Bill Text: IA SSB1032 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A study bill for an act requiring the submission of a corporate governance annual disclosure to the commissioner of insurance by certain insurers or insurance groups, and including penalties and applicability date provisions.
Spectrum: Unknown
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-26 - Voted - Commerce. [SSB1032 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2015-SSB1032-Introduced.html
Senate
Study
Bill
1032
-
Introduced
SENATE/HOUSE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
DEPARTMENT
OF
COMMERCE/INSURANCE
DIVISION
BILL)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
requiring
the
submission
of
a
corporate
governance
1
annual
disclosure
to
the
commissioner
of
insurance
by
2
certain
insurers
or
insurance
groups,
and
including
3
penalties
and
applicability
date
provisions.
4
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
5
TLSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
Section
1.
NEW
SECTION
.
521H.1
Purpose
and
scope.
1
1.
The
purpose
of
this
chapter
is
to
do
all
of
the
2
following:
3
a.
Provide
the
commissioner
with
a
summary
of
an
insurer’s
4
or
insurance
group’s
corporate
governance
structure,
policies,
5
and
practices
to
permit
the
commissioner
to
gain
and
maintain
6
an
understanding
of
the
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
7
corporate
governance
framework.
8
b.
Outline
the
requirements
for
an
insurer
or
insurance
9
group
to
complete
a
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
for
10
submission
to
the
commissioner.
11
c.
Provide
for
the
confidential
treatment
of
the
corporate
12
governance
annual
disclosure
and
related
information
that
13
contains
confidential
and
sensitive
information
related
to
14
an
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
internal
operations
and
15
proprietary
and
trade
secret
information
which,
if
made
16
public,
could
potentially
cause
the
insurer
or
insurance
group
17
competitive
harm
or
disadvantage.
18
2.
Nothing
in
this
chapter
shall
be
construed
to
prescribe
19
or
impose
corporate
governance
standards
or
internal
procedures
20
beyond
those
which
are
required
under
applicable
state
21
corporate
law.
In
addition,
nothing
in
this
chapter
shall
be
22
construed
to
limit
the
commissioner’s
authority
under
chapter
23
507,
or
the
rights
or
obligations
of
third
parties
thereunder.
24
3.
The
requirements
of
this
chapter
shall
apply
to
all
25
insurers
domiciled
in
this
state.
26
Sec.
2.
NEW
SECTION
.
521H.2
Definitions.
27
1.
“Commissioner”
means
the
commissioner
of
insurance.
28
2.
“Corporate
governance
annual
disclosure”
or
“disclosure”
29
means
a
confidential
report
filed
by
an
insurer
or
insurance
30
group
pursuant
to
the
requirements
of
this
chapter.
31
3.
“Insurance
group”
means
those
insurers
and
affiliates
32
included
within
an
insurance
holding
company
system.
33
4.
“Insurance
holding
company
system”
means
the
same
as
34
defined
in
section
521A.1.
35
-1-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
1/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
5.
“Insurer”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
521A.1.
1
Sec.
3.
NEW
SECTION
.
521H.3
Corporate
governance
annual
2
disclosure
requirement.
3
1.
An
insurer,
or
the
insurance
group
of
which
the
insurer
4
is
a
member,
shall,
no
later
than
June
1
of
each
calendar
5
year,
submit
to
the
commissioner
a
corporate
governance
annual
6
disclosure
that
contains
the
information
described
in
section
7
521H.5.
Notwithstanding
any
request
from
the
commissioner
8
made
pursuant
to
subsection
3,
if
an
insurer
is
a
member
of
9
an
insurance
group,
the
insurer
shall
submit
the
disclosure
10
required
by
this
section
to
the
commissioner
of
insurance
of
11
the
lead
state
of
the
insurance
group
of
which
the
insurer
is
12
a
member,
in
accordance
with
the
laws
of
the
lead
state,
as
13
determined
by
procedures
contained
in
the
financial
analysis
14
handbook
adopted
by
the
national
association
of
insurance
15
commissioners.
16
2.
