-20-107, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1992, Chapter 30
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31A-20-108, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 71
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31A-22-1201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1985, Chapter 242
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31A-22-1202, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1985, Chapter 242
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ENACTS:
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31A-17-404.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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31A-17-404.2, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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31A-17-404.3, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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31A-17-404.4, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1.
Section
31A-2-309
is amended to read:
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31A-2-309. Service of process through state officer.
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(1) The commissioner, or the lieutenant governor when the subject proceeding is
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brought by the state, is the agent for receipt of service of [any] a summons, notice, order,
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pleading, or [any] other legal process relating to a Utah court or administrative agency upon the
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following:
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(a) [all insurers] an insurer authorized to do business in this state, while authorized to
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do business in this state, and thereafter in [any] a proceeding arising from or related to [any] a
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transaction having a connection with this state;
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(b) [all] a surplus lines [insurers] insurer for [any] a proceeding arising out of a contract
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of insurance that is subject to the surplus lines law, or out of a certificate, cover note, or other
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confirmation of that type of insurance;
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(c) [all] an unauthorized [insurers] insurer or other [persons] person assisting an
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unauthorized [insurers] insurer under Subsection
31A-15-102
(1) by doing an act specified in
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Subsection
31A-15-102
(2), for a proceeding arising out of [the] a transaction that is subject to
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the unauthorized insurance law;
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(d) [any] a nonresident producer, consultant, adjuster, [and] or third party
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administrator, while authorized to do business in this state, and thereafter in [any] a proceeding
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arising from or related to [any] a transaction having a connection with this state; and
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(e) [any] a reinsurer submitting to the commissioner's jurisdiction under Subsection
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31A-17-404
[(7)](8).
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(2) The following is considered to have irrevocably appointed the commissioner and
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lieutenant governor as that person's agents in accordance with Subsection (1):
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(a) [each] a licensed insurer by applying for and receiving a certificate of authority;
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(b) [each] a surplus lines insurer by entering into a contract subject to the surplus lines
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law;
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(c) [each] an unauthorized insurer by doing in this state [any of the acts] an act
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prohibited by Section
31A-15-103
; and
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(d) [each] a nonresident producer, consultant, adjuster, and third party administrator.
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(3) The commissioner and lieutenant governor are also agents for [the executors,
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administrators or personal representatives, receivers, trustees, or other successors] an executor,
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administrator, personal representative, receiver, trustee, or other successor in interest of [the
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persons] a person specified under Subsection (1).
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(4) [Litigants] A litigant serving process on the commissioner or lieutenant governor
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under this section shall pay the fee applicable under Section
31A-3-103
.
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(5) The right to substituted service under this section does not limit the right to serve a
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summons, notice, order, pleading, demand, or other process upon a person in [any other]
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another manner provided by law.
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Section 2.
Section
31A-15-103
is amended to read:
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31A-15-103. Surplus lines insurance -- Unauthorized insurers.
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(1) Notwithstanding Section
31A-15-102
, a foreign insurer that has not obtained a
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certificate of authority to do business in this state under Section
31A-14-202
may negotiate for
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and make an insurance [contracts] contract with [persons] a person in this state and on [risks] a
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risk located in this state, subject to the limitations and requirements of this section.
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(2) (a) For [contracts] a contract made under this section, the insurer may, in this
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state[,]:
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(i) inspect the risks to be insured[, collect premiums and adjust losses, and do all other
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acts];
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(ii) collect premiums;
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(iii) adjust losses; and
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(iv) do another act reasonably incidental to the contract[, through employees or through
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independent contractors].
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(b) An act described in Subsection (2)(a) may be done through:
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(i) an employee; or
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(ii) an independent contractor.
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(3) (a) Subsections (1) and (2) do not permit [any] a person to solicit business in this
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state on behalf of an insurer that has no certificate of authority.
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(b) [Any insurance] Insurance placed with a nonadmitted insurer shall be placed with a
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surplus lines producer licensed under Chapter 23a, Insurance Marketing - Licensing Producers,
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Consultants, and Reinsurance Intermediaries.
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(c) The commissioner may by rule prescribe how a surplus lines producer may:
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(i) pay or permit the payment, commission, or other remuneration on insurance placed
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by the surplus lines producer under authority of the surplus lines producer's license to one
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holding a license to act as an insurance producer; and
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(ii) advertise the availability of the surplus lines producer's services in procuring, on
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behalf of [persons] a person seeking insurance, [contracts] a contract with a nonadmitted
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[insurers] insurer.
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(4) For [contracts] a contract made under this section, a nonadmitted [insurers are]
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insurer is subject to Sections
31A-23a-402
and
31A-23a-403
and the rules adopted under those
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sections.
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(5) A nonadmitted insurer may not issue workers' compensation insurance coverage to
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[employers] an employer located in this state, except for stop loss [coverages] coverage issued
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to [employers] an employer securing workers' compensation under Subsection
34A-2-201
(3).
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(6) (a) The commissioner may by rule prohibit making [contracts] a contract under
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Subsection (1) for a specified class of insurance if authorized insurers provide an established
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market for the class in this state that is adequate and reasonably competitive.
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(b) The commissioner may by rule place [restrictions and limitations] a restriction or a
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limitation on and create special procedures for making [contracts] a contract under Subsection
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(1) for a specified class of insurance if:
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(i) there have been abuses of placements in the class; or [if]
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(ii) the policyholders in the class, because of limited financial resources, business
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experience, or knowledge, cannot protect their own interests adequately.
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(c) The commissioner may prohibit an individual insurer from making [any] a contract
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under Subsection (1) and all insurance producers from dealing with the insurer if:
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(i) the insurer [has] willfully [violated] violates:
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(A) this section[,];
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(B) Section
31A-4-102
,
31A-23a-402
, or
31A-26-303
[,]; or [any]
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(C) a rule adopted under [any of these sections] a section listed in Subsection
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(6)(c)(i)(A) or (B);
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(ii) the insurer [has failed] fails to pay the fees and taxes specified under Section
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31A-3-301
; or
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(iii) the commissioner has reason to believe that the insurer is:
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(A) in an unsound condition [or is];
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(B) operated in a fraudulent, dishonest, or incompetent manner; or
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(C) in violation of the law of its domicile.
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(d) (i) The commissioner may issue one or more lists of unauthorized foreign insurers
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whose:
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(A) solidity the commissioner doubts[,]; or [whose]
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(B) practices the commissioner considers objectionable.
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(ii) The commissioner shall issue one or more lists of unauthorized foreign insurers the
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commissioner considers to be reliable and solid.
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(iii) In addition to the lists described in Subsections (6)(d)(i) and (ii), the commissioner
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may issue other relevant evaluations of unauthorized insurers.
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(iv) An action may not lie against the commissioner or [any] an employee of the
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department for [any] a written or oral communication made in, or in connection with the
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issuance of, [the lists or evaluations] a list or evaluation described in this Subsection (6)(d).
