§ 29-101. Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact
West's Annotated Code of MarylandInsurance
MD Code, Insurance, § 29-101
§ 29-101. Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact
The State of Maryland hereby enters the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact as set forth in this section. The Compact shall take effect in accordance with Article XIII of the Compact. The text of the Compact is as follows:
The purposes of this Compact are, through means of joint and cooperative action among the compacting states:
For purposes of this Compact:
11. “Product” means the form of a policy or contract, including any application, endorsement, or related form which is attached to and made a part of the policy or contract, and any evidence of coverage or certificate, for an individual or group annuity, life insurance, disability income, or long-term care insurance product that an insurer is authorized to issue.
12. “Rule” means a statement of general or particular applicability and future effect promulgated by the Commission, including a uniform standard developed pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describing the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of the Commission, which shall have the force and effect of law in the compacting states.
15. “Uniform standard” means a standard adopted by the Commission for a product line, pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, and shall include all of the product requirements in the aggregate; provided, that each uniform standard shall be construed, whether express or implied, to prohibit the use of any inconsistent, misleading, or ambiguous provisions in a product, and the form of the product made available to the public shall not be unfair, inequitable, or against public policy as determined by the Commission.
1. The compacting states hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the “Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission.” Pursuant to Article IV, the Commission will have the power to develop uniform standards for product lines, receive and provide prompt review of products filed therewith, and give approval to those product filings satisfying applicable uniform standards; provided that it is not intended for the Commission to be the exclusive entity for receipt and review of insurance product filings. Nothing herein shall prohibit any insurer from filing its product in any state in which the insurer is licensed to conduct the business of insurance; and any such filing shall be subject to the laws of the state where filed.
The Commission shall have the following powers:
2. to exercise its rule-making authority and establish reasonable uniform standards for products covered under the Compact, and any advertisement related thereto, which shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the compacting states, but only for those products filed with the Commission; provided, that a compacting state shall have the right to opt out of such uniform standard pursuant to Article VII, to the extent and in the manner provided by this Compact; and provided further, that any uniform standard established by the Commission for long-term care insurance products may provide the same or greater protections for consumers as, but shall not provide less than, those protections set forth in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner's Long-Term Care Insurance Model Act and Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation, respectively, adopted as of 2001. The Commission shall consider whether any subsequent amendments to the NAIC Long- Term Care Insurance Model Act or the Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation adopted by the NAIC require amending of the uniform standards established by the Commission for long-term care insurance products;
3. to receive and review in an expeditious manner products filed with the Commission, and rate filings for disability income and long-term care insurance products, and give approval of those products and rate filings that satisfy the applicable uniform standard, where such approval shall have the force and effect of law and be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided by the Compact;
4. to receive and review in an expeditious manner advertisement relating to long-term care insurance products for which uniform standards have been adopted by the Commission, and give approval to all advertisement that satisfies the applicable uniform standard. For any product covered under this Compact, other than long-term care insurance products, the Commission shall have the authority to require an insurer to submit all or any part of its advertisement with respect to that product for review or approval prior to use, if the Commission determines that the nature of the product is such that an advertisement of the product could have the capacity or tendency to mislead the public. The actions of the Commission as provided in this section shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided in the Compact;
12. to hire employees, professionals, or specialists, and elect or appoint officers and to fix their compensation, define their duties, give them appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the Compact, and determine their qualifications; and to establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to, among other things, conflicts of interest, rates of compensation, and qualifications of personnel;
A. Each compacting state shall have and be limited to one member. Each member shall be qualified to serve in that capacity pursuant to applicable law of the compacting state. Any member may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state from which the member is appointed. Any vacancy occurring in the Commission shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the compacting state in which the vacancy exists. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the manner in which a compacting state determines the election or appointment and qualification of its own commissioner.
B. Each member shall be entitled to one vote and shall have an opportunity to participate in the governance of the Commission in accordance with the bylaws. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, no action of the Commission with respect to the promulgation of a uniform standard shall be effective unless two-thirds of the members vote in favor thereof.
IV. providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the Commission that consists of a majority of Commission members, ensuring reasonable advance notice of each such meeting, and providing for the right of citizens to attend each such meeting with enumerated exceptions designed to protect the public's interest, the privacy of individuals, and insurers' proprietary information, including trade secrets. The Commission may meet in camera only after a majority of the entire membership votes to close a meeting in whole or in part. As soon as practicable, the Commission must make public: (i) a copy of the vote to close the meeting revealing the vote to each member with no proxy votes allowed; and (ii) votes taken during the meeting;
VI. providing reasonable standards and procedures for the establishment of the personnel policies and programs of the Commission. Notwithstanding any civil service or other similar laws of any compacting state, the bylaws shall exclusively govern the personnel policies and programs of the Commission;
II. establishing and overseeing an organizational structure within, and appropriate procedures for, the Commission to provide for the creation of uniform standards and other rules, receipt and review of product filings, administrative and technical support functions, review of decisions regarding the disapproval of a product filing, and the review of elections made by a compacting state to opt out of a uniform standard; provided that a uniform standard shall not be submitted to the compacting states for adoption unless approved by two-thirds of the members of the management committee;
D. The management committee, subject to the approval of the Commission, may appoint or retain an executive director for such period, on such terms and conditions and for such compensation as the Commission may deem appropriate. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the Commission, but shall not be a member of the Commission. The executive director shall hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the Commission.