An
insurer
or
insurance
group
that
is
not
required
to
17
submit
a
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
under
this
18
section
shall
do
so
upon
the
commissioner’s
request.
19
3.
Review
of
the
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
and
20
any
additional
requests
for
information
shall
be
made
through
21
the
lead
state
as
determined
by
procedures
contained
in
the
22
financial
analysis
handbook
adopted
by
the
national
association
23
of
insurance
commissioners.
24
4.
Insurers
or
insurance
groups
that
provide
information
25
substantially
similar
to
the
information
required
by
this
26
chapter
in
other
documents
provided
to
the
commissioner,
27
including
proxy
statements
filed
in
conjunction
with
the
form
B
28
insurance
holding
company
system
annual
registration
statement
29
requirements
as
provided
in
section
521A.4,
or
other
state
or
30
federal
filings
provided
to
the
commissioner,
are
not
required
31
to
duplicate
that
information
in
the
corporate
governance
32
annual
disclosure,
but
shall
cross
reference
the
document
in
33
which
the
information
is
included.
34
Sec.
4.
NEW
SECTION
.
521H.4
Rules.
35
-2-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
2/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
The
commissioner
shall
adopt
rules
pursuant
to
chapter
17A
1
to
administer
this
chapter.
2
Sec.
5.
NEW
SECTION
.
521H.5
Contents
of
corporate
3
governance
annual
disclosure.
4
1.
An
insurer,
or
the
insurance
group
of
which
the
insurer
5
is
a
member,
shall
have
discretion
over
the
responses
to
6
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
inquiries,
provided
7
the
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
contains
the
8
material
information
necessary
to
permit
the
commissioner
to
9
gain
an
understanding
of
the
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
10
corporate
governance
structure,
policies,
and
practices.
The
11
commissioner
may
request
additional
information
that
the
12
commissioner
deems
material
and
necessary
to
provide
a
clear
13
understanding
of
the
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
corporate
14
governance
policies,
reporting
or
information
systems,
or
the
15
controls
implementing
such
policies
or
systems.
16
2.
Notwithstanding
subsection
1,
the
corporate
governance
17
annual
disclosure
shall
be
prepared
consistent
with
rules
18
adopted
by
the
commissioner
pursuant
to
chapter
17A.
19
Documentation
and
supporting
information
prepared
pursuant
20
to
this
chapter
and
related
rules
shall
be
maintained
and
21
made
available
upon
examination
by
or
upon
request
of
the
22
commissioner.
23
3.
The
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
shall
include
24
the
signature
of
the
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
chief
25
executive
officer
or
corporate
secretary,
attesting
that
to
the
26
best
of
that
individual’s
belief
and
knowledge
the
insurer
or
27
the
insurance
group
has
implemented
the
corporate
governance
28
practices
described
in
the
disclosure
and
that
a
copy
of
the
29
disclosure
has
been
provided
to
the
insurer’s
or
the
insurance
30
group’s
board
of
directors
or
the
appropriate
committee
of
the
31
board.
32
4.
a.
For
purposes
of
completing
a
corporate
governance
33
annual
disclosure,
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
may
report
34
information
regarding
corporate
governance
at
the
ultimate
35
-3-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
3/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
controlling
parent
level,
at
an
intermediate
holding
company
1
level,
or
at
the
individual
legal
entity
level,
depending
upon
2
how
the
insurer
or
insurance
group
has
structured
its
system
3
of
corporate
governance.
4
b.
An
insurer
or
insurance
group
is
encouraged
to
report
5
information
in
the
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
at
6
the
level
at
which
the
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
risk
7
tolerance
is
determined;
at
the
level
at
which
the
earnings,
8
capital,
liquidity,
operations,
and
reputation
of
the
insurer
9
or
insurance
group
are
overseen
collectively
and
the
level
10
at
which
the
supervision
of
these
factors
is
coordinated
and
11
exercised;
or
at
the
level
at
which
legal
liability
for
failure
12
of
general
corporate
governance
duties
would
be
placed.