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(e) A foreign unauthorized insurer shall be listed on the commissioner's "reliable" list
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only if the unauthorized insurer:
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(i) [has delivered] delivers a request to the commissioner to be on the list;
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(ii) [has established] establishes satisfactory evidence of good reputation and financial
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integrity;
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(iii) (A) [has delivered] delivers to the commissioner a copy of [its] the unauthorized
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insurer's current annual statement certified by the insurer; and
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(B) continues each subsequent year to file its annual statements with the commissioner
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within 60 days of [its filing] the day on which it is filed with the insurance regulatory authority
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where [it] the insurer is domiciled;
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(iv) (A) (I) is in substantial compliance with the solvency standards in Chapter 17, Part
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6, Risk-Based Capital, or maintains capital and surplus of at least $15,000,000, whichever is
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greater[,]; and
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(II) maintains in the United States an irrevocable trust fund in either a national bank or a
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member of the Federal Reserve System, or maintains a deposit meeting the statutory deposit
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requirements for insurers in the state where it is made, which trust fund or deposit:
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[(I)] (Aa) shall be in an amount not less than $2,500,000 for the protection of all of the
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insurer's policyholders in the United States;
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[(II)] (Bb) may consist of cash, securities, or investments of substantially the same
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character and quality as those which are "qualified assets" under Section
31A-17-201
; and
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[(III)] (Cc) may include as part of the trust arrangement a letter of credit that qualifies
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as acceptable security under [Subsection
31A-17-404
(3)(c)(iii)] Section
31A-17-404.1
; or
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(B) in the case of any "Lloyd's" or other similar incorporated or unincorporated group
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of alien individual insurers, maintains a trust fund that:
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(I) shall be in an amount not less than $50,000,000 as security to its full amount for all
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policyholders and creditors in the United States of each member of the group;
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(II) may consist of cash, securities, or investments of substantially the same character
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and quality as those which are "qualified assets" under Section
31A-17-201
; and
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(III) may include as part of this trust arrangement a letter of credit that qualifies as
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acceptable security under [Subsection
31A-17-404
(3)(c)(iii)] Section
31A-17-404.1
; and
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(v) for an alien insurer not domiciled in the United States or a territory of the United
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States, is listed on the Quarterly Listing of Alien Insurers maintained by the National
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Association of Insurance Commissioners International Insurers Department.
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(7) [A] (a) Subject to Subsection (7)(b), a surplus lines producer may not, either
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knowingly or without reasonable investigation of the financial condition and general reputation
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of the insurer, place insurance under this section with:
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(i) a financially unsound [insurers or with insurers] insurer;
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(ii) an insurer engaging in unfair practices[,]; or [with]
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(iii) an otherwise substandard [insurers, unless the producer] insurer.
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(b) A surplus line producer may place insurance under this section with an insurer
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described in Subsection (7)(a) if the surplus line producer:
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(i) gives the applicant notice in writing of the known deficiencies of the insurer or the
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limitations on [his] the surplus line producer's investigation[,]; and
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(ii) explains the need to place the business with that insurer.
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(c) A copy of [this] the notice described in Subsection (7)(b) shall be kept in the office
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of the surplus line producer for at least five years.
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(d) To be financially sound, an insurer shall satisfy standards that are comparable to
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those applied under the laws of this state to an authorized [insurers] insurer. [Insurers]
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(e) An insurer on the "doubtful or objectionable" list under Subsection (6)(d) [and
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insurers] or an insurer not on the commissioner's "reliable" list under Subsection (6)(e) [are] is
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presumed substandard.
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(8) (a) A policy issued under this section shall:
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(i) include a description of the subject of the insurance; and
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(ii) indicate:
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(A) the coverage, conditions, and term of the insurance[,];
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(B) the premium charged [and] the policyholder;
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(C) the premium taxes to be collected from the policyholder[,]; and
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(D) the name and address of the policyholder and insurer.
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(b) If the direct risk is assumed by more than one insurer, the policy shall state:
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(i) the names and addresses of all insurers; and
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(ii) the portion of the entire direct risk each [has assumed] assumes. [All policies]
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(c) A policy issued under [the authority of] this section shall have attached or affixed to
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the policy the following statement: "The insurer issuing this policy does not hold a certificate of
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authority to do business in this state and thus is not fully subject to regulation by the Utah
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insurance commissioner. This policy receives no protection from any of the guaranty
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associations created under Title 31A, Chapter 28."
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(9) Upon placing a new or renewal coverage under this section, [the] a surplus lines
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producer shall promptly deliver to the policyholder or [his] the policyholder's agent evidence of
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the insurance consisting either of:
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(a) the policy as issued by the insurer; or[,]
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(b) if the policy is not [then] available upon placing the coverage, a certificate, cover
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note, or other confirmation of insurance complying with Subsection (8).
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(10) If the commissioner finds it necessary to protect the interests of insureds and the
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public in this state, the commissioner may by rule subject [policies] a policy issued under this
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section to as much of the regulation provided by this title as is required for a comparable
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[policies] policy written by an authorized foreign [insurers] insurer.
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(11) (a) [Each] A surplus lines transaction in this state shall be examined to determine
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whether it complies with:
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(i) the surplus lines tax levied under Chapter 3, Department Funding, Fees, and Taxes;
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(ii) the solicitation limitations of Subsection (3);
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(iii) the requirement of Subsection (3) that placement be through a surplus lines
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producer;
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(iv) placement limitations imposed under Subsections (6)(a), (b), and (c); and
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(v) the policy form requirements of Subsections (8) and (10).
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(b) The examination described in Subsection (11)(a) shall take place as soon as
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practicable after the transaction. The surplus lines producer shall submit to the examiner
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information necessary to conduct the examination within a period specified by rule.
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(c) (i) The examination described in Subsection (11)(a) may be conducted by the
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commissioner or by an advisory organization created under Section
31A-15-111
and authorized
243
by the commissioner to conduct these examinations. The commissioner is not required to
244
authorize [any] an additional advisory [organizations] organization to conduct [examinations]
245
an examination under this Subsection (11)(c).
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(ii) The commissioner's authorization of one or more advisory organizations to act as
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examiners under this Subsection (11)(c) shall be:
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(A) by rule[. In addition, the authorization shall be]; and
249
(B) evidenced by a contract, on a form provided by the commissioner, between the
250
authorized advisory organization and the department.
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(d) [The] (i) (A) A person conducting the examination described in Subsection (11)(a)
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shall collect a stamping fee of an amount not to exceed 1% of the policy premium payable in
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connection with the transaction. [Stamping fees]
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(B) A stamping fee collected by the commissioner shall be deposited in the General
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Fund.
