SB372: Bill Text

SB372,15,23 2. Allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions and arguments, which information the commission shall make publicly available.

SB372,15,24 3. Provide an opportunity for an informal hearing.

SB372,16,2 4. Promulgate a final rule or operating procedure and its effective date, if appropriate, based on the rule-making record.

SB372,16,8 (f) Not later than 60 days after a rule or operating procedure is promulgated, any interested person may file a petition in a court of competent jurisdiction where the commission's principal office is located for judicial review of the rule or operating procedure. If the court finds that the commission's action is not supported by substantial evidence in the rule-making record, the court shall hold the rule unlawful and set it aside.

SB372,16,12 (8) Article VIII — Oversight and Dispute Resolution by the Commission. (a) The commission shall oversee the administration and operations of receiverships in compacting states, and shall monitor receiverships being administered in noncompacting states which may significantly affect compacting states.

SB372,16,15 (b) To aid its monitoring, oversight and coordination responsibilities, the commission shall establish operating procedures requiring each member to submit to the commission the following written reports:

SB372,16,21 1. An initial report upon a finding or other official action by the compacting state that grounds exist for receivership of an insurer doing business in more than one state. Thereafter, reports shall be submitted periodically and as otherwise required pursuant to the commission's operating procedures. The commission shall be entitled to receive notice of, and shall have standing to appear in, compacting states' receiverships.

SB372,16,23 2. An initial report of the status of an insurer within a reasonable time after the initiation of a receivership.

SB372,17,4 (c) The commission shall promulgate operating procedures requiring receivers to submit to the commission periodic written reports and such additional information and documentation as the commission may reasonably request. Each compacting state's receivers shall establish the capability to obtain and provide all records, data and information required by the commission in accordance with the commission's operating procedures.

SB372,17,12 (d) Except as to privileged records, data and information, the laws of any compacting state pertaining to confidentiality or nondisclosure shall not relieve any compacting state commissioner of the responsibility to disclose any relevant records, data or information to the commission; provided, that disclosure to the commission shall not be deemed to waive or otherwise affect any confidentiality requirement; and further provided, that the commission shall be subject to the compacting state's laws pertaining to confidentiality and nondisclosure with respect to all such records, data and information in its possession.

SB372,17,20 (e) The courts and executive agencies in each compacting state shall enforce this compact and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent. In any receivership or other judicial or administrative proceeding in a compacting state pertaining to the subject matter of this compact which may affect the powers, responsibilities or actions of the commission, the commission shall be entitled to receive all service of process in any such proceeding, and shall have standing to intervene in the receivership or proceeding for all purposes.

SB372,17,25 (f) The commission shall analyze and correlate records, data, information and reports received from receivers and guaranty associations, and shall make recommendations for improving their performance to the compacting states. The commission shall include summary information and data regarding its oversight functions in its annual report.

SB372,18,3 (g) The commission shall attempt, upon the request of a member, to resolve any disputes or other issues which are subject to this compact and which may arise among compacting states and noncompacting states.

SB372,18,6 (h) The compacting states shall report to the commission on issues or activities of concern to them, and cooperate with and support the commission in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities.

SB372,18,8 (i) The commission shall promulgate an operating procedure providing for binding dispute resolution for disputes among receivers.

SB372,18,10 (j) The commission shall facilitate voluntary dispute resolution for disputes among guaranty associations and receivers.

SB372,18,25 (9) Article IX — Receivership Functions of the Commission. (a) The commission has authority to act as receiver of any insurer domiciled, engaged in or doing business in a compacting state upon the request of the commissioner of such compacting state, or as otherwise provided in this compact. As receiver, the commission shall have all powers and duties pursuant to the receivership laws of the domiciliary state. The commission shall maintain accounts of receipts and disbursements of the estates for which it is acting as receiver, consistent with the accounting practices and procedures set forth in the bylaws. The commission shall cause an annual audit of each estate for which it is acting as receiver to be conducted by an independent certified public accountant. The costs and expenses of such audit shall be paid as administrative expenses from the assets of the estate. The commission may not cause an annual audit to be conducted of any estate which lacks sufficient assets to pay the costs and expenses of such audit. The commission as receiver may delegate its receivership duties and functions, and may contract with others for that purpose.

SB372,19,9 (b) The commission shall act as receiver of any insurer domiciled or doing business in a compacting state in the event that the member acting as receiver in that compacting state fails to comply with duly promulgated commission rules or operating procedures. The commission shall notify the member in writing of his or her noncompliance with commission rules or operating procedures. If the member acting as receiver fails to remedy the noncompliance within 10 days after receipt of the notification, the commission may petition the supervising court before which the receivership is pending for an order substituting and appointing the commission as receiver of the estate.

SB372,19,13 (c) The commission may not act as receiver of an estate that appears to lack sufficient assets to fund such receivership unless the compacting state makes provisions for the payment of the estate's administrative expenses satisfactory to the commission.