If
an
13
insurer
or
insurance
group
determines
the
level
of
reporting
14
based
upon
the
criteria
set
forth
in
this
paragraph,
the
15
insurer
or
insurance
group
shall
indicate
which
of
the
three
16
criteria
was
used
to
determine
the
level
of
reporting
and
17
explain
any
subsequent
changes
that
are
made
in
the
level
of
18
reporting.
19
Sec.
6.
NEW
SECTION
.
521H.6
Confidentiality.
20
1.
Documents,
materials,
or
other
information,
including
21
a
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure,
in
the
possession
22
or
control
of
the
insurance
division
of
the
department
of
23
commerce,
that
is
obtained
by,
created
by,
or
disclosed
to
the
24
commissioner
or
to
any
other
person
pursuant
to
this
chapter,
25
is
recognized
in
this
state
as
being
proprietary
and
containing
26
trade
secrets.
All
such
documents,
materials,
or
other
27
information,
including
the
disclosure,
shall
be
confidential
28
and
privileged,
shall
not
be
subject
to
chapter
22,
shall
29
be
considered
confidential
under
chapter
507,
shall
not
be
30
subject
to
subpoena,
and
shall
not
be
subject
to
discovery
31
or
admissible
in
evidence
in
any
private
civil
action.
32
However,
the
commissioner
is
authorized
to
use
such
documents,
33
materials,
or
other
information,
including
the
disclosure,
in
34
the
furtherance
of
any
regulatory
or
legal
action
brought
as
a
35
-4-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
4/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
part
of
the
commissioner’s
official
duties.
The
commissioner
1
shall
not
otherwise
make
the
documents,
materials,
or
other
2
information,
including
the
disclosure,
public
without
the
3
prior
written
consent
of
the
insurer
or
insurance
group
that
4
provided
the
documents,
materials,
or
other
information,
5
including
the
disclosure.
Nothing
in
this
section
shall
6
be
construed
to
require
written
consent
of
the
insurer
or
7
insurance
group
before
the
commissioner
may
share
or
receive
8
confidential
documents,
materials,
or
other
information
related
9
to
governance
of
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
pursuant
to
10
subsection
3
to
assist
in
the
performance
of
the
commissioner’s
11
regular
duties.
12
2.
The
commissioner
or
any
other
person
who
received
13
documents,
materials,
or
other
information
related
to
corporate
14
governance,
through
examination
or
otherwise,
while
acting
15
under
the
authority
of
the
commissioner
or
with
whom
such
16
documents,
materials,
or
other
information
is
shared
pursuant
17
to
this
chapter,
shall
not
be
permitted
or
required
to
testify
18
in
any
private
civil
action
concerning
any
confidential
19
documents,
materials,
or
information,
including
disclosures,
20
subject
to
subsection
1.
21
3.
In
order
to
assist
in
the
performance
of
the
22
commissioner’s
regulatory
duties,
the
commissioner
may
do
any
23
of
the
following:
24
a.
Upon
request,
share
documents,
materials,
or
corporate
25
governance
annual
disclosure-related
information,
including
26
the
confidential
and
privileged
documents,
materials,
or
27
information
subject
to
subsection
1,
and
including
proprietary
28
and
trade
secret
documents,
materials,
or
information,
29
with
other
state,
federal,
or
international
financial
30
regulatory
agencies,
including
members
of
any
supervisory
31
college
as
defined
in
section
521A.1,
with
the
national
32
association
of
insurance
commissioners,
or
with
any
third-party
33
consultants
designated
by
the
commissioner
pursuant
to
34
subsection
4,
provided
that
the
recipient
agrees
in
writing
35
-5-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
5/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
to
maintain
the
confidentiality
and
privileged
status
of
the
1
documents,
materials,
or
other
corporate
governance
annual
2
disclosure-related
information
and
verifies
in
writing
the
3
legal
authority
to
maintain
such
confidentiality
and
privilege.
4
b.