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(C) The commissioner shall establish [this fee] a stamping fee by rule. [Stamping fees]
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(ii) A stamping fee collected by an advisory organization [are] is the property of the
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advisory organization to be used in paying the expenses of the advisory organization.
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(iii) Liability for paying [the] a stamping fee is as required under Subsection
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31A-3-303
(1) for taxes imposed under Section
31A-3-301
.
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(iv) The commissioner shall adopt a rule dealing with the payment of stamping fees. If
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[stamping fees are] a stamping fee is not paid when due, the commissioner or advisory
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organization may impose a penalty of 25% of the stamping fee due, plus 1-1/2% per month
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from the time of default until full payment of the stamping fee. [Fees]
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(v) A stamping fee relative to [policies] a policy covering [risks] a risk located partially
266
in this state shall be allocated in the same manner as under Subsection
31A-3-303
(4).
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(e) The commissioner, representatives of the department, advisory organizations,
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representatives and members of advisory organizations, authorized insurers, and surplus lines
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insurers are not liable for damages on account of statements, comments, or recommendations
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made in good faith in connection with their duties under this Subsection (11)(e) or under
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Section
31A-15-111
.
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(f) [Examinations] An examination conducted under this Subsection (11) and [the
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documents and] a document or materials related to the [examinations] examination are
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confidential.
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Section 3.
Section
31A-17-404
is amended to read:
276
31A-17-404. Credit allowed a domestic ceding insurer against reserves for
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reinsurance.
278
(1) [Credit] A domestic ceding insurer is allowed credit for reinsurance [is allowed a
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ceding insurer] as either an asset or a [deduction] reduction from liability for reinsurance ceded
280
only if the reinsurer meets the requirements of Subsection (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7), subject to the
281
following:
282
[(a) the reinsurance contract and the accounting for the reinsurance transaction conform
283
to the requirements of Subsection (2);]
284
[(b) one or more of the security factors under Subsection (3) is present, or the
285
transaction is of the type described in Subsection (6); and]
286
[(c) the assuming insurer has submitted to the jurisdiction of courts in this state in a
287
manner consistent with Subsection (7).]
288
(a) Credit is allowed under Subsection (3), (4), or (5) only with respect to a cession of a
289
kind or class of business that the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or
290
assume:
291
(i) in its state of domicile; or
292
(ii) in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state
293
through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance.
294
(b) Credit is allowed under Subsection (5) or (6) only if the applicable requirements of
295
Subsection (8) are met.
296
(2) [Credit] A domestic ceding insurer is allowed credit for reinsurance ceded [may be
297
granted the ceding insurer]:
298
(a) only if the reinsurance is payable in a manner consistent with Section
31A-22-1201
;
299
(b) only to the extent that the accounting:
300
(i) is consistent with the terms of the reinsurance [treaty] contract; and
301
(ii) clearly reflects:
302
(A) the amount and nature of risk transferred; and [any]
303
(B) liability, including contingent liability, of the ceding insurer;
304
(c) only to the extent the reinsurance contract shifts insurance policy risk from the
305
ceding insurer to the assuming reinsurer in fact and not merely in form; and
306
(d) only if the reinsurance contract contains a provision placing on the reinsurer the
307
credit risk of all dealings with intermediaries regarding the reinsurance contract.
308
[(3) Except as modified for reinsurance pools under Subsection (5), the requirement
309
under Subsection (1)(b) that a security factor be present is satisfied if:]
310
[(a) the reinsurer is authorized to do business in this state;]
311
[(b) the reinsurer has deposited in trust under Section
31A-2-206
, or a comparable
312
provision of the law of another state of the United States, for the benefit of Utah insureds or a
313
broader class of insureds that includes Utah insureds, an amount the Utah commissioner
314
considers sufficient to provide for the reinsurer's total liabilities under the trust, with complete
315
protection to Utah insureds;]
316
[(c) the ceding insurer retains, as security for the payment of obligations under the
317
reinsurance contract, funds belonging to the reinsurer, subject to withdrawal solely by the
318
ceding insurer and under its exclusive control; but credit may be taken only to the extent the
319
funds are:]
320
[(i) cash or cash equivalents;]
321
[(ii) securities approved by the commissioner, valued at market price;]
322
[(iii) irrevocable and unconditional letters of credit which comply with rules adopted by
323
the commissioner and are issued by a bank or trust company which is a member of the Federal
324
Reserve system;]
325
[(iv) additional forms of security approved by rule; or]
326
[(v) a combination of Subsections (3)(c)(i) through (iv);]
327
[(d) the reinsurer maintains a trust fund in a United States bank or trust company for
328
the payment of the valid claims of its United States policyholders and ceding insurers, their
329
assigns, and successors in interest in an amount and subject to the conditions provided in
330
Subsection (4); or]
331
[(e) the reinsurer is an authorized insurer in at least one state which the Utah
332
commissioner designates by rule or order as having been found to enforce standards regarding
333
credit for reinsurance substantially similar to those applicable under this section and which
334
reinsurer conforms to the same standards of solvency which would be required of the reinsurer
335
if it were authorized to do business in this state.]
336
[(4) (a) Trusts satisfying the security factor described in Subsection (3)(d) shall:]
337
[(i) consist of a trust account in which is deposited amounts equal to the assuming
338
insurer's liabilities attributable to business written in the United States and, in addition, surplus
339
of not less than $20,000,000;]
340
[(ii) if deposited by a group of individual unincorporated underwriters or a group of
341
individual incorporated insurers, consist of a trust account in which is deposited amounts equal
342
to the group's liabilities attributable to business written in the United States and, in addition,
343
surplus of not less than $100,000,000, with the group making available to the commissioner an
344
annual solvency certification by the group's domiciliary regulator and its independent public
345
accountant;]
346
[(iii) be established in a United States bank or trust company which is a member of the
347
Federal Reserve system; and]
348
[(iv) be in a form approved by the commissioner, with trust documents which:]
349
[(A) provide that contested claims are valid and enforceable upon the final order of any
350
court of competent jurisdiction in the United States;]
351
[(B) vest legal title to its assets in the trustees of the trust for its United States
352
policyholders and ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest;]
353
[(C) subject the trust and the reinsurer to examination by the commissioner; and]
354
[(D) provide that the trust remains in effect for as long as the reinsurer has outstanding
355
obligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust.]
356
[(b) To determine the sufficiency of the trust funds, reinsurers maintaining a trust under
357
Subsection (3)(d) shall annually report to the commissioner information substantially the same
358
as that required to be reported by authorized insurers on the National Association of Insurance
359
Commissioner's Annual Statement form described in Section
31A-4-113
. This report shall be
360
submitted to the commissioner no later than March 1 of each year and shall be accompanied by
361
written statements disclosing the preceding year-end trust balance, summarizing the trust's
362
investments at the preceding year-end, and certifying the termination date of the trust, if trust
363
termination is planned, or that the trust shall not expire prior to the next following December
364
31.]
