Bill H.881

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1100 FILED ON: 1/16/2013

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 881

By Mr. Costello of Newburyport, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 881) of Michael A. Costello relative to credit for reinsurance requirements. Financial Services.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to credit for reinsurance requirements.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 20A of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (1), and inserting thereof the following subsection: -

(1) Credit for reinsurance shall be allowed a domestic ceding insurer as either an asset or a deduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of paragraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) or (F) of this subsection. If meeting the requirements of paragraph (C), the requirements of paragraph (G) shall also be met. If meeting the requirements of paragraph (D), the requirements of paragraphs (G) and (H) shall also be met.

SECTION 2. Section 20A of chapter 175 of the General Laws, subsection (1), is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (E), and inserting thereof the following paragraph:

E. Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the commissioner as a reinsurer in this state and secures its obligations in accordance with the requirements of this subsection.

(1) In order to be eligible for certification, the assuming insurer shall meet the following requirements:

(a) The assuming insurer must be domiciled and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in a qualified jurisdiction, as determined by the commissioner pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection;

(b) The assuming insurer must maintain minimum capital and surplus, or its equivalent, in an amount to be determined by the commissioner pursuant to regulation;

(c) The assuming insurer must maintain financial strength ratings from two or more rating agencies deemed acceptable by the commissioner pursuant to regulation;

(d) The assuming insurer must agree to submit to the jurisdiction of this state, appoint the commissioner as its agent for service of process in this state, and agree to provide security for 100 percent of the assuming insurer’s liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by U.S. ceding insurers if it resists enforcement of a final U.S. judgment;

(e) The assuming insurer must agree to meet applicable information filing requirements as determined by the commissioner, both with respect to an initial application for certification and on an ongoing basis; and

(f) The assuming insurer must satisfy any other requirements for certification deemed relevant by the commissioner.

(2) An association including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters may be a certified reinsurer. In order to be eligible for certification, in addition to satisfying requirements of paragraph (1):

(a) The association shall satisfy its minimum capital and surplus requirements through the capital and surplus equivalents (net of liabilities) of the association and its members, which shall include a joint central fund that may be applied to any unsatisfied obligation of the association or any of its members, in an amount determined by the commissioner to provide adequate protection;

(b) The incorporated members of the association shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the association and shall be subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the association’s domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members; and

(c) Within ninety (90) days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the association’s domiciliary regulator, the association shall provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the association’s domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or if a certification is unavailable, financial statements, prepared by independent public accountants, of each underwriter member of the association.

(3) The commissioner shall create and publish a list of qualified jurisdictions, under which an assuming insurer licensed and domiciled in such jurisdiction is eligible to be considered for certification by the commissioner as a certified reinsurer.

(a) In order to determine whether the domiciliary jurisdiction of a non- U.S. assuming insurer is eligible to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction, the commissioner shall evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the reinsurance supervisory system of the jurisdiction, both initially and on an ongoing basis, and consider the rights, benefits and the extent of reciprocal recognition afforded by the non-U.S. jurisdiction to reinsurers licensed and domiciled in the U.S. A qualified jurisdiction must agree to share information and cooperate with the commissioner with respect to all certified reinsurers domiciled within that jurisdiction. A jurisdiction may not be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction if the commissioner has determined that the jurisdiction does not adequately and promptly enforce final U.S. judgments and arbitration awards. Additional factors may be considered in the discretion of the commissioner.

(b) A list of qualified jurisdictions shall be published through the NAIC Committee Process. The commissioner shall consider this list in determining qualified jurisdictions. If the commissioner approves a jurisdiction as qualified that does not appear on the list of qualified jurisdictions, the commissioner shall provide thoroughly documented justification in accordance with criteria to be developed under regulations.

(c) U.S. jurisdictions that meet the requirement for accreditation under the NAIC financial standards and accreditation program shall be recognized as qualified jurisdictions.

(d) If a certified reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction ceases to be a qualified jurisdiction, the commissioner has the discretion to suspend the reinsurer’s certification indefinitely, in lieu of revocation.

(4) The commissioner shall assign a rating to each certified reinsurer, giving due consideration to the financial strength ratings that have been assigned by rating agencies deemed acceptable to the commissioner pursuant to regulation. The commissioner shall publish a list of all certified reinsurers and their ratings.

(5) A certified reinsurer shall secure obligations assumed from U.S. ceding insurers under this subsection at a level consistent with its rating, as specified in regulations promulgated by the commissioner.