Receive
documents,
materials,
or
other
corporate
5
governance
annual
disclosure-related
information,
including
6
otherwise
confidential
and
privileged
documents,
materials,
7
or
information,
and
proprietary
and
trade
secret
documents,
8
materials,
and
information,
from
regulatory
officials
of
9
other
foreign
or
domestic
jurisdictions,
including
members
10
of
any
supervisory
college
as
defined
in
section
521A.1,
and
11
from
the
national
association
of
insurance
commissioners,
12
and
shall
maintain
as
confidential
or
privileged
any
13
documents,
materials,
or
information
received
with
notice
or
14
the
understanding
that
the
documents,
materials,
or
other
15
information
received
is
confidential
and
privileged
under
the
16
laws
of
the
jurisdiction
that
is
the
source
of
the
documents,
17
materials,
or
information.
18
4.
In
order
to
assist
in
the
performance
of
the
19
commissioner’s
regulatory
duties
under
this
chapter
the
20
commissioner
may
retain,
at
the
insurer’s
or
insurance
21
group’s
expense,
third-party
consultants,
including
attorneys,
22
actuaries,
accountants,
and
other
experts
not
otherwise
a
part
23
of
the
commissioner’s
staff,
as
may
be
reasonably
necessary
to
24
assist
the
commissioner
in
reviewing
a
disclosure
and
related
25
information
submitted
under
this
chapter
or
ensuring
compliance
26
of
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
with
the
requirements
of
this
27
chapter.
28
a.
Any
persons
retained
under
this
subsection
shall
be
under
29
the
direction
and
control
of
the
commissioner
and
shall
act
in
30
a
purely
advisory
capacity.
31
b.
As
part
of
the
retention
process,
a
third-party
32
consultant
shall
verify
to
the
commissioner
that
the
33
third-party
consultant
is
free
of
any
conflict
of
interest
and
34
that
the
third-party
consultant
has
internal
procedures
in
35
-6-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
6/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
place
to
monitor
compliance
if
a
conflict
arises
and
to
ensure
1
compliance
with
the
confidentiality
standards
and
requirements
2
of
this
chapter.
3
5.
In
order
to
assist
in
the
performance
of
the
4
commissioner’s
regulatory
duties,
the
commissioner
shall
enter
5
into
a
written
agreement
with
the
national
association
of
6
insurance
commissioners
or
with
a
third-party
consultant
that
7
is
consistent
with
subsections
3
and
4,
governing
the
sharing
8
and
use
of
information
provided
pursuant
to
this
chapter,
and
9
that
does
all
of
the
following:
10
a.
Expressly
provides
that
the
national
association
of
11
insurance
commissioners
and
any
third-party
consultants
12
retained
are
subject
to
the
same
confidentiality
standards
13
and
requirements
governing
the
sharing
and
use
of
information
14
provided
pursuant
to
this
chapter
as
the
commissioner.
15
b.
Specifies
procedures
and
protocols
regarding
the
16
confidentiality
and
security
of
information
related
to
a
17
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
that
is
shared
with
18
the
national
association
of
insurance
commissioners
or
with
a
19
third-party
consultant
pursuant
to
this
chapter
and
specifies
20
procedures
and
protocols
for
sharing
information
by
the
21
national
association
of
insurance
commissioners
only
with
other
22
state
insurance
regulators
from
states
in
which
an
insurance
23
group
has
domiciled
insurers.
The
agreement
shall
require
24
that
the
recipient
of
such
information
must
agree
in
writing
25
to
maintain
the
confidentiality
and
privileged
status
of
the
26
documents,
materials,
or
other
information
related
to
the
27
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
and
verify
in
writing
28
the
legal
authority
to
maintain
confidentiality
and
privilege.
29
c.
Specifies
that
ownership
of
information
shared
with
30
the
national
association
of
insurance
commissioners
or
with
31
a
third-party
consultant
pursuant
to
this
chapter
remains
32
with
the
commissioner
and
that
use
of
the
information
by
33
the
national
association
of
insurance
commissioners
or
by
a
34
third-party
consultant
is
subject
to
the
direction
of
the
35
-7-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
7/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
commissioner.
1
d.
Prohibits
the
national
association
of
insurance
2
commissioners
or
a
third-party
consultant
from
storing
the
3
information
shared
pursuant
to
this
chapter
in
a
permanent
4
database
after
the
underlying
analysis
is
completed.
5
e.