365
[(5) If a ceding insurer has entered into a reinsurance agreement satisfying the
366
requirements of Subsection (2) and if the reinsurer under the agreement is a pool of reinsurers,
367
and if any of the members of the reinsurance pool do not satisfy one of the alternate security
368
factors specified in Subsection (3), then the reserve credit for reinsurance is allowed only to the
369
extent that the reinsurance risk is borne by members of the reinsurance pool that have satisfied
370
one or more of the alternate security factors specified in Subsection (3).]
371
[(6) The security factor requirement of Subsections (1)(b) and (3) need not be satisfied
372
as a condition to receiving a reserve credit to the extent that:]
373
[(a) the risks reinsured are located in jurisdictions other than the United States; and]
374
[(b) the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction.]
375
[(7) No reinsurance credit may be allowed the]
376
(3) A domestic ceding insurer is allowed a credit if the reinsurance is ceded to an
377
assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state.
378
(4) (a) A domestic ceding insurer is allowed a credit if the reinsurance is ceded to an
379
assuming insurer that is accredited as a reinsurer in this state.
380
(b) An insurer is accredited as a reinsurer if the insurer:
381
(i) files with the commissioner evidence of the insurer's submission to this state's
382
jurisdiction;
383
(ii) submits to the commissioner's authority to examine the insurer's books and records;
384
(iii) (A) is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state; or
385
(B) in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered
386
through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state;
387
(iv) files annually with the commissioner a copy of the insurer's:
388
(A) annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile; and
389
(B) most recent audited financial statement; and
390
(v) (A) (I) has not had its accreditation denied by the commissioner within 90 days of
391
the day on which the insurer submits the information required by this Subsection (4); and
392
(II) maintains a surplus with regard to policyholders in an amount not less than
393
$20,000,000; or
394
(B) (I) has its accreditation approved by the commissioner; and
395
(II) maintains a surplus with regard to policyholders in an amount less than
396
$20,000,000.
397
(c) Credit may not be allowed a domestic ceding insurer if the assuming insurer's
398
accreditation is revoked by the commissioner after a notice and hearing.
399
(5) (a) A domestic ceding insurer is allowed a credit if:
400
(i) the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is:
401
(A) domiciled in a state meeting the requirements of Subsection (5)(a)(ii); or
402
(B) in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered
403
through a state meeting the requirements of Subsection (5)(a)(ii);
404
(ii) the state described in Subsection (5)(a)(i) employs standards regarding credit for
405
reinsurance substantially similar to those applicable under this section; and
406
(iii) the assuming insurer or United States branch of an alien assuming insurer:
407
(A) maintains a surplus with regard to policyholders in an amount not less than
408
$20,000,000; and
409
(B) submits to the authority of the commissioner to examine its books and records.
410
(b) The requirements of Subsections (5)(a)(i) and (ii) do not apply to reinsurance ceded
411
and assumed pursuant to a pooling arrangement among insurers in the same holding company
412
system.
413
(6) (a) A domestic ceding insurer is allowed a credit if the reinsurance is ceded to an
414
assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund:
415
(i) created in accordance with rules made by the commissioner; and
416
(ii) in a qualified United States financial institution for the payment of a valid claim of:
417
(A) a United States ceding insurer of the assuming insurer;
418
(B) an assign of the United States ceding insurer; and
419
(C) a successor in interest to the United States ceding insurer.
420
(b) To enable the commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund described
421
in Subsection (6)(a), the assuming insurer shall:
422
(i) report annually to the commissioner information substantially the same as that
423
required to be reported on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Annual
424
Statement form by a licensed insurer; and
425
(ii) (A) submit to examination of its books and records by the commissioner; and
426
(B) pay the cost of an examination.
427
(c) (i) Credit for reinsurance may not be granted under this Subsection (6) unless the
428
form of the trust and any amendment to the trust is approved by:
429
(A) the commissioner of the state where the trust is domiciled; or
430
(B) the commissioner of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust
431
instrument, accepts principal regulatory oversight of the trust.
432
(ii) The form of the trust and an amendment to the trust shall be filed with the
433
commissioner of every state in which a ceding insurer beneficiary of the trust is domiciled.
434
(iii) The trust instrument shall provide that a contested claim is valid and enforceable
435
upon the final order of a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.
436
(iv) The trust shall vest legal title to its assets in its one or more trustees for the benefit
437
of:
438
(A) a United States ceding insurer of the assuming insurer;
439
(B) an assign of the United States ceding insurer; or
440
(C) a successor in interest to the United States ceding insurer.
441
(v) The trust and the assuming insurer are subject to examination as determined by the
442
commissioner.
443
(vi) The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer has an
444
outstanding obligation due under a reinsurance agreement subject to the trust.
445
(vii) No later than February 28 of each year, the trustee of the trust shall:
446
(A) report to the commissioner in writing the balance of the trust;
447
(B) list the trust's investments at the end of the preceding calendar year; and
448
(C) (I) certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned; or
449
(II) certify that the trust will not expire prior to the following December 31.
450
(d) The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer:
451
(i) For a single assuming insurer:
452
(A) the trust fund shall consist of funds in trust in an amount not less than the assuming
453
insurer's liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers; and
454
(B) the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than $20,000,000.
455
(ii) For a group acting as assuming insurer, including incorporated and individual
456
unincorporated underwriters:
457
(A) for reinsurance ceded under a reinsurance agreement with an inception, amendment,
458
or renewal date on or after August 1, 1995, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an
459
amount not less than the group's several liabilities attributable to business ceded by the one or
460
more United States domiciled ceding insurers to a member of the group;
461
(B) for reinsurance ceded under a reinsurance agreement with an inception date on or
462
before July 31, 1995, and not amended or renewed after July 31, 1995, notwithstanding the
463
other provisions of this chapter, the trust shall consist of a trusteed account in an amount not
464
less than the group's several insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written
465
in the United States;
466
(C) in addition to a trust described in Subsection (6)(d)(ii)(A) or (B), the group shall
467
maintain in trust a trusteed surplus of which $100,000,000 is held jointly for the benefit of the
468
one or more United States domiciled ceding insurers of a member of the group for all years of
469
account;
470
(D) the incorporated members of the group:
471
(I) may not be engaged in a business other than underwriting as a member of the group;
472
and
473
(II) are subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the group's
474
domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members; and
475
(E) within 90 days after the day on which the group's financial statements are due to be
476
filed with the group's domiciliary regulator, the group shall provide to the commissioner:
477
(I) an annual certification by the group's domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each
478
underwriter member; or
479
(II) if a certification is unavailable, a financial statement, prepared by an independent
480
public accountant, of each underwriter member of the group.
