SB287: Bill Text

SB287,22 Section 22. 612.32 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

SB287,23 Section 23. 612.33 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB287,9,6 612.33 (1) Permitted and prohibited reinsurance. A town mutual may cede reinsurance only under s. 612.31 (6), or to an insurer authorized to do business in this state under s. 612.71 or ch. 611 or 618, or under arrangements which are approved in advance by the commissioner and which are subject to the controls the commissioner prescribes.

SB287,24 Section 24. 612.33 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB287,9,17 612.33 (2) (b) Nonproperty insurance. To the extent that a town mutual provides insurance under s. 612.31 (3), it shall obtain reinsurance of at least a 90% proportional share of each risk or it shall obtain excess of loss reinsurance with a retention in a similar dollar amount with an insurer authorized to do such business in this state, in either instance not to exceed $25,000 on each risk. The commissioner may permit a town mutual to retain a larger percentage or have a greater excess of loss retention level if he or she finds that the interests of the members will not be endangered thereby, or may require it to reinsure a larger percentage or obtain a lesser excess of loss retention level if he or she finds that the interests of the members make it advisable. The commissioner may by rule require other reinsurance.

SB287,25 Section 25. 612.53 (1) (title) of the statutes is repealed.

SB287,26 Section 26. 612.53 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 612.53.

SB287,27 Section 27. 612.53 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

SB287,28 Section 28. 612.71 of the statutes is repealed.

SB287,29 Section 29. 620.04 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 620.04 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB287,9,25 620.04 (1) Additional restrictions. (intro.) If the commissioner finds that by reason of investment conditions generally or of the financial condition or current investment practice of an individual insurer, the interests of insureds, creditors, or the public are or may be endangered, the commissioner may do any of the following:

SB287,10,5 (a) For insurers that are not restricted under s. 620.03, impose reasonable and temporary restrictions upon the investments of an individual insurer, including prohibition or divestment of a particular investment.

SB287,30 Section 30. 620.04 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB287,10,9 620.04 (1) (b) For insurers that are subject to s. 620.03, impose reasonable restrictions upon the investments of an individual insurer, including prohibition or divestment of a particular investment.

SB287,31 Section 31. 623.06 (1) of the statutes is created to read:

SB287,10,11 623.06 (1) In this section:

SB287,10,15 (a) "Accident and health insurance contract" means a contract that incorporates morbidity risk and provides protection against economic loss resulting from accident, sickness, or medical conditions and as may be specified in the valuation manual.

SB287,10,18 (b) "Appointed actuary" means a qualified actuary who is appointed in accordance with the valuation manual to prepare the actuarial opinion required in sub. (1r).

SB287,10,20 (c) "Deposit-type contract" means a contract that does not incorporate mortality or morbidity risks and as may be specified in the valuation manual.

SB287,10,23 (d) "Law enforcement agency," "National Association of Insurance Commissioners," or "regulatory agency" includes the employees, agents, consultants, and contractors of each such entity.

SB287,11,2 (e) "Life insurance," "life insurance contract," "life insurance policy," or "plan of life insurance" means a contract that incorporates mortality risk, including annuity and pure endowment contracts, and as may be specified in the valuation manual.

SB287,11,4 (f) "Operative date of the valuation manual" means the date determined under sub. (9) (b).

SB287,11,7 (g) "Principle-based valuation" means a reserve valuation that uses one or more methods, or one or more assumptions, determined by the insurer and that is required to comply with sub. (10) as specified in the valuation manual.

SB287,11,12 (h) "Qualified actuary" means an individual who is qualified to sign the applicable statement of actuarial opinion in accordance with the American academy of actuaries qualification standards for actuaries signing such statements and who meets the requirements specified in the valuation manual, if the valuation manual is in effect, and any other requirements that the commissioner may by rule specify.

SB287,11,15 (i) "Tail risk" means a risk that occurs either when the frequency of low probability events is higher than expected under a normal probability distribution or when there are observed events of very significant size or magnitude.

SB287,11,18 (j) "Valuation manual" means the manual of valuation instructions as adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners under sub. (9) or as subsequently amended.

SB287,32 Section 32. 623.06 (1) (f) of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

SB287,11,22 623.06 (1) (f) "Operative date of the valuation manual" means the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], as determined under sub. (9) (b).

SB287,33 Section 33. 623.06 (1c) of the statutes is repealed.