Requires
the
national
association
of
insurance
6
commissioners
or
a
third-party
consultant
to
give
prompt
notice
7
to
the
commissioner
and
to
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
whose
8
confidential
information
is
in
the
possession
of
the
national
9
association
of
insurance
commissioners
or
a
third-party
10
consultant
pursuant
to
this
chapter,
that
the
information
is
11
subject
to
a
request
or
subpoena
to
the
national
association
12
of
insurance
commissioners
or
the
third-party
consultant
for
13
disclosure
or
production.
14
f.
Requires
the
national
association
of
insurance
15
commissioners
or
a
third-party
consultant
to
consent
to
16
intervention
by
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
in
any
judicial
17
or
administrative
action
in
which
the
national
association
of
18
insurance
commissioners
or
the
third-party
consultant
may
be
19
required
to
disclose
confidential
information
about
the
insurer
20
or
insurance
group
that
was
shared
with
the
association
or
21
consultant
pursuant
to
this
chapter.
22
6.
The
sharing
of
documents,
materials,
or
information
by
23
the
commissioner
pursuant
to
this
chapter
shall
not
constitute
24
a
delegation
of
regulatory
authority
or
rulemaking,
and
the
25
commissioner
is
solely
responsible
for
the
administration,
26
execution,
and
enforcement
of
the
provisions
of
this
chapter.
27
7.
No
waiver
of
any
applicable
privilege
or
claim
of
28
confidentiality
in
the
documents,
proprietary
and
trade
29
secret
materials,
or
other
corporate
governance
annual
30
disclosure-related
information
shall
occur
as
a
result
of
the
31
disclosure
of
such
documents,
materials,
or
information
to
the
32
commissioner
under
this
section
or
as
a
result
of
sharing
those
33
documents,
materials,
or
information
as
authorized
in
this
34
chapter.
35
-8-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
8/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
Sec.
7.
NEW
SECTION
.
521H.7
Penalties.
1
1.
If
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
fails,
without
just
2
cause,
to
timely
file
a
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
3
as
required
in
this
chapter,
the
commissioner
shall,
after
4
notice
and
hearing,
impose
a
penalty
of
five
hundred
dollars
5
for
each
day’s
delay.
The
penalty
shall
be
collected
by
the
6
commissioner
and
paid
to
the
treasurer
of
state
for
deposit
7
as
provided
in
section
505.7.
The
maximum
penalty
which
may
8
be
imposed
under
this
section
for
any
single
failure
is
five
9
thousand
dollars.
10
2.
The
commissioner
may
reduce
the
penalty
to
be
imposed
if
11
the
insurer
or
insurance
group
demonstrates
to
the
commissioner
12
that
imposition
of
the
penalty
would
constitute
a
financial
13
hardship
to
the
insurer
or
insurance
group.
14
Sec.
8.
NEW
SECTION
.
521H.8
Severability.
15
If
any
provision
of
this
chapter
other
than
section
16
521H.6,
or
the
application
of
this
chapter
to
any
person
or
17
circumstance,
is
held
invalid,
such
holding
shall
not
affect
18
the
provisions
or
applications
of
this
chapter
which
can
be
19
given
effect
without
the
invalid
provision
or
application,
and
20
to
that
end
the
provisions
of
this
chapter,
with
the
exception
21
of
section
521H.6,
are
severable.
22
Sec.
9.
APPLICABILITY.
The
provisions
of
this
Act
are
23
applicable
beginning
January
1,
2016,
and
the
first
filings
of
24
corporate
governance
annual
disclosures
shall
be
made
pursuant
25
to
chapter
521H,
as
enacted
in
this
Act,
in
2016.
26
EXPLANATION
27
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
28
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
29
This
bill
creates
new
Code
chapter
521H
which
requires
30
certain
insurers
domiciled
in
the
state,
or
the
insurance
group
31
of
which
such
an
insurer
is
a
member,
to
file
a
corporate
32
governance
annual
disclosure
with
the
commissioner
of
33
insurance.
