601.59(5)(b)2.
2. Providing reasonable standards and procedures for the establishment of committees and governing any general or specific delegation of any authority or function of the commission.
601.59(5)(b)3.
3. Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the commission, and ensuring reasonable notice of each such meeting.
601.59(5)(b)4.
4. Establishing the titles and responsibilities of the officers of the commission.
601.59(5)(b)5.
5. Providing reasonable standards and procedures for the establishment of the personnel policies and programs of the commission. Notwithstanding any civil service or other similar laws of any compacting state, the bylaws shall exclusively govern the personnel policies and programs of the commission.
601.59(5)(b)6.
6. Providing a mechanism for winding up the operations of the commission and the equitable return of any surplus funds that may exist after the dissolution of the compact after the payment or reserving of all of its debts and obligations.
601.59(5)(c)
(c) The commission shall, by a majority of the members, elect annually from among its members a chairperson and a vice chairperson, each of whom shall have such authorities and duties as may be specified in the bylaws. The chairperson or, in his or her absence or disability, a member designated in accordance with the bylaws, shall preside at all meetings of the commission. The officers so elected shall serve without compensation or remuneration from the commission; provided that, subject to the availability of budgeted funds, the officers shall be reimbursed for any actual and necessary costs and expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as officers of the commission.
601.59(5)(d)
(d) The commission may, by a majority of the members, appoint or retain an executive director for such period, upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as the commission determines appropriate. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the commission, but shall not be a member of the commission. The executive director shall hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the commission.
601.59(5)(e)
(e) The commission shall maintain its corporate books and records in accordance with the bylaws.
601.59(5)(f)
(f) The members, officers, executive director and employees of the commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused or arising out of or relating to any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of any such person, or to protect the commission acting as receiver under
sub. (9).
601.59(5)(g)
(g) The commission shall defend any commissioner of a compacting state, or his or her representatives or employees, or the commission's representatives or employees, in any civil action seeking to impose liability, arising out of or relating to any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing on the part of such person.
601.59(5)(h)
(h) The commission shall indemnify and hold the commissioner of a compacting state, or his or her representatives or employees, or the commission's representatives or employees, harmless in the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against such person arising out of or relating to any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing on the part of such person.
601.59(5)(i)
(i) The costs and expenses of defense and indemnification of the commission acting as receiver of an estate shall be paid as administrative expenses from the assets of that estate unless such costs and expenses are covered by insurance maintained by the commission.
601.59(6)
(6) Article VI — Meetings and Acts of the Commission. 601.59(6)(a)(a) The commission shall meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this compact.
601.59(6)(b)
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this compact and unless a greater percentage is required by the bylaws, in order to constitute an act of the commission, such act shall have been taken at a meeting of the commission and shall have received an affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
601.59(6)(c)
(c) Each member of the commission shall have the right and power to cast a vote to which that compacting state is entitled and to participate in the business and affairs of the commission. A member shall vote in person and may not delegate his or her vote to another member. The bylaws may provide for members' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of telecommunication.
601.59(6)(d)
(d) The commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. The chairperson of the commission may call additional meetings at any time and, upon the request of a majority of the members, shall call additional meetings.
601.59(6)(e)
(e) The commission's rules shall establish conditions and procedures under which the commission shall make its information and official records available to the public for inspection or copying. The commission may exempt from disclosure any information or official records to the extent disclosure would adversely affect personal privacy rights or proprietary interests. In promulgating such rules, the commission may consider any special circumstances pertaining to insurer insolvencies, but shall be guided by the principles embodied in state and federal freedom of information laws. The commission may promulgate additional rules under which it may make available to law enforcement agencies records and information otherwise exempt from disclosure, and may enter into agreements with law enforcement agencies to receive or exchange information or records subject to nondisclosure and confidentiality provisions.
601.59(6)(f)
(f) Public notice shall be given of all meetings and all meetings shall be open to the public, except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise provided in this compact. The commission shall promulgate rules consistent with the principles contained in the government in sunshine act,
5 USC 552b. The commission and any of its committees may close a meeting to the public if it determines by two-thirds vote that an open meeting would likely do any of the following:
601.59(6)(f)1.
1. Relate solely to the commission's internal personnel practices and procedures.
601.59(6)(f)2.
2. Disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by statute.
601.59(6)(f)3.
3. Disclose trade secrets or commercial or financial information which is privileged or confidential.
601.59(6)(f)4.
4. Involve accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person.
601.59(6)(f)5.
5. Disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
601.59(6)(f)6.
6. Disclose investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes.
601.59(6)(f)7.
7. Disclose information contained in or related to examination, operating or condition reports prepared by, or on behalf or for the use of, the commission with respect to a regulated entity for the purpose of regulation or supervision of such entity.
601.59(6)(f)8.
8. Disclose information, the premature disclosure of which would significantly endanger the stability of a regulated entity.
601.59(6)(f)9.
9. Specifically relate to the commission's issuance of a subpoena or its participation in a civil action or proceeding.
601.59(6)(g)
(g) For every meeting closed under
par. (f), the commission's chief legal officer shall publicly certify that, in his or her opinion, the meeting may be closed to the public, and shall reference each relevant exemptive provision. The commission shall keep minutes which shall fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in any meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of any actions taken, and the reasons therefor, including a description of each of the views expressed on any item and the record of any rollcall vote, reflected in the vote of each member on the question. All documents considered in connection with any action shall be identified in the minutes.
601.59(7)
(7) Article VII — Rule-making Functions of the Commission. 601.59(7)(a)(a) The commission shall promulgate rules and operating procedures in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of this compact; provided, that the commission shall not promulgate any rules that do any of the following:
601.59(7)(a)1.
1. Alter the statutory priorities for distributing assets out of an estate, except pursuant to rules promulgated under
par. (c).
601.59(7)(a)2.
2. Directly relate to guaranty associations, including but not limited to rules governing coverage, funding or assessment mechanisms. It is the intent of this compact that the commission not promulgate any rules that regulate, restrict or otherwise affect the operations of guaranty associations.
601.59(7)(b)
(b) Rule making shall occur according to the criteria set forth in this subsection and the rules and operating procedures promulgated pursuant thereto. Such rule making shall substantially conform to the principles of the federal administrative procedure act, 5 USCS 551, et seq., and the federal advisory committee act, 5 USCS app. 2, section 1, et seq.
601.59(7)(c)
(c) Other than the promulgation of such rules as are necessary for the orderly operation of the commission, the first rule to be considered by the commission shall be uniform provisions governing insurer receiverships including, but not limited to, provisions requiring compacting states to implement, execute and administer in a fair, just, effective and efficient manner rules and operating procedures relating to receiverships. The commission shall, within 3 years after the adoption of this compact by 2 or more states, promulgate such uniform provisions through the rule-making process. Such uniform provisions shall become law in all of the compacting states upon legislative enactment in a majority of the compacting states.
601.59(7)(d)
(d) All rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified in the rule or amendment; provided, that if a compacting state expressly rejects a rule or amendment through legislative enactment as of the expiration of the 2nd full calendar year after the rule is promulgated, the rule or amendment shall have no further force or effect in the rejecting compacting state. If a majority of compacting states reject a rule, then the rule shall have no further force or effect in any compacting state.
601.59(7)(e)
(e) When promulgating a rule or operating procedure, the commission shall do all of the following:
601.59(7)(e)1.
1. Publish the proposed rule or operating procedure, stating with particularity the text of the rule or operating procedure which is proposed and the reason for the proposed rule or operating procedure.
601.59(7)(e)2.
2. Allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions and arguments, which information the commission shall make publicly available.
601.59(7)(e)4.
4. Promulgate a final rule or operating procedure and its effective date, if appropriate, based on the rule-making record.
601.59(7)(f)
(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.
601.59(8)
(8) Article VIII — Oversight and Dispute Resolution by the Commission. 601.59(8)(a)(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.
601.59(8)(b)
(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:
601.59(8)(b)1.
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.
601.59(8)(b)2.
2. An initial report of the status of an insurer within a reasonable time after the initiation of a receivership.
601.59(8)(c)
(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.
601.59(8)(d)
(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.
601.59(8)(e)
(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.
601.59(8)(f)
(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.
601.59(8)(g)
(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.
601.59(8)(h)
(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.
601.59(8)(i)
(i) The commission shall promulgate an operating procedure providing for binding dispute resolution for disputes among receivers.
601.59(8)(j)
(j) The commission shall facilitate voluntary dispute resolution for disputes among guaranty associations and receivers.
601.59(9)
(9) Article IX — Receivership Functions of the Commission. 601.59(9)(a)(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.
601.59(9)(b)
(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.
601.59(9)(c)
(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.
601.59(9)(d)
(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.
601.59(9)(e)
(e) With respect to receiverships pending in a compacting state on July 11, 1996, all of the following apply:
601.59(9)(e)1.
1. The commission may act as receiver of an insurer upon the request of that compacting state's member and approval of the commission.
601.59(9)(e)2.
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.
601.59(10)(g)(g) The commission shall be exempt from all taxation in and by the compacting states.
601.59(10)(h)
(h) The commission may not pledge the credit of any compacting state, except by and with the appropriate legal authority of that compacting state.
601.59(10)(i)
(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.
601.59(10)(j)
(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.
601.59(11)
(11) Article XI — Compacting States, Effective Date and Amendment. 601.59(11)(a)(a) Any state is eligible to become a compacting state.
601.59(11)(b)
(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.
601.59(11)(c)
(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.
601.59(12)
(12) Article XII — Withdrawal, Default and Termination. 601.59(12)(a)(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.
601.59(12)(b)
(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.
601.59(12)(c)
(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.
601.59(12)(d)
(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).
601.59(12)(f)
(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.
601.59(12)(g)
(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.
601.59(12)(h)
(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.
601.59(12)(i)
(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.
601.59(12)(k)
(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.
601.59(12)(L)
(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.
601.59(12)(m)
(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.
601.59(13)
(13) Article XIII — Severability and Construction. 601.59(13)(a)(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.
601.59(14)
(14) Article XIV — Binding Effect of Compact and Other Laws. 601.59(14)(a)(a) Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a compacting state that is not inconsistent with this compact.
601.59(14)(b)
(b) All lawful actions of the commission, 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.