481
(iii) For a group of incorporated underwriters under common administration, the group
482
shall:
483
(A) have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at
484
least three years immediately preceding the day on which the group makes application for
485
accreditation;
486
(B) maintain aggregate policyholders' surplus of at least $10,000,000,000;
487
(C) maintain a trust fund in an amount not less than the group's several liabilities
488
attributable to business ceded by the one or more United States domiciled ceding insurers to a
489
member of the group pursuant to a reinsurance contract issued in the name of the group;
490
(D) in addition to complying with the other provisions of this Subsection (6)(d)(iii),
491
maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which $100,000,000 is held jointly for the benefit of the one
492
or more United States domiciled ceding insurers of a member of the group as additional security
493
for these liabilities; and
494
(E) within 90 days after the day on which the group's financial statements are due to be
495
filed with the group's domiciliary regulator, make available to the commissioner:
496
(I) an annual certification of each underwriter member's solvency by the member's
497
domiciliary regulator; and
498
(II) a financial statement of each underwriter member of the group prepared by an
499
independent public accountant.
500
(7) If reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of
501
Subsection (3), (4), (5), or (6), a domestic ceding insurer is allowed credit only as to the
502
insurance of a risk located in a jurisdiction where the reinsurance is required by applicable law
503
or regulation of that jurisdiction.
504
(8) Reinsurance credit may not be allowed a domestic ceding insurer unless the
505
assuming insurer under the reinsurance contract [has submitted] submits to the jurisdiction of
506
Utah courts by [either]:
507
(a) (i) being an admitted insurer[,]; and
508
(ii) submitting to jurisdiction under Section
31A-2-309
;
509
(b) having irrevocably appointed the commissioner as [his] the domestic ceding insurer's
510
agent for service of process in [any] an action arising out of or in connection with the
511
reinsurance, which appointment is made under Section
31A-2-309
; or
512
(c) agreeing in the reinsurance contract:
513
(i) that [in the event of the failure of] if the assuming insurer fails to perform its
514
obligations under the terms of the reinsurance [agreement] contract, the assuming insurer, at the
515
request of the ceding insurer, shall:
516
(A) submit to the jurisdiction of [any] a court of competent jurisdiction in [any] a state
517
of the United States[, shall];
518
(B) comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction[,]; and [shall]
519
(C) abide by the final decision of the court or of [any] an appellate court in the event of
520
an appeal; and
521
(ii) to designate the commissioner or a [designated] specific attorney [with offices]
522
licensed to practice law in this state as its [true and lawful] attorney upon whom may be served
523
[any] lawful process in [any] an action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the
524
ceding company.
525
[(8)] (9) Submitting to the jurisdiction of Utah courts under Subsection [(7)] (8) does
526
not override [the duties or rights of the parties under a provision in] a duty or right of a party
527
under the reinsurance [agreement] contract, including [any] a requirement that the parties
528
arbitrate their disputes.
529
(10) If an assuming insurer does not meet the requirements of Subsection (3), (4), or
530
(5), the credit permitted by Subsection (6) may not be allowed unless the assuming insurer
531
agrees in the trust instrument to the following conditions:
532
(a) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision in the trust instrument, if an event described
533
in Subsection (10)(a)(ii) occurs the trustee shall comply with:
534
(A) an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust; or
535
(B) an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the
536
commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.
537
(ii) This Subsection (10)(a) applies if:
538
(A) the trust fund is inadequate because the trust contains an amount less than the
539
amount required by Subsection (6)(d); or
540
(B) the grantor of the trust is:
541
(I) declared insolvent; or
542
(II) placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceeding under the
543
laws of its state or country of domicile.
544
(b) The assets of a trust fund described in Subsection (10)(a) shall be distributed by and
545
a claim shall be filed with and valued by the commissioner with regulatory oversight in
546
accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the
547
liquidation of a domestic insurance company.
548
(c) If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trust
549
fund, or any part of the assets, are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the one or more United
550
States ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the assets, or a part of the assets, shall be
551
returned by the commissioner with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in
552
accordance with the trust instrument.
553
(d) A grantor shall waive any right otherwise available to it under United States law
554
that is inconsistent with this Subsection (10).
555
Section 4.
Section
31A-17-404.1
is enacted to read:
556
31A-17-404.1. Asset or reduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a
557
domestic insurer to other assuming insurers.
558
(1) (a) An asset or a reduction from liability for reinsurance ceded by a domestic insurer
559
to an assuming insurer that does not meet the requirements of Section
31A-17-404
is allowed in
560
an amount not exceeding the liabilities carried by the ceding insurer.
561
(b) A reduction described in Subsection (1)(a) shall be in the amount of funds held by or
562
on behalf of the ceding insurer, including funds held in trust for the ceding insurer:
563
(i) that are held:
564
(A) under a reinsurance contract with the assuming insurer; and
565
(B) as security for the payment of obligations under the reinsurance contract; and
566
(ii) if the security is held:
567
(A) in the United States subject to withdrawal solely by, and under the exclusive control
568
of, the ceding insurer; or
569
(B) in the case of a trust, in a qualified United States financial institution.
570
(2) Security described in Subsection (1) may be in the form of:
571
(a) cash;
572
(b) a security:
573
(i) listed by the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance
574
Commissioners; and
575
(ii) qualifying as an admitted asset;
576
(c) subject to Subsection (3), a clean, irrevocable, unconditional letter of credit, issued
577
or confirmed by a qualified United States financial institution:
578
(i) effective no later than December 31 of the year for which the filing is being made;
579
and
580
(ii) in the possession of, or in trust for, the ceding company on or before the filing date
581
of its annual statement; or
582
(d) another form of security acceptable to the commissioner.
583
(3) Notwithstanding an issuing or confirming institution's subsequent failure to meet an
584
applicable standard of acceptability, a letter of credit described in Subsection (2) that meets the
585
applicable standards of issuer acceptability as of the day on which it is issued or confirmed shall
586
continue to be acceptable as security until the sooner of the day on which the letter of credit
587
expires, is extended, is renewed, is modified, or is amended.
588
Section 5.
Section
31A-17-404.2
is enacted to read:
589
31A-17-404.2. Credit allowed a foreign ceding insurer.
590
(1) A foreign ceding insurer is allowed a credit for reinsurance or reduction from
591
liability to the extent that credit is allowed by the ceding insurer's state of domicile if:
592
(a) the state of domicile is accredited by the National Association of Insurance
593
Commissioners; or
594
(b) credit or reduction from liability would be allowed under this section if the foreign
595
ceding insurer were domiciled in this state.
596
(2) Credit for reinsurance or reduction from liability may be disallowed a foreign ceding
597
insurer upon a finding by the commissioner that one or more of the following do not satisfy the
598
credit for reinsurance requirements of this chapter applicable to a ceding insurer domiciled in
599
this state:
600
(a) the condition of the reinsurer; or
601
(b) the collateral or other security provided by the reinsurer.
