Wash. Rev. Code § 48.31B.036

Current through 2024

Section 48.31B.036 - Internationally active insurance groups-Group-wide supervision-Commissioner's authority and duties-Costs

(1) The commissioner is authorized to act as the group-wide supervisor for any internationally active insurance group under this section. However, the commissioner may otherwise acknowledge another regulatory official as the group-wide supervisor where the internationally active insurance group:

(a) Does not have substantial insurance operations in the United States;

(b) Has substantial insurance operations in the United States, but not in this state; or

(c) Has substantial insurance operations in the United States and this state, but the commissioner has determined under the factors set forth in subsections (2) and (6) of this section that the other regulatory official is the appropriate group-wide supervisor.

An insurance holding company system that does not otherwise qualify as an internationally active insurance group may request that the commissioner make a determination or acknowledgment as to a group-wide supervisor under this section.

(2) In cooperation with other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies, the commissioner must identify a single group-wide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group. The commissioner may determine that the commissioner is the appropriate group-wide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group that conducts substantial insurance operations concentrated in this state. However, the commissioner may acknowledge that a regulatory official from another jurisdiction is the appropriate group-wide supervisor for the internationally active insurance group. The commissioner shall consider the following factors when making a determination or acknowledgment under this subsection:

(a) The place of domicile of the insurers within the internationally active insurance group that hold the largest share of the group's written premiums, assets, or liabilities;

(b) The place of domicile of the top-tiered insurer(s) in the insurance holding company system of the internationally active insurance group;

(c) The location of the executive offices or largest operational offices of the internationally active insurance group;

(d) Whether another regulatory official is acting or is seeking to act as the group-wide supervisor under a regulatory system that the commissioner determines to be:

(i) Substantially similar to the system of regulation provided under the laws of this state; or

(ii) Otherwise sufficient in terms of providing for group-wide supervision, enterprise risk analysis, and cooperation with other regulatory officials; and

(e) Whether another regulatory official acting or seeking to act as the group-wide supervisor provides the commissioner with reasonably reciprocal recognition and cooperation.

However, a commissioner identified under this section as the group-wide supervisor may determine that it is appropriate to acknowledge another supervisor to serve as the group-wide supervisor. The acknowledgment of the group-wide supervisor must be made after consideration of the factors listed in (a) through (e) of this subsection, and must be made in cooperation with and subject to the acknowledgment of other regulatory officials involved with supervision of members of the internationally active insurance group, and in consultation with the internationally active insurance group.

(3) When another regulatory official is acting as the group-wide supervisor of an internationally active insurance group, the commissioner shall acknowledge that regulatory official as the group-wide supervisor. However, in the event of a material change in the internationally active insurance group that results in:

(a) The internationally active insurance group's insurers domiciled in this state holding the largest share of the group's premiums, assets, or liabilities; or

(b) This state being the place of domicile of the top-tiered insurer(s) in the insurance holding company system of the internationally active insurance group,

the commissioner shall make a determination or acknowledgment as to the appropriate group-wide supervisor for the internationally active insurance group under subsection (2) of this section.

(4) Under RCW 48.31B.035 the commissioner is authorized to collect from any insurer registered under RCW 48.31B.025 all information necessary to determine whether the commissioner may act as the group-wide supervisor of an internationally active insurance group or if the commissioner may acknowledge another regulatory official to act as the group-wide supervisor. Prior to issuing a determination that an internationally active insurance group is subject to group-wide supervision by the commissioner, the commissioner shall notify the insurer registered under RCW 48.31B.025 and the ultimate controlling person within the internationally active insurance group. The internationally active insurance group has no less than thirty days to provide the commissioner with additional information pertinent to the pending determination. The commissioner shall publish in the Washington State Register and on the commissioner's website the identity of internationally active insurance groups that the commissioner has determined are subject to group-wide supervision by the commissioner.

(5) If the commissioner is the group-wide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group, the commissioner is authorized to engage in any of the following group-wide supervision activities:

(a) Assess the enterprise risks within the internationally active insurance group to ensure that:

(i) The material financial condition and liquidity risks to the members of the internationally active insurance group that are engaged in the business of insurance are identified by management; and

(ii) Reasonable and effective mitigation measures are in place;

(b) Request from any member of an internationally active insurance group subject to the commissioner's supervision, information necessary and appropriate to assess enterprise risk, including, but not limited to, information about the members of the internationally active insurance group regarding:

(i) Governance, risk assessment, and management;

(ii) Capital adequacy; and

(iii) Material intercompany transactions;

(c) Coordinate and, through the authority of the regulatory officials of the jurisdiction where members of the internationally active insurance group are domiciled, compel development and implementation of reasonable measures designed to ensure that the internationally active insurance group is able to timely recognize and mitigate enterprise risks to members of the internationally active insurance group that are engaged in the business of insurance;

(d) Communicate with other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies for members within the internationally active insurance group and share relevant information subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 48.31B.038, through supervisory colleges as set forth in RCW 48.31B.037 or otherwise;

(e) Enter into agreements with or obtain documents from any insurer registered under RCW 48.31B.025, any member of the internationally active insurance group, and any other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies for members of the internationally active insurance group, providing the basis for or otherwise clarifying the commissioner's role as group-wide supervisor, including provisions for resolving disputes with other regulatory officials. The agreements or documentation shall not serve as evidence in any proceeding that any insurer or person within an insurance holding company system not domiciled or incorporated in this state is doing business in this state or is otherwise subject to jurisdiction in this state; and

(f) Other group-wide supervision activities, consistent with the authorities and purposes of this subsection (5), as considered necessary by the commissioner.

(6) If the commissioner acknowledges that another regulatory official from a jurisdiction that is not accredited by the national association of insurance commissioners is the group-wide supervisor, the commissioner is authorized to reasonably cooperate, through supervisory colleges or otherwise, with group-wide supervision undertaken by the group-wide supervisor. However:

(a) The commissioner's cooperation must be in compliance with the laws of this state; and

(b) The regulatory official acknowledged as the group-wide supervisor must also recognize and cooperate with the commissioner's activities as a group-wide supervisor for other internationally active insurance groups where applicable. Where the recognition and cooperation is not reasonably reciprocal, the commissioner is authorized to refuse recognition and cooperation.

(7) The commissioner is authorized to enter into agreements with or obtain documentation from any insurer registered under RCW 48.31B.025, any affiliate of the insurer, and other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies for members of the internationally active insurance group, that provide the basis for or otherwise clarify a regulatory official's role as group-wide supervisor.

(8) The commissioner may adopt rules necessary for the implementation and administration of this section.

(9) A registered insurer subject to this section is liable for and must pay the reasonable expenses of the commissioner's participation in the administration of this section, including the engagement of attorneys, actuaries, and other professionals and all reasonable travel expenses.

RCW 48.31B.036

Added by 2020 c 243,§ 3, eff. 6/11/2020.