601.43(2)(b)
(b)
On request. Whenever the commissioner is requested by verified petition signed by 25 persons interested as shareholders, policyholders or creditors of an insurer alleging that there are grounds for formal delinquency proceedings, the commissioner shall forthwith examine the insurer as to any matter alleged in the petition. Whenever the commissioner is requested to do so by the board of directors of a domestic insurer, the commissioner shall examine the insurer as soon as reasonably possible.
601.43(2)(c)
(c)
Specific requirements. The commissioner shall examine insurers as otherwise required by law.
601.43(3)
(3) Audits or actuarial or other evaluations. In lieu of all or part of an examination under
subs. (1) and
(2), or in addition to it, the commissioner may order an independent audit by certified public accountants or an actuarial or other evaluation by actuaries or other experts approved by the commissioner of any person subject to the examination requirement. Any accountant, actuary or other expert selected is subject to rules respecting conflicts of interest promulgated by the commissioner. Any audit or evaluation under this section is subject to
s. 601.44, so far as appropriate.
601.43(4)
(4) Alternatives to examination. In lieu of all or part of an examination under this section, the commissioner may accept the report of an audit already made by certified public accountants or of an actuarial or other evaluation already made by actuaries or other experts approved by the commissioner, or the report of an examination made by the insurance department of another state or of the examination by another government agency in this state, the federal government or another state.
601.43(5)
(5) Purpose and scope of examination. An examination may but need not cover comprehensively all aspects of the examinee's affairs and condition. The commissioner shall determine the exact nature and scope of each examination, and in doing so shall take into account all relevant factors, including but not limited to the length of time the examinee has been doing business, the length of time the examinee has been licensed in this state, the nature of the business being examined, the nature of the accounting records available and the nature of examinations performed elsewhere. The examination of an alien insurer shall be limited to insurance transactions and assets in the United States unless the commissioner orders otherwise after finding that extraordinary circumstances necessitate a broader examination.
601.44
601.44
Conducting examinations. 601.44(1)
(1)
Order of examination. For each examination under
s. 601.43, the commissioner shall issue an order stating the scope of the examination and designating the examiner in charge. Upon demand a copy of the order shall be exhibited to the examinee.
601.44(2)
(2) Access to examinee. Any examiner authorized by the commissioner shall, so far as necessary to the purposes of the examination, have access at all reasonable hours to the premises and to any books, records, files, securities, documents or property of the examinee and to those of persons under
s. 601.43 (1) (b) so far as they relate to the affairs of the examinee.
601.44(3)
(3) Cooperation. The officers, employees and agents of the examinee and of persons under
s. 601.43 (1) (b) shall comply with every reasonable request of the examiners for assistance in any matter relating to the examination. No person may obstruct or interfere with the examination in any way other than by legal process.
601.44(4)
(4) Correction of books. If the commissioner finds the accounts or records to be inadequate for proper examination of the condition and affairs of the examinee or improperly kept or posted, the commissioner may employ experts to rewrite, post or balance them at the expense of the examinee.
601.44(5)
(5) Report on examination. The examiner in charge of an examination shall make a proposed report of the examination which shall include such information and analysis as is ordered in
sub. (1), together with the examiner's recommendations. Preparation of the proposed report may include conferences with the examinee or the examinee's representatives at the option of the examiner in charge. The proposed report shall remain confidential until filed under
sub. (6).
601.44(6)
(6) Adoption and filing of examination report. The commissioner shall serve a copy of the proposed report upon the examinee. Within 20 days after service, the examinee may serve upon the commissioner a written demand for a hearing on the contents of the report. If a hearing is demanded, the commissioner shall give notice and hold a hearing under
ch. 227, except that on demand by the examinee the hearing shall be private. Within 60 days after the hearing or if no hearing is demanded then within 60 days after the last day on which the examinee might have demanded a hearing, the commissioner shall adopt the report with any necessary modifications and file it for public inspection, or the commissioner shall order a new examination.
601.44(7)
(7) Copy for examinee. The commissioner shall forward a copy of the examination report to the examinee immediately upon adoption, except that if the proposed report is adopted without change, the commissioner need only so notify the examinee.
601.44(8)
(8) Copies for board. The examinee shall forthwith furnish copies of the adopted report to each member of its board.
601.44(9)
(9) Copies for other persons. The commissioner may furnish, without cost or at a price to be determined by the commissioner, a copy of the adopted report to the insurance commissioner of each state in the United States and of each foreign jurisdiction in which the examinee is authorized to do business, and to any other interested person in this state or elsewhere.
601.44(10)
(10) Report as evidence. In any proceeding by or against the examinee or any officer or agent thereof the examination report as adopted by the commissioner shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated therein. In any proceeding commenced under
ch. 645, the examination report whether adopted by the commissioner or not shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated therein. In any proceeding by or against the examinee, the facts asserted in any report properly admitted in evidence shall be presumed to be true in the absence of contrary evidence.