SB372,19,16 (d) The commission may act as deputy receiver for any insurer domiciled or doing business in a noncompacting state in accordance with that state's laws, upon request of that noncompacting state's commissioner and approval of the commission.

SB372,19,18 (e) With respect to receiverships pending in a compacting state on the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], all of the following apply:

SB372,19,20 1. The commission may act as receiver of an insurer upon the request of that compacting state's member and approval of the commission.

SB372,19,23 2. The commission shall oversee, monitor and coordinate the activities of all receiverships pending in that compacting state regardless of whether the commission is acting as receiver of estates in that state.

SB372,19,25 (10) Article X — Finance. (a) The commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment and organization.

SB372,20,5 (b) Except as otherwise provided in this compact or by act of the commission, the costs and expenses of each compacting state shall be the sole and exclusive responsibility of the respective compacting state. The commission may pay or provide for actual and necessary costs and expenses for attendance of its members at official meetings of the commission or its designated committees.

SB372,20,11 (c) The commission shall levy on and collect an annual assessment from each compacting state and each insurer authorized to do business, and writing direct insurance, in a compacting state to cover the cost of the internal operations and activities of the commission and its staff in a total amount sufficient to cover the commission's annual budget. With respect to the assessments, all of the following apply:

SB372,21,2 1. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated 75% to insurers and 25% to compacting states. The insurers' portion shall be allocated to each insurer by the percentage derived from a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the gross direct written premium received on that insurer's business in all compacting states and the denominator of which shall be the gross direct written premium received by all insurers on business in all compacting states. The compacting states' portion shall be allocated to each compacting state by the percentage derived from a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the gross direct written premium received by all insurers on business in that compacting state and the denominator shall be the gross direct written premium received by all insurers on business in all compacting states. Each compacting state's portion shall be funded as designated by that state's legislature. In no event shall an insurer's assessment be less than $50 or more than $25,000; provided, that affiliated insurers' combined assessments shall not exceed $50,000. Upon the request of an insurer, the commission may exempt or defer the assessment of any insurer, if such assessment would cause the insurer's financial impairment.

SB372,21,6 2. These assessments may not be used to pay any costs or expenses incurred by the commission and its staff acting as receiver of estates. Such costs and expenses shall be paid as administrative expenses from the assets of the estates as provided by law, except as otherwise provided in this compact.

SB372,21,15 3. Each insurer authorized to do business in a compacting state shall timely pay assessments to the commission. Failure to pay such assessments shall not be grounds for the revocation, suspension or denial of an insurer's authority to do business, but shall subject the insurer to suit by the commission for recovery of any assessment due, attorneys fees and costs, together with interest from the date the assessment is due at a rate of 10% per year, and to civil forfeiture in an amount to be determined by the commissioner of that compacting state in which the insurer received the greatest premium in the year next preceding the first year for which the insurer is delinquent in payment of assessments.

SB372,21,19 (d) The commission shall be reimbursed in the following manner for the costs and expenses incurred by the commission and its staff acting as receiver of estates to the extent that an insurer's assets may be insufficient for the effective administration of its estate:

SB372,21,21 1. If the insurer is domiciled in a compacting state, the estate shall be closed unless that compacting state makes provisions for reimbursing the commission.

SB372,21,25 2. If the insurer is unauthorized to do business in a compacting state or if the insurer is domiciled in a noncompacting state and subject to ancillary receivership, the commission and such state shall make provisions for reimbursing the commission prior to the commission becoming receiver of such insurer.

SB372,22,5 (e) To fund the cost of the initial operations of the commission until its first annual budget is adopted and related assessments have been made, contributions from compacting states and others may be accepted and a one-time assessment on insurers doing a direct insurance business in the compacting states may be made not to exceed $450 per insurer.

SB372,22,13 (f) The commission's adopted budget for a fiscal year may not be approved until it has been subject to notice and comment as set forth for rules and operating procedures in sub. (7) (e). The budget shall determine the amount of the annual assessment. The commission may accumulate a net worth not to exceed 30% of its then annual cost of operation to provide for contingencies and events not contemplated. These accumulated funds shall be held separately and may not be used for any other purpose. The commission's budget may include a provision for a contribution to the commission's net worth.

SB372,22,15 (g) The commission shall be exempt from all taxation in and by the compacting states.

SB372,22,17 (h) The commission may not pledge the credit of any compacting state, except by and with the appropriate legal authority of that compacting state.

SB372,23,9 (i) The commission shall keep complete and accurate accounts of all its internal receipts, including grants and donations, and disbursements of all funds, other than receivership assets, under its control. The internal financial accounts of the commission shall be subject to the accounting procedures established under its bylaws. The financial accounts and reports including the system of internal controls and procedures of the commission shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant. Upon the determination of the commission, but no less frequently than every 3 years, the review of such independent auditor shall include a management and performance audit of the commission. The report of such independent audit shall be made available to the public and shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the commission to the governors and legislatures of the compacting states. The commission's internal accounts, any workpapers related to any internal audit and any workpapers related to the independent audit, shall be confidential; provided, that such materials shall be made available in compliance with the order of any court of competent jurisdiction, pursuant to such reasonable rules as the commission shall promulgate and to any commissioner or governor of a compacting state, or their duly authorized representatives.