The
purpose
of
the
new
Code
chapter’s
requirements
34
is
to
provide
the
commissioner
with
a
yearly
summary
of
an
35
-9-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
9/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
governance
structure,
policies,
1
and
practices
to
permit
the
commissioner
to
understand
the
2
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
corporate
governance
framework.
3
Beginning
in
2016,
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
is
4
required
to
submit
by
June
1,
annually,
a
corporate
governance
5
annual
disclosure
to
the
commissioner
that
contains
material
6
information
necessary
to
permit
the
commissioner
to
gain
an
7
understanding
of
the
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
corporate
8
governance
structure,
policies,
and
practices.
The
disclosure
9
must
be
signed
by
the
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
chief
10
executive
officer
or
secretary
attesting
that
the
corporate
11
practices
described
in
the
disclosure
have
been
implemented
12
and
that
a
copy
of
the
disclosure
has
been
provided
to
the
13
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
board
of
directors
or
the
14
appropriate
committee
of
the
board.
If
an
insurer
is
a
member
15
of
an
insurance
group,
the
insurer
shall
submit
the
disclosure
16
to
the
commissioner
of
insurance
of
the
lead
state
of
the
17
insurance
group
as
determined
by
procedures
contained
in
the
18
financial
analysis
handbook
adopted
by
the
national
association
19
of
insurance
commissioners.
20
For
purposes
of
the
disclosure,
the
insurer
or
insurance
21
group
may
report
information
regarding
corporate
governance
22
at
the
ultimate
parent
controlling
level,
an
intermediate
23
holding
company
level,
or
at
the
individual
legal
entity
24
level
depending
on
how
its
system
of
corporate
governance
is
25
structured.
The
insurer
or
insurance
group
is
encouraged
to
26
make
its
disclosure
at
the
level
at
which
its
risk
tolerance
27
is
determined;
at
the
level
at
which
its
earnings,
capital,
28
liquidity,
operations,
and
reputation
are
overseen
collectively
29
and
the
level
at
which
the
supervision
of
these
factors
is
30
coordinated
and
exercised;
or
at
the
level
at
which
legal
31
liability
for
failure
of
general
corporate
governance
duties
32
would
be
placed,
and
to
indicate
which
of
these
factors
33
were
used
to
determine
the
level
of
reporting,
including
any
34
subsequent
changes.
35
-10-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
10/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
The
commissioner
is
directed
to
adopt
rules
to
administer
1
new
Code
chapter
521H.
2
Documents,
materials,
or
other
information,
including
a
3
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure,
in
the
possession
or
4
control
of
the
insurance
division
of
the
department
of
commerce
5
or
any
other
person
pursuant
to
the
bill
that
is
obtained
by,
6
created
by,
or
disclosed
to
the
commissioner
or
to
any
other
7
person
pursuant
to
the
bill,
is
recognized
as
being
proprietary
8
and
containing
trade
secrets.
Such
documents,
materials,
or
9
other
information,
including
the
disclosure,
is
confidential,
10
is
not
subject
to
Code
chapter
22
(open
records),
shall
be
11
considered
confidential
under
Code
chapter
507
(examination
of
12
insurance
companies),
shall
not
be
subject
to
subpoena,
and
13
shall
not
be
subject
to
discovery
or
admissible
in
evidence
in
14
any
private
civil
action.
The
commissioner
is
authorized
to
15
use
such
information
in
the
furtherance
of
any
regulatory
or
16
legal
action
brought
as
part
of
the
commissioner’s
official
17
duties.
The
commissioner
shall
not
otherwise
make
such
18
information
public
without
the
prior
written
consent
of
19
the
insurer
or
insurance
group.
The
commissioner
or
any
20
other
person
with
access
to
such
information
shall
not
be
21
permitted
or
required
to
testify
in
any
civil
action
concerning
22
confidential
information.
23
In
performing
regulatory
duties,
the
commissioner
may
24
share
confidential
and
privileged
information
with
specified
25
regulatory
and
other
entities
including
certain
third-party
26
consultants,
and
may
receive
such
information
from
specified
27
regulatory
and
other
entities.