601.44 History
History: 1977 c. 203 s.
102;
1979 c. 102 ss.
72,
236 (6), (17);
1991 a. 316.
601.44 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
Ins 5, Wis. adm. code.
601.45
601.45
Examination costs. 601.45(1)(1)
Costs to be paid by examinees. The reasonable costs of examinations under
ss. 601.43 and
601.44 shall be paid by examinees except as provided in
sub. (4), either on the basis of a system of billing for actual salaries and expenses of examiners and other apportionable expenses, including office overhead, or by a system of regular annual billings to cover the costs relating to a group of companies, or a combination of such systems, as the commissioner may by rule prescribe. Additional funding, if any, shall be governed by
s. 601.32. The commissioner shall schedule annual hearings under
s. 601.41 (5) to review current problems in the area of examinations.
601.45(2)
(2) Duty to pay. The amount payable under
sub. (1) shall become due 10 days after the examinee has been served a detailed account of the costs.
601.45(3)
(3) Deposit. The commissioner may require any examinee, before or from time to time during an examination, to deposit with the state treasurer such deposits as the commissioner deems necessary to pay the costs of the examination. Any deposit and any payment made under
subs. (1) and
(2) shall be credited to the appropriation under
s. 20.145 (1) (g) in the percentage specified in that paragraph.
601.45(4)
(4) Exemptions. On the examinee's request or on the commissioner's own motion, the commissioner may pay all or part of the costs of an examination from the appropriation under
s. 20.145 (1) (g), whenever the commissioner finds that because of the frequency of examinations or other factors, imposition of the costs would place an unreasonable burden on the examinee. The commissioner shall include in his or her annual report information about any instance in which the commissioner applied this subsection.
601.45(5)
(5) Retaliation. Deposits and payments under this section shall not be deemed to be a tax or license fee within the meaning of any statute. If any other state charges a per diem fee for examination of examinees domiciled in this state, any examinee domiciled in that other state shall be required to pay the same fee when examined by the insurance office of this state.
601.45 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
Ins 16.01, Wis. adm. code.
601.46
601.46
Commissioner's records and reports. 601.46(1)(1)
Record maintenance. The commissioner shall maintain the records required by law and those necessary to provide for the continued effective operation of the office, to constitute an adequate and proper recording of its activities and to protect the rights of the people of this state. The records shall be preserved in the office except as provided in
s. 16.61.
601.46(2)
(2) Record of proceedings and activities. The commissioner shall maintain a permanent record of proceedings and important activities, including a concise statement of the condition of each insurer visited or examined, and including a record of all certificates of authority and licenses issued.
601.46(3)
(3) Annual reports. Prior to September 1 of each year, the commissioner shall submit a report to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2), which shall include, for the preceding calendar year:
601.46(3)(b)
(b) A general review of the insurance business in this state, including a report on emerging regulatory problems, developments and trends;
601.46(3)(c)
(c) A summary of the complaints made to or processed by the office about insurers, agents and others connected with insurance, and information about their disposition;
601.46(3)(d)
(d) A summary of rules promulgated and circular letters distributed;
601.46(3)(e)
(e) A list of all insurers authorized to do business in this state during the year, with appropriate and useful information concerning them; including a list of insurers organized, admitted, merged or withdrawn;
601.46(3)(f)
(f) A list of all revocations of licenses or certificates of authority and the reasons therefor;
601.46(3)(h)
(h) A summary of receipts and expenses, including the information required to be included by
s. 601.45 (4);
601.46(3)(i)
(i) The kind and amount of insurance carried in all state insurance funds under
chs. 604 to
607 together with the amount of premiums collected, the source and nature of any other income, and the disbursements made. The report shall state separately the premiums, losses, the kind and amount of insurance carried on state property, and on other than state property; and
601.46(3)(j)
(j) Such other information on the general conduct and condition of insurers doing business in this state as the commissioner or the governor deems necessary or as is prescribed by law.
601.46(4)
(4) Public inspection. All records and reports shall be open to public inspection unless specifically otherwise provided by statute or by rule.
601.46(5)
(5) Copies of records. The commissioner shall provide to any person on request certified or uncertified copies of any record in the department that is open to public inspection.
601.46(6)
(6) Audits. The commissioner shall reimburse the legislative audit bureau for the cost of audits required to be performed under
s. 13.94 (1) (de).
601.465
601.465
Nondisclosure of information. The office may refuse to disclose and may prevent any other person from disclosing any of the following:
601.465(1)
(1) Testimony, reports, records and information that are obtained, produced or created in the course of an inquiry under
s. 601.42.
601.465(2)
(2) Except as provided in
s. 601.44 (6) to
(10), testimony, reports, records and information that are obtained, produced or created in the course of an examination under
s. 601.43.