(a) In order for a domestic ceding insurer to qualify for full financial statement credit for reinsurance ceded to a certified reinsurer, the certified reinsurer shall maintain security in a form acceptable to the commissioner and consistent with the provisions of subsection 2, or in a multibeneficiary trust in accordance with paragraph D of this subsection, except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

(b) If a certified reinsurer maintains a trust to fully secure its obligations subject to paragraph D of this subsection, and chooses to secure its obligations incurred as a certified reinsurer in the form of a multibeneficiary trust, the certified reinsurer shall maintain separate trust accounts for its obligations incurred under reinsurance agreements issued or renewed as a certified reinsurer with reduced security as permitted by this subsection or comparable laws of other U.S. jurisdictions and for its obligations subject to paragraph D of this subsection. It shall be a condition to the grant of certification under paragraph E of this subsection that the certified reinsurer shall have bound itself, by the language of the trust and agreement with the commissioner with principal regulatory oversight of each such trust account, to fund, upon termination of any such trust account, out of the remaining surplus of such trust any deficiency of any other such trust account.

(c) The minimum trusteed surplus requirements provided in paragraph D of this subsection are not applicable with respect to a multibeneficiary trust maintained by a certified reinsurer for the purpose of securing obligations incurred under this subsection, except that such trust shall maintain a minimum trusteed surplus of $10,000,000.

(d) With respect to obligations incurred by a certified reinsurer under this subsection, if the security is insufficient, the commissioner shall reduce the allowable credit by an amount proportionate to the deficiency, and has the discretion to impose further reductions in allowable credit upon finding that there is a material risk that the certified reinsurer’s obligations will not be paid in full when due.

(e) For purposes of this subsection, a certified reinsurer whose certification has been terminated for any reason shall be treated as a certified reinsurer required to secure 100 percent of its obligations.

(i) As used in this subsection, the term “terminated” refers to revocation, suspension, voluntary surrender and inactive status.

(ii) If the commissioner continues to assign a higher rating as permitted by other provisions of this section, this requirement does not apply to a certified reinsurer in inactive status or to a reinsurer whose certification has been suspended.

(6) If an applicant for certification has been certified as a reinsurer in an NAIC accredited jurisdiction, the commissioner has the discretion to defer to that jurisdiction’s certification, and has the discretion to defer to the rating assigned by that jurisdiction, and such assuming insurer shall be considered to be a certified reinsurer in this state.

(7) A certified reinsurer that ceases to assume new business in this state may request to maintain its certification in inactive status in order to continue to qualify for a reduction in security for its in-force business. An inactive certified reinsurer shall continue to comply with all applicable requirements of this subsection, and the commissioner shall assign a rating that takes into account, if relevant, the reasons why the reinsurer is not assuming new business.

SECTION 3. Section 20A of chapter 175 of the General Laws, subsection (1), is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (F), and inserting thereof the following paragraph:

(F) Credit shall be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of paragraph (A), (B), (C) (D) or (E) but only with respect to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where such reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction.

SECTION 4. Section 20A of chapter 175 of the General Laws, subsection (1), is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (G), and inserting thereof the following paragraph:

(G) If the assuming insurer is not licensed or accredited to transact insurance or reinsurance in the commonwealth, the credit permitted by paragraphs (C) and (D) shall not be allowed unless the assuming insurer agrees in the reinsurance agreements:

(i) That in the event of the failure of the assuming insurer to perform its obligations under the terms of the reinsurance agreement, the assuming insurer, at the request of the ceding insurer, shall submit to the jurisdiction of an alternative dispute resolution panel or any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, will comply with all requirements necessary to give such panel or court jurisdiction, and will abide by the final decision of such panel or court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal of a decision by such panel or court; and

(ii) To designate the commissioner or a designated attorney as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding company.

This provision is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if such an obligation is created in the agreement.

SECTION 5. Section 20A of chapter 175 of the General Laws, subsection (1), is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (G), the following new paragraph:

(H) If the assuming insurer does not meet the requirements of paragraphs (A), (B) or (C), the credit permitted by paragraph (D) shall not be allowed unless the assuming insurer agrees in substance in the trust agreements to the following conditions:

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because it contains an amount less than the amount set forth in paragraph (D), or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile, the trustee shall comply with an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.

(2) The assets shall be distributed by and claims of United States trust beneficiaries shall be filed with and valued by the commissioner with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled that are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurance companies.

(3) If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines that the assets of the trust fund or any part thereof are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States ceding insurers which are United States trust beneficiaries, the assets or part thereof shall be returned by the commissioner with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.

(4) The grantor shall waive any right otherwise available to it under United States law that is inconsistent with this provision.

Name:	District/Address:	Date Added:
Michael A. Costello	1st Essex	1/16/2013