A. A legislative committee comprised of state legislators or their designees shall be established to monitor the operations of, and make recommendations to, the Commission, including the management committee; provided that the manner of selection and term of any legislative committee member shall be as set forth in the bylaws. Prior to the adoption by the Commission of any uniform standard, revision of the bylaws, annual budget, or other significant matter as may be provided in the bylaws, the management committee shall consult with and report to the legislative committee.
The Commission shall maintain its corporate books and records in accordance with the bylaws.
A. The members, officers, executive director, employees, and representatives of the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred, within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit and/or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of that person.
B. The Commission shall defend any member, officer, executive director, employee, or representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining the person's own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from that person's intentional or willful and wanton misconduct.
C. The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, executive director, employee, or representative of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of that person.
2. Each member of the Commission shall have the right and power to cast a vote to which that compacting state is entitled and to participate in the business and affairs of the Commission. A member shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for members' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication.
1. Rule making authority. The Commission shall promulgate reasonable rules, including uniform standards, and operating procedures in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of this Compact. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Commission exercises its rule making authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of this Compact, or the powers granted under this Compact, then such an action by the Commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect.
2. Rule making procedure. Rules and operating procedures shall be made pursuant to a rule making process that conforms to the Model State Administrative Procedure Act of 1981, as amended, as may be appropriate to the operations of the Commission. Before the Commission adopts a uniform standard, the Commission shall give written notice to the relevant state legislative committees in each compacting state responsible for insurance issues of its intention to adopt the uniform standard. The Commission, in adopting a uniform standard, shall consider fully all submitted materials and issue a concise explanation of its decision.
3. Effective date and opt out of a uniform standard. A uniform standard shall become effective 90 days after its promulgation by the Commission or such later date as the Commission may determine; provided, however, that a compacting state may opt out of a uniform standard as provided in this article. “Opt out” shall be defined as any action by a compacting state to decline to adopt or participate in a promulgated uniform standard. All other rules and operating procedures, and amendments thereto, shall become effective as of the date specified in each rule, operating procedure, or amendment.
4. Opt out procedure. A compacting state may opt out of a uniform standard, either by legislation or regulation duly promulgated by the insurance department under the compacting state's administrative procedure act or duly promulgated pursuant to the compacting state's law. If a compacting state elects to opt out of a uniform standard by regulation, it must: (i) give written notice to the Commission no later than 10 business days after the uniform standard is promulgated, or at a time the state becomes a compacting state; and (ii) find that the uniform standard does not provide reasonable protections to the citizens of the state, given the conditions in the state. The commissioner shall make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law, based on a preponderance of the evidence, detailing the conditions in the state which warrant a departure from the uniform standard and determining that the uniform standard would not reasonably protect the citizens of the state. The commissioner must consider and balance the following factors and find that the conditions in the state and needs of the citizens of the state outweigh: (i) the intent of the legislature to participate in, and the benefits of, an interstate agreement to establish national uniform consumer protections for the products subject to this Compact; and (ii) the presumption that a uniform standard adopted by the Commission provides reasonable protections to consumers of the relevant product.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a compacting state may, at the time of its enactment of this Compact, prospectively opt out of all uniform standards involving long-term care insurance products by expressly providing for such opt out in the enacted Compact, and such an opt out shall not be treated as a material variance in the offer or acceptance of any state to participate in this Compact. Such an opt out shall be effective at the time of enactment of this Compact by the compacting state and shall apply to all existing uniform standards involving long-term care insurance products and those subsequently promulgated.
Once the opt out of a uniform standard by a compacting state becomes effective as provided under the laws of that state, the uniform standard shall have no further force and effect in that state unless and until the legislation or regulation implementing the opt out is repealed or otherwise becomes ineffective under the laws of the state. If a compacting state opts out of a uniform standard after the uniform standard has been made effective in that state, the opt out shall have the same prospective effect as provided under Article XIV for withdrawals.
6. Stay of uniform standard. If a compacting state has formally initiated the process of opting out of a uniform standard by regulation, and while the regulatory opt out is pending, the compacting state may petition the Commission, at least 15 days before the effective date of the uniform standard, to stay the effectiveness of the uniform standard in that state. The Commission may grant a stay if it determines the regulatory opt out is being pursued in a reasonable manner and there is a likelihood of success. If a stay is granted or extended by the Commission, the stay or extension thereof may postpone the effective date by up to 90 days, unless affirmatively extended by the Commission; provided, that a stay may not be permitted to remain in effect for more than 1 year unless the compacting state can show extraordinary circumstances which warrant a continuance of the stay, including the existence of a legal challenge which prevents the compacting state from opting out. A stay may be terminated by the Commission on notice that the rule making process has been terminated.
7. Not later than 30 days after a rule or operating procedure is promulgated, any person may file a petition for judicial review of the rule or operating procedure; provided, that the filing of such a petition shall not stay or otherwise prevent the rule or operating procedure from becoming effective unless the court finds that the petitioner has a substantial likelihood of success. The court shall give deference to the actions of the Commission consistent with applicable law and shall not find the rule or operating procedure to be unlawful if the rule or operating procedure represents a reasonable exercise of the Commission's authority.
1. The Commission shall promulgate rules establishing conditions and procedures for public inspection and copying of its information and official records, except such information and records involving the privacy of individuals and insurers' trade secrets. The Commission may promulgate additional rules under which it may make available to federal and state agencies, including law-enforcement agencies, records and information otherwise exempt from disclosure, and may enter into agreements with such agencies to receive or exchange information or records subject to nondisclosure and confidentiality provisions.
2. Except as to privileged records, data