601.465(3)
(3) Testimony, reports, records and information that are obtained by the office from any of the following, under a pledge of confidentiality or for the purpose of assisting in the conduct of an investigation or examination:
601.465(3)(a)
(a) The National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
601.465(3)(b)
(b) An agent or employee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
601.465(3)(d)
(d) An agent or employee of the insurance commissioner of another state.
601.465(3)(e)
(e) An international, federal, state or local regulatory or law enforcement agency.
601.465 History
History: 1991 a. 269;
1999 a. 30.
601.465 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
Ins 6.13, Wis. adm. code.
601.47(1)(1)
General. The commissioner may prepare books, pamphlets and other publications relating to insurance and sell them in the manner and at the prices the commissioner determines. The cost of publication and distribution may be paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.145 (1) (g).
601.47(2)
(2) Annual report. The commissioner shall determine the form for the report required in
s. 601.46 (3) and shall have the report published in sufficient quantity to meet all requests for copies. The commissioner shall distribute copies upon request to any person who pays the price determined for the report under
sub. (1).
601.47(3)
(3) Free distribution. The commissioner may furnish free copies of the publications prepared under
subs. (1) and
(2) to public officers and libraries in this state and elsewhere. The cost of free distribution shall be charged to the appropriation under
s. 20.145 (1) (g).
601.48
601.48
Participation in organizations. 601.48(1)
(1)
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The commissioner and the office of the commissioner shall maintain close relations with the commissioners of other states and shall participate in the activities and affairs of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and other organizations so far as it will, in the judgment of the commissioner, enhance the purposes of
chs. 600 to
655.The actual and necessary expenses incurred thereby shall be reimbursed out of the appropriation under
s. 20.145 (1) (g).
601.48(2)
(2) Consultation in regulation. The commissioner may exchange information and data and consult with other persons in order to improve and carry out insurance regulation.
601.49
601.49
Access to records. The commissioner shall have access to the records of any agency of the state government or of any political subdivision thereof which the commissioner may wish to consult in discharging his or her duties.
601.49 History
History: 1979 c. 102.
601.51
601.51
Provision of certified copies and notices. 601.51(1)(1)
Certified copies. On request of any insurer authorized to do a surety business and its payment of the fee under
s. 601.31 (1), the commissioner shall mail a certified copy of its certificate of authority to any designated public officer in this state who requires such a certificate before accepting a bond. That public officer shall file it. Whenever a certified copy has been furnished to a public officer it is unnecessary, while the certificate remains effective, to attach a copy of it to any instrument of suretyship filed.
601.51(2)
(2) Notice of revocation of certificate. Whenever the commissioner revokes the certificate of authority of any insurer authorized to do a surety business, the commissioner shall immediately give notice thereof to each officer who was sent a certified copy under
sub. (1).
601.51 Annotation
Legislative Council Note, 1975: This continues the substance of s. 204.04 (1) and (2). [Bill 642-S]
601.53
601.53
Insolvency notices. 601.53(1)(1)
Insurers doing a surety business. Whenever any authorized insurer doing a surety business is placed in liquidation under
ch. 645 or a similar law of another state or jurisdiction, the commissioner shall immediately notify the director of state courts. Upon receipt of the notice, the director of state courts shall notify each register in probate, probate registrar and clerk of circuit court, who shall notify and require every fiduciary that has filed a bond on which the company is surety to file a new bond with a different surety.
601.53(2)
(2) Other. The commissioner as liquidator of an insurer shall send notices as provided in
s. 645.47.
601.53 Annotation
Legislative Council Note, 1975: Sub. (1) continues the substance of s. 204.04 (3). Sub. (2) is new and is a useful cross reference. [Bill 642-S]
601.55
601.55
Nondomestic insurers; additional requirements. If another state or a foreign country requires domestic insurers doing business in that state or foreign country to deposit security, to pay a fee or tax not included in the computation under
s. 76.66, to pay a fine or penalty or to comply with an obligation, prohibition or restriction that is in addition to or greater than requirements imposed by this state on nondomestic insurers doing a similar business in this state, this state may, as a condition for issuing a license to an insurer domiciled in that state or foreign country, impose a similar security requirement, fee, tax, fine, penalty, obligation, prohibition or restriction.
601.55 History
History: 1989 a. 31.
601.56
601.56
Study and rules on standards for health insurers. 601.56(1)(a)(a) The commissioner shall study whether, in their transactions with health care providers, compliance by health insurers with certain standards, such as standard codes, forms and formats, is likely to reduce the cost of health care administration. The study shall investigate compliance with standards in at least all of the following types of transactions between insurers and health care providers:
601.56(1)(b)
(b) On or before February 1, 1994, the commissioner shall submit the results of the study to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2) and to the governor.
601.56(2)
(2) Rules. If, as a result of the study under
sub. (1), the commissioner determines that in transactions with health care providers compliance by health insurers with certain standards will likely reduce the cost of health care administration, the commissioner shall promulgate rules to establish and implement appropriate standards.