28
In
order
to
assist
in
the
performance
of
the
commissioner’s
29
regulatory
duties,
the
commissioner
may
retain,
at
the
30
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
expense,
third-party
31
consultants,
including
attorneys,
actuaries,
accountants,
and
32
other
experts
not
otherwise
part
of
the
commissioner’s
staff,
33
as
necessary
to
assist
in
reviewing
a
disclosure
and
related
34
information
or
ensuring
compliance
with
the
requirements
of
35
-11-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
11/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
the
new
Code
chapter.
Third-party
consultants
retained
are
1
under
the
direction
and
control
of
the
commissioner
and
act
2
in
an
advisory
capacity
only.
Such
third-party
consultants
3
must
verify
that
they
are
free
of
any
conflict
of
interest
4
and
that
they
have
internal
procedures
in
place
to
monitor
5
compliance
if
there
is
a
conflict
and
to
ensure
compliance
with
6
the
confidentiality
standards
and
requirements
of
the
new
Code
7
chapter.
8
In
performing
regulatory
duties,
the
commissioner
is
9
required
to
enter
into
a
written
agreement
with
the
national
10
association
of
insurance
commissioners
or
with
a
third-party
11
consultant
that
governs
the
sharing
and
use
of
information
12
provided
pursuant
to
new
Code
chapter
521H.
The
agreement
13
must
specify
that
those
parties
are
subject
to
the
same
14
confidentiality
standards
and
requirements
governing
the
15
sharing
and
use
of
information
as
the
commissioner;
specify
16
procedures
and
protocols
for
the
confidentiality
and
security
17
of
information
shared
and
require
that
the
recipient
of
such
18
information
agree
in
writing
to
maintain
the
confidentiality
19
and
privileged
status
of
the
information
and
verify
the
20
legal
authority
to
do
so;
specify
that
ownership
of
shared
21
information
remains
with
the
commissioner,
who
directs
its
22
use;
prohibit
storage
of
the
information
in
a
permanent
23
database
after
analysis
is
complete;
require
prompt
notice
to
24
the
commissioner
and
to
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
if
the
25
insurer’s
or
insurance
group’s
information
is
subject
to
a
26
request
or
subpoena
for
disclosure
or
production;
and
require
27
that
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
be
allowed
to
intervene
in
28
any
judicial
or
administrative
action
in
which
the
national
29
association
of
insurance
commissioners
or
a
third-party
30
consultant
may
be
required
to
disclose
confidential
information
31
that
was
shared
pursuant
to
the
new
Code
chapter.
32
The
sharing
of
information
pursuant
to
new
Code
chapter
521H
33
does
not
constitute
a
delegation
of
regulatory
authority
or
34
rulemaking
by
the
commissioner,
or
a
waiver
of
any
applicable
35
-12-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
12/
13
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
privilege
or
claim
of
confidentiality.
1
If
an
insurer
or
insurance
group
fails,
without
just
cause
2
to
timely
file
a
corporate
governance
annual
disclosure
as
3
required
in
new
Code
chapter
521H,
the
commissioner
shall,
4
after
notice
and
hearing,
impose
a
penalty
of
$500
for
each
5
day’s
delay,
up
to
a
maximum
penalty
of
$5,000
for
any
single
6
failure
to
file.
The
penalties
collected
by
the
commissioner
7
are
to
be
paid
to
the
treasurer
of
state
for
deposit
in
the
8
department
of
commerce
revolving
fund
as
provided
in
Code
9
section
505.7.
The
commissioner
may
reduce
the
penalty
if
the
10
insurer
or
insurance
group
demonstrates
that
imposition
of
the
11
penalty
would
constitute
a
financial
hardship
to
the
insurer
12
or
insurance
group.
13
The
provisions
of
the
new
Code
chapter
are
severable,
14
with
the
exception
of
Code
section
521H.6,
relating
to
15
confidentiality,
in
the
event
that
application
of
the
Code
16
chapter
to
any
person
or
circumstance
is
held
to
be
invalid.
17
New
Code
chapter
521H
is
applicable
beginning
on
January
1,
18
2016.
19
-13-
LSB
1288XD
(4)
86
av/nh
13/
13