602
Section 6.
Section
31A-17-404.3
is enacted to read:
603
31A-17-404.3. Rules.
604
In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, and this
605
chapter, the commissioner may make rules prescribing:
606
(1) the form of a letter of credit required under this chapter;
607
(2) the requirements for a trust or trust instrument required by this chapter;
608
(3) the procedures for licensing and accrediting; and
609
(4) minimum capital and surplus requirements.
610
Section 7.
Section
31A-17-404.4
is enacted to read:
611
31A-17-404.4. Transition -- Application to reinsurance agreement.
612
The amendments to this part made in this bill apply to a cession made on or after July 1,
613
2008 under a reinsurance contract that has an inception, anniversary, or renewal date no sooner
614
than January 1, 2009.
615
Section 8.
Section
31A-18-101
is amended to read:
616
31A-18-101. Scope -- Definitions.
617
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this [code] title, this chapter and the rules adopted
618
to implement it apply to all insurers authorized to do business in this state, including [reinsurers]
619
a reinsurer.
620
(2) As used in this chapter, "cash" means a medium of exchange that a depository
621
institution, as defined in Section
7-1-103
, accepts for deposit and allows an immediate credit to
622
an account in the depository institution, including the following in a depository institution:
623
(a) a savings account; or
624
(b) a certificate of deposit with a maturity date within one year or less from the day on
625
which the certificate of deposit is acquired.
626
Section 9.
Section
31A-18-105
is amended to read:
627
31A-18-105. Permitted classes of investments.
628
The following classes of investment may be counted for the purposes specified under
629
Chapter 17, Part 6, Risk-Based Capital:
630
(1) [bonds] a bond or other [evidences] evidence of indebtedness of:
631
(a) [(i)] a governmental [units] unit in the United States or Canada;
632
[(ii) instrumentalities of the] (b) an instrumentality of a governmental [units] unit
633
described in Subsection (1)(a)[(i)]; or
634
[(iii)] (c) a private [corporations] corporation domiciled in the United States; [and]
635
[(b) including demand deposits and certificates of deposits in solvent banks and savings
636
and loan institutions;]
637
(2) an equipment trust [obligations or certificates that are] obligation or certificate that
638
is an adequately secured [instruments] instrument:
639
(a) evidencing an interest in transportation equipment that is located wholly or in part
640
within the United States[,]; and
641
(b) with a right to receive determined portions of the rental, or to purchase other fixed
642
obligatory payments for the use or purchase of the transportation equipment;
643
(3) [loans] a loan secured by:
644
(a) one or more mortgages;
645
(b) one or more trust deeds; or
646
(c) [other] another statutorily authorized [types] type of security [interests] interest in
647
real estate located in the United States;
648
(4) [loans] a loan secured by a pledged [securities or evidences] security or evidence of
649
debt eligible for investment under this section;
650
(5) a preferred [stocks] stock of a United States [corporations] corporation;
651
(6) (a) a common [stocks] stock of a United States [corporations] corporation; or
652
(b) an American depository [receipts] receipt if traded on one of the following
653
exchanges:
654
(i) New York;
655
(ii) American; or
656
(iii) NASDAQ;
657
(7) real estate [which] that is used as the home office or branch office of the insurer;
658
(8) real estate in the United States [which] that produces substantial income;
659
(9) [loans] a loan upon the security of the insurer's own policies in [amounts that are] an
660
amount that:
661
(a) is adequately secured by the policies; and [that do]
662
(b) does not exceed the surrender value of the policies;
663
(10) a financial futures [contracts] contract used for hedging and not for speculation, as
664
approved under rules adopted by the commissioner;
665
(11) [investments in foreign securities of the classes] an investment in a foreign security
666
of a class permitted under this section as required for compliance with Section
31A-18-103
;
667
(12) [investments] an investment permitted under Subsection
31A-18-102
(2);
668
(13) an American depository [receipts] receipt not traded on one of the following
669
exchanges:
670
(a) New York;
671
(b) American; or
672
(c) NASDAQ;
673
(14) [investments] an investment other than those listed in Subsections (1) through (13)
674
that [are] is determined to be admitted in the Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual,
675
published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; [and]
676
(15) cash; and
677
[(15) other investments as] (16) another investment the commissioner authorizes by
678
rule.
679
Section 10.
Section
31A-18-106
is amended to read:
680
31A-18-106. Investment limitations generally applicable.
681
(1) The investment limitations listed in Subsections (1)(a) through (m) apply to [each]
682
an insurer.
683
(a) [(i) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(a)(ii), for investments] For an investment
684
authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(1) that [are] is not amortizable under applicable
685
valuation rules, the limitation is 5% of assets.
686
[(ii) The limitation of Subsection (1)(a)(i) and the limitation of Subsection (2) do not
687
apply to demand deposits and certificates of deposit in solvent banks and savings and loan
688
institutions to the extent they are insured by a federal deposit insurance agency.]
689
(b) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(2), the
690
limitation is 10% of assets.
691
(c) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(3), the
692
limitation is 50% of assets.
693
(d) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(4)[,] that
694
[are] is considered to be [investments in kinds of securities or evidences] an investment in a kind
695
of security or evidence of debt pledged, [those investments are] the investment is subject to the
696
class limitations applicable to the pledged [securities or evidences] security or evidence of debt.
697
(e) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(5), the
698
limitation is 35% of assets.
699
(f) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(6), the
700
limitation is:
701
(i) 20% of assets for a life [insurers] insurer; and
702
(ii) 50% of assets for a nonlife [insurers] insurer.
703
(g) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(7), the
704
limitation is:
705
(i) 5% of assets; or
706
(ii) for [insurers] an insurer organized and operating under Chapter 7, Nonprofit Health
707
Service Insurance Corporations, 25% of assets.
708
(h) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(8), the
709
limitation is:
710
(i) 20% of assets, inclusive of home office and branch office properties; or
711
(ii) for [insurers] an insurer organized and operating under Chapter 7, Nonprofit Health
712
Service Insurance Corporations, 35% of assets, inclusive of home office and branch office
713
properties.
714
(i) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(10), the
715
limitation is 1% of assets.
716
(j) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(11), the
717
limitation is the greater of that permitted or required for compliance with Section
31A-18-103
.
718
(k) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(l), an insurer's investments in subsidiaries is
719
limited to 50% of the insurer's total adjusted capital. [Investments] An investment by an insurer
720
in [its subsidiaries] a subsidiary includes:
721
[(i) the insurer's loans, advances, and contributions to its subsidiaries; and]
722
[(ii) the insurer's holding of bonds, notes, and stocks of its subsidiaries are included.]
723
(i) a loan, advance, or contribution to a subsidiary by an insurer; and
724
(ii) an insurer holding a bond, note, or stock of a subsidiary.