SB287,34 Section 34. 623.06 (1f) of the statutes is renumbered 623.06 (1f) (a) and amended to read:

SB287,12,20 623.06 (1f) (a) The For policies and contracts issued before the operative date of the valuation manual, the commissioner shall annually value, or cause to be valued, the reserve liabilities (hereinafter called reserves) for all outstanding life insurance policies and annuity and pure endowment contracts of every life insurance company doing business in this state, except that in the case of an alien company, such valuation shall be limited to its United States business, and may certify the amount of any such reserves, specifying the mortality table or tables, rate or rates of interest and methods (net level premium method or other) used in the calculation of such reserves. In calculating such reserves, the commissioner may use group methods and approximate averages for fractions of a year or otherwise. In lieu of the valuation of the reserves herein required of any foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept any valuation made, or caused to be made, by the insurance supervisory official of any state or other jurisdiction when if such valuation complies with the minimum standard herein provided and if the official of such state or jurisdiction accepts as sufficient and valid for all legal purposes the certificate of valuation of the commissioner when such certificate states the valuation to have been made in a specified manner according to which the aggregate reserves would be at least as large as if they had been computed in the manner prescribed by the law of that state or jurisdiction. Subsections (2) to (7) apply to all policies and contracts issued before the operative date of the valuation manual.

SB287,35 Section 35. 623.06 (1f) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB287,13,7 623.06 (1f) (b) For policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the commissioner shall annually value, or cause to be valued, the reserve liabilities (hereinafter called reserves) for all outstanding life insurance contracts, annuity and pure endowment contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, and deposit-type contracts of every insurer doing business in this state. In lieu of the valuation of the reserves required of a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept a valuation made, or caused to be made, by the insurance supervisory official of any state or other jurisdiction if the valuation complies with the minimum standard provided in this section. Subsections (9) and (10) apply to all policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual.

SB287,36 Section 36. 623.06 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

SB287,13,10 623.06 (1m) (intro.) Before the operative date of the valuation manual, all of the following apply:

SB287,37 Section 37. 623.06 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:

SB287,13,13 623.06 (1r) Beginning on the operative date of the valuation manual, all of the following apply:

SB287,13,22 (a) Every insurance company that has outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and that is subject to regulation by the commissioner shall submit to the commissioner, as prescribed in par. (c), the opinion of the appointed actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of those outstanding contracts are computed appropriately, are based on assumptions that satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported amounts, and comply with applicable laws of this state. The valuation manual shall prescribe the specifics of this opinion, including any items that are necessary to its scope.

SB287,14,10 (b) Every insurance company that has outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and that is subject to regulation by the commissioner, except as exempted in the valuation manual, shall also annually include in the opinion required under par. (a) an opinion of the same appointed actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified in the valuation manual, when considered in light of the assets held by the company with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including the investment earnings on the assets and the considerations anticipated to be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make adequate provision for the company's obligations under the policies and contracts, including the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts. The opinion required under this paragraph shall be governed by the following:

SB287,14,13 1. A memorandum, in form and substance as specified in the valuation manual and acceptable to the commissioner, shall be prepared to support each actuarial opinion.

SB287,14,21 2. If the insurance company fails to provide a supporting memorandum at the request of the commissioner within a period specified in the valuation manual, or the commissioner determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the insurance company fails to meet the standards prescribed by the valuation manual or is otherwise unacceptable to the commissioner, the commissioner may engage a qualified actuary at the expense of the company to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare the supporting memorandum required by the commissioner.

SB287,14,23 (c) All opinions required under this subsection shall be governed by the following:

SB287,14,25 1. The opinion shall be in form and substance as specified in the valuation manual and acceptable to the commissioner.

SB287,15,3 2. The opinion shall be submitted with the annual statement reflecting the valuation of such reserve liabilities for each year ending after the operative date of the valuation manual.

SB287,15,5 3. The opinion shall apply to all policies and contracts described in pars. (a) and (b), plus other actuarial liabilities as may be specified in the valuation manual.

SB287,15,8 4. The opinion shall be based on standards adopted from time to time by the actuarial standards board or its successor and on any additional standards prescribed in the valuation manual.

SB287,15,13 5. With respect to an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that company with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company domiciled in this state.

SB287,15,17 6. Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, the appointed actuary shall not be liable for damages to any person, other than the insurance company and the commissioner, for any act, error, omission, decision, or conduct with respect to the appointed actuary's opinion.

SB287,38 Section 38. 623.06 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB287,16,5 623.06 (2) (intro.) Except as provided in subs. (2a) and (2m), the minimum standard for the valuation of all such policies and contracts specified by the commissioner under sub. (1m) (a) 1. issued prior to the effective date of this section [see sub. (8) (13) and s. 632.43 (9)] shall be that provided by the laws in effect immediately prior to such date. Except as provided in subs. (2a) and (2m), the minimum standard for the valuation of all such policies and contracts issued on or after the effective date of this section shall be the commissioners reserve valuation methods defined in subs. (3) to (4m) and (7), with 3.5 percent interest, or in the case of policies and contracts, other than annuity and pure endowment contracts, issued on or after June 19, 1974, and prior to November 8, 1977, 4 percent interest, and for policies issued on or after November 8, 1977, 4.5 percent interest and the following tables:

SB287,39 Section 39. 623.06 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 623.06 (13) (a) and amended to read:

SB287,16,9 623.06 (13) (a) This Except for subs. (1), (1f) (b), (1r), and (8m) to (12), this section shall become effective on the same date as does s. 632.43.