SB372,23,12 (j) No compacting state shall have any claim to or ownership of any property held by or vested in the commission or the commission acting as receiver or to any other commission funds held pursuant to the provisions of this compact.

SB372,23,14 (11) Article XI — Compacting States, Effective Date and Amendment. (a) Any state is eligible to become a compacting state.

SB372,23,18 (b) The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by 2 compacting states. Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding as to any other compacting state upon enactment of the compact into law by that state.

SB372,23,22 (c) Amendments to the compact may be proposed by the commission for enactment by the compacting states. No amendment shall become effective and binding upon the commission and the compacting states unless and until it is enacted into law by unanimous consent of the compacting states.

SB372,24,2 (12) Article XII — Withdrawal, Default and Termination. (a) Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every compacting state; provided, that a compacting state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute which enacted the compact into law.

SB372,24,6 (b) The effective date of withdrawal is the effective date of the repeal; provided, that the repeal shall not apply to any receiverships for which the commission is acting as receiver that are pending on the date of the repeal except by mutual agreement of the commission and the withdrawing state.

SB372,24,9 (c) The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the chairperson of the commission in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state.

SB372,24,12 (d) The commission shall notify the other compacting states of the withdrawing state's intention to withdraw within 60 days after its receipt of the notice under par. (c).

SB372,24,22 (e) The withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including any obligations, the performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal, except to the extent those obligations may have been released or relinquished by mutual agreement of the commission and the withdrawing state. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the withdrawing state is responsible for the costs and expenses of its estates subject to this compact that are pending on the date of repeal; the commission and the other estates subject to this compact shall not bear any costs or expenses related to the withdrawing state's estates unless otherwise mutually agreed upon between the commission and the withdrawing state.

SB372,24,25 (f) Reinstatement following withdrawal of any compacting state shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon a later date determined by the commission.

SB372,25,15 (g) If the commission determines that any compacting state has at any time defaulted in the performance of any of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact, the bylaws or duly promulgated rules, all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this compact and any agreements entered into pursuant to this compact shall be suspended from the effective date of default as fixed by the commission. The grounds for default include, but are not limited to, failure of a compacting state to perform such obligations or responsibilities and any other grounds designated in commission rules. The commission shall immediately notify the defaulting state in writing of the defaulting state's suspension pending a cure of the default. The commission shall stipulate the conditions and the time period within which the defaulting state must cure its default. If the defaulting state fails to cure the default within the time period specified by the commission, the defaulting state shall be terminated from the compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the compacting states and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this compact shall be terminated from the effective date of termination.

SB372,25,18 (h) Within 60 days after the effective date of termination of a defaulting state, the commission shall notify the governor and the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's legislature of such termination.

SB372,25,21 (i) The termination of a defaulting state shall apply to all receiverships for which the commission is acting as receiver that are pending on the effective date of termination except by mutual agreement of the commission and the defaulting state.

SB372,26,3 (j) The defaulting state is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination, and is responsible for the costs and expenses relating to its estates subject to this compact that are pending on the date of the termination. The commission and the other estates subject to this compact shall not bear any costs or expenses relating to the defaulting state's estates unless otherwise mutually agreed upon between the commission and the defaulting state.

SB372,26,6 (k) Reinstatement following termination of any compacting state requires both a reenactment of the compact by the defaulting state and the approval of the commission pursuant to the rules.

SB372,26,9 (L) The compact dissolves effective upon the date of the withdrawal or the termination by default of the compacting state which reduces membership in the compact to one compacting state.

SB372,26,13 (m) Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the commission shall be wound up and any surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.

SB372,26,17 (13) Article XIII — Severability and Construction. (a) The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is declared unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of the compact shall be enforceable.

SB372,26,19 (b) The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.

SB372,26,23 (14) Article XIV — Binding Effect of Compact and Other Laws. (a) Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a compacting state that is not inconsistent with this compact. All compacting states' laws conflicting with this compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict.

SB372,27,5 (b) All lawful actions of the commission, including all rules and operating procedures promulgated by the commission, are binding upon the compacting states. All agreements between the commission and the compacting states are binding in accordance with their terms. Upon the request of a party to a conflict over meaning or interpretation of commission actions, and upon a majority vote of the compacting states, the commission may issue advisory opinions regarding such meaning or interpretation.

SB372,27,12 (c) In the event any provision of this compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any compacting state, the obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction sought to be conferred by such provision upon the commission shall be ineffective and such obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction shall remain in the compacting state and shall be exercised by the agency thereof to which such obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction are delegated by law in effect at the time this compact becomes effective.

SB372,27,13 (End)