725
(l) Under a plan of merger approved by the commissioner, the commissioner may allow
726
an insurer any portion of its assets invested in an insurance subsidiary. The approved plan of
727
merger shall require the acquiring insurer to conform its accounting for investments in
728
subsidiaries to Subsection (1)(k) within a specified period that may not exceed five years.
729
(m) For [investments] an investment authorized under Subsections
31A-18-105
(13) and
730
(14), the aggregate limitation is 10% of assets.
731
(2) The limits on investments listed in Subsections (2)(a) through (e) apply to each
732
insurer.
733
(a) (i) For all investments in a single entity, its affiliates, and subsidiaries, the limitation
734
is 10% of assets, except that the limit imposed by this Subsection (2)(a) does not apply to:
735
[(i) investments] (A) an investment in the government of the United States or its
736
agencies;
737
[(ii) investments] (B) an investment guaranteed by the government of the United
738
States; [or]
739
[(iii) investments] (C) an investment in the insurer's insurance subsidiaries[.]; or
740
(D) a cash deposit that:
741
(I) is cash;
742
(II) is held by a depository institution, as defined in Section
7-1-103
, that:
743
(Aa) is solvent;
744
(Bb) is federally insured; and
745
(Cc) subject to Subsection (2)(a)(ii), has a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5%, if the
746
depository institution is a bank as defined in Section
7-1-103
, or a ratio of Tier 1 capital to total
747
assets of at least 5%, if the depository institution is not a bank; and
748
(III) does not exceed the greater of:
749
(Aa) .4 times the Tier 1 capital of the depository institution; or
750
(Bb) the amount insured by a federal deposit insurance agency.
751
(ii) The commissioner by rule made in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
752
Administrative Rulemaking Act, shall:
753
(A) define "Tier 1 leverage ratio";
754
(B) define "Tier 1 capital"; and
755
(C) proscribe the method to calculate Tier 1 capital.
756
(b) [Investments] An investment authorized by Subsection
31A-18-105
(3) shall comply
757
with the requirements listed in this Subsection (2)(b).
758
(i) (A) Except as provided in this Subsection (2)(b)(i), the amount of [any] a loan
759
secured by a mortgage or deed of trust may not exceed 80% of the value of the real estate
760
interest mortgaged, unless the excess over 80%:
761
(I) is insured or guaranteed by:
762
(Aa) the United States[, any];
763
(Bb) a state of the United States[, any];
764
(Cc) an instrumentality, agency, or political subdivision of the United States[, any of its
765
states,] or a state; or
766
(Dd) a combination of [any of these] entities described in this Subsection
767
(2)(b)(i)(A)(I); or
768
(II) is insured by an insurer approved by the commissioner and qualified to insure that
769
type of risk in this state.
770
(B) [Mortgage loans] A mortgage loan representing a purchase money [mortgages]
771
mortgage acquired from the sale of real estate [are] is not subject to the limitation of Subsection
772
(2)(b)(i)(A).
773
(ii) Subject to Subsection (2)(b)(v), [loans or evidences] a loan or evidence of debt
774
secured by real estate may only be secured by:
775
(A) unencumbered real property that is located in the United States; or
776
(B) an unencumbered interest in real property that is located in the United States.
777
(iii) Evidence of debt secured by a first [mortgages or deeds] mortgage or deed of trust
778
upon a leasehold [estates] estate shall require that:
779
(A) the leasehold estate exceed the maturity of the loan by not less than 10% of the
780
lease term;
781
(B) the real estate not be otherwise encumbered; and
782
(C) the mortgagee is entitled to be subrogated to all rights under the leasehold.
783
(iv) Subject to Subsection (2)(b)(v):
784
(A) participation in [any] a mortgage loan must:
785
(I) be senior to other participants; and
786
(II) give the holder substantially the rights of a first mortgagee; or
787
(B) the interest of the insurer in the evidence of indebtedness must be of equal priority,
788
to the extent of the interest, with other interests in the real property.
789
(v) A fee simple or leasehold real estate or [any] an interest in [either of them] a fee
790
simple or leasehold is not considered to be encumbered within the meaning of this chapter by
791
reason of [any] a prior mortgage or trust deed held or assumed by the insurer as a lien on the
792
property, if:
793
(A) the total of the mortgages or trust deeds held does not exceed 70% of the value of
794
the property; and
795
(B) the security created by the prior mortgage or trust deed is a first lien.
796
(c) [Loans] A loan permitted under Subsection
31A-18-105
(4) may not exceed 75% of
797
the market value of the collateral pledged, except that [loans] a loan upon the pledge of a
798
United States government [bonds] bond may be equal to the market [values] value of the
799
pledge.
800
(d) For an equity interest in a single real estate property authorized under Subsection
801
31A-18-105
(8), the limitation is 5% of assets.
802
(e) [Investments] An investment authorized under Subsection
31A-18-105
(10) shall be
803
in connection with a potential [changes] change in the value of specifically identified:
804
(i) [assets which] asset that the insurer owns; or
805
(ii) [liabilities which] liability that the insurer has incurred.
806
(3) The restrictions on investments listed in Subsections (3)(a) and (b) apply to each
807
insurer.
808
(a) Except for a financial futures [contracts] contract and real property acquired and
809
occupied by the insurer for home and branch office purposes, a security or other investment is
810
not eligible for purchase or acquisition under this chapter unless it is:
811
(i) interest bearing or income paying; and
812
(ii) not then in default.
813
(b) A security is not eligible for purchase at a price above its market value.
814
(4) Computation of percentage limitations under this section:
815
(a) is based only upon the insurer's total qualified invested assets described in Section
816
31A-18-105
and this section, as these assets are valued under Section
31A-17-401
; and
817
(b) excludes investments permitted under Section
31A-18-108
and Subsections
818
31A-17-203
(2) and (3).
819
(5) An insurer may not make an investment that, because the investment does not
820
conform to Section
31A-18-105
and this section, has the result of rendering the insurer, under
821
Chapter 17, Part 6, Risk-Based Capital, subject to proceedings under Chapter 27a, Insurer
822
Receivership Act.
823
(6) A pattern of persistent deviation from the investment diversification standards set
824
forth in Section
31A-18-105
and this section may be grounds for a finding that the [person or]
825
one or more persons with authority to make the insurer's investment decisions are
826
"incompetent" as used in Subsection
31A-5-410
(3).
827
(7) Section 77r-1 of the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1984 does
828
not apply to the purchase, holding, investment, or valuation limitations of assets of insurance
829
companies subject to this chapter.
830
Section 11.
Section
31A-20-107
is amended to read:
831
31A-20-107. Reinsurance.
832
(1) (a) An authorized insurer writing a nonassessable [policies] policy may assume as a
833
reinsurer [any risks] a risk it may write directly.
834
(b) Subject to Chapters 5 through 14, Chapter 17, and to any limitation imposed on a
835
foreign insurer by the law of its domicile, the commissioner may also authorize an insurer to
836
assume, as a reinsurer, one or more designated classes of risks it is not authorized to write
837
directly.
838
(2) (a) Subject to Section
31A-5-508
, [any] an authorized insurer may cede or
839
retrocede to [any]:
840
(i) an insurer authorized to assume it under Subsection (1) [any] a liability it has
841
undertaken on [risks] a risk lawfully written under its certificate of authority[. It may also cede
842
or retrocede reinsurance to any]; and
843
(ii) an authorized agency of the federal government or of this state. [Subject to Section
844
31A-17-404
, the rules adopted by the commissioner under that section, and to Subsection (3),
845
an]
846
(b) An authorized insurer may [also] cede or retrocede reinsurance to an unauthorized
847
insurer[.] subject to:
848
(i) Sections
31A-17-404
and
31A-17-404.1
;
849
(ii) a rule made by the commissioner under a section listed in Subsection (2)(b)(i); and
850
(iii) Subsection (3).
851
(3) [No] A person may not knowingly cede reinsurance or permit or assist it to be
852
ceded to [any] a reinsurer not in sound financial condition. If [the] a reinsurer satisfies one or
853
more of the security factors under [Subsection
31A-17-404
(3)] Section
31A-17-404.1
, there is
854
a rebuttable presumption that the reinsurer is in sound financial condition.
855
(4) [Any] (a) An authorized reinsurer who knowingly assumes from an unauthorized
856
insurer, [risks] a risk that may lawfully be written only by an authorized insurer, shall
857
immediately report the facts of the transaction to the commissioner. [The]
858
(b) (i) Subject to Subsection (4)(b)(ii), an assuming reinsurer described in Subsection
859
(4)(a):
860
(A) is liable for all taxes and penalties applicable under Sections
31A-3-301
,
861
31A-3-302
, and
31A-3-303
[, but]; and
862
(B) may take credit for [their] the payment of a tax or penalty lapse under Subsection
863
(4)(b)(i) in its settlement of accounts with the unauthorized ceding insurer[, unless].
864
(ii) This Subsection (4)(b) does not apply if the assuming reinsurer's agreement with the
865
ceding insurer [already took those] takes the taxes described in Subsection (4)(b)(i) into
866
account.
867
(5) (a) Except as provided under Subsection (5)(b), [any] an authorized reinsurer
868
proposing to withdraw from writing a class of its business in Utah, except by nonrenewal of an
869
existing [contracts at their] contract at its expiration, shall give the commissioner 60 days[']
870
written notice of its intention. The authorized reinsurer may not withdraw until after those 60
871
days [have lapsed] lapse.
872
(b) This Subsection (5) does not apply if the withdrawing reinsurer writes an
873
insignificant market share of that class of business in Utah. The commissioner shall define
874
"insignificant market share" by rule.
875
Section 12.
Section
31A-20-108
is amended to read:
876
31A-20-108. Single risk limitation.
877
(1) This section applies to all lines of insurance, including ocean marine and
878
reinsurance, except:
879
(a) title insurance;
880
(b) workers' compensation insurance;
881
(c) occupational disease insurance; and
882
(d) employers' liability insurance.
883
(2) (a) Except as provided under Subsections (3) and (4) and under Section
884
31A-20-109
, an [insurance company] insurer authorized to do an insurance business in Utah
885
may not expose itself to loss on [any] a single risk in an amount exceeding 10% of its capital
886
and surplus.
887
(b) The commissioner may adopt rules to calculate surplus under this section.
888
(c) [The] An insurer may deduct the portion of [any] a risk reinsured by a reinsurance
889
contract worthy of a reserve credit under [Section] Sections
31A-17-404
[may not be included]
890
through
31A-17-404.4
in determining the limitation of risk under this section.
891
(3) (a) The commissioner may adopt rules, after hearings held with notice provided
892
under Section
31A-2-303
, to specify the maximum exposure to which an assessable mutual may
893
subject itself.
894
(b) The rules described in Subsection (3)(a) may provide for classifications of insurance
895
and insurers to preserve the solidity of insurers.
896
(4) As used in this section, a "single risk" includes all losses reasonably expected as a
897
result of the same event.
898
(5) A company transacting fidelity or surety insurance may expose itself to a risk or
899
hazard in excess of the amount prescribed in Subsection (2), if the commissioner, after
900
considering all the facts and circumstances, approves the risk.
901
Section 13.
Section
31A-22-1201
is amended to read:
902
31A-22-1201. Assumption agreement.
903
[There is no] (1) Subject to Subsection (2), a credit for reinsurance ceded under Section
904
31A-17-404
,
31A-17-404.1
, or
31A-17-404.2
, is not allowed unless, in addition to meeting the
905
[other] requirements [stated under] of Section
31A-17-404
,
31A-17-404.1
, or
31A-17-404.2
,
906
the reinsurance agreement provides [that] in substance that if the ceding insurer is insolvent, the
907
reinsurance [shall be] is payable by the assuming insurer:
908
(a) on the basis of the liability of the ceding insurer under the contract or contracts
909
reinsured;
910
(b) without diminution because of the insolvency of the ceding insurer; and
911
(c) directly to the ceding insurer or to its domiciliary liquidator or receiver [except
912
where:].
913
(2) Subsection (1) applies except if:
914
[(1) the contract] (a) a contract specifically provides another payee of [such] the
915
insurance in the event of the insolvency of the ceding insurer; or
916
[(2)] (b) the assuming insurer, with the consent of the one or more direct [insured or]
917
insureds [has assumed such], assumes the policy obligations of the ceding insurer:
918
(i) as direct obligations of the assuming insurer to the payees under [such] the policies;
919
and
920
(ii) in substitution for the obligations of the ceding insurer to [such] the payees.
921
Section 14.
Section
31A-22-1202
is amended to read:
922
31A-22-1202. Other reinsurance contracts.
923
(1) If there is no assumption agreement under Subsection
31A-22-1201
(2), the
924
reinsurer's sole obligation is to the ceding insurer.
925
(2) No guaranty [or] fund, security fund, or any other person, except the estate of the
926
ceding insurer, has [any] a claim against [the] a reinsurer.
927
(3) Subject to contractual rights of offset, if [the] a ceding insurer is put into
928
receivership, the reinsurer shall pay any amount due under the contract in full, without reduction
929
because of the receivership[,]:
930
(a) to the domiciliary receiver if there is one[,]; or[, if not, then to any]
931
(b) if there is not domiciliary receiver, to a Utah receiver.
932
Section 15. Effective date.
933
This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.
934
Section 16. Revisor instructions.
935
It is the intent of the Legislature that in preparing the Utah Code database for
936
publication, the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall replace the reference
937
in Section
31A-17-404.4
from "this bill" to the bill's designated chapter number in the Laws of
938
Utah.
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