SB287,16,11 (c) The provisions of this section shall supersede all provisions of law inconsistent or in conflict therewith.

SB287,40 Section 40. 623.06 (8m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB287,16,19 623.06 (8m) For accident and health insurance contracts issued on or after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], but before the operative date of the valuation manual, the minimum standard of valuation is the standard adopted by the commissioner by rule. For accident and health insurance contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the standard prescribed in the valuation manual shall be the minimum standard of valuation required under sub. (1f) (b).

SB287,41 Section 41. 623.06 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

SB287,16,24 623.06 (9) (a) For policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the standard prescribed in the valuation manual is the minimum standard of valuation required under sub. (1f) (b), except as provided in pars. (e) and (g).

SB287,17,2 (b) The operative date of the valuation manual is January 1 of the first calendar year beginning after the first July 1 as of which all of the following have occurred:

SB287,17,5 1. The valuation manual has been adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners by an affirmative vote of at least 42 members or three-fourths of the members voting, whichever is greater.

SB287,17,10 2. The standard valuation law, as amended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2009, or legislation including substantially similar terms and provisions, has been enacted by states representing more than 75 percent of the direct premiums written as reported in all of the following annual statements submitted for 2008:

SB287,17,11 a. Life, accident, and health annual statements.

SB287,17,12 b. Health annual statements.

SB287,17,13 c. Fraternal annual statements.

SB287,17,17 3. The standard valuation law, as amended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2009, or legislation including substantially similar terms and provisions, has been enacted by at least 42 of the following 55 jurisdictions:

SB287,17,18 a. The 50 states of the United States.

SB287,17,19 b. American Samoa.

SB287,17,20 c. The American Virgin Islands.

SB287,17,21 d. The District of Columbia.

SB287,17,22 e. Guam.

SB287,17,23 f. Puerto Rico.

SB287,18,2 (c) Unless a change in the valuation manual specifies a later effective date, changes to the valuation manual shall be effective on the first January 1 after the date when such changes have been adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners by an affirmative vote representing all of the following:

SB287,18,5 1. At least three-fourths of the members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners voting, but not less than a majority of the total membership.

SB287,18,9 2. Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners representing the jurisdictions specified in par. (b) 3. with more than 75 percent of the direct premiums written as reported in all of the following annual statements most recently available before the vote under subd. 1.:

SB287,18,10 a. Life, accident, and health annual statements.

SB287,18,11 b. Health annual statements.

SB287,18,12 c. Fraternal annual statements.

SB287,18,13 (d) The valuation manual must specify all of the following:

SB287,18,16 1. Minimum valuation standards for and definitions of the policies and contracts subject to sub. (1f) (b). The minimum valuation standards shall be all of the following:

SB287,18,18 a. The commissioners reserve valuation method for life insurance contracts, other than annuity contracts, subject to sub. (1f) (b).

SB287,18,20 b. The commissioners annuity reserve valuation method for annuity contracts subject to sub. (1f) (b).

SB287,18,21 c. Minimum reserves for all other policies and contracts subject to sub. (1f) (b).

SB287,18,24 2. Which policies or contracts, or types of policies or contracts, are subject to the requirements of a principle-based valuation in sub. (10) (a) and the minimum valuation standards consistent with those requirements.

SB287,19,2 3. For policies and contracts subject to a principle-based valuation under sub. (10), all of the following:

SB287,19,5 a. Requirements for the format of reports to the commissioner under sub. (10) (b) 3., which reports shall include information necessary to determine if the valuation is appropriate and in compliance with this section.

SB287,19,7 b. Requirements regarding the treatment of risks over which the insurance company does not have significant control or influence.

SB287,19,9 c. Procedures for corporate governance and oversight of the actuarial function and a process for appropriate waiver or modification of such procedures.

SB287,19,12 4. The minimum valuation standard for policies not subject to a principle-based valuation under sub. (10), which minimum valuation standard shall be the greater of the following:

SB287,19,14 a. Reserves that are consistent with the minimum standard of valuation before the operative date of the valuation manual.

SB287,19,19 b. Reserves that quantify the benefits, guarantees, and funding associated with the contracts and their risks at a level of conservatism that reflects conditions that include unfavorable events that have a reasonable probability of occurring. This does not preclude, for policies with significant tail risk, reflecting in the reserve conditions appropriately adverse to quantify that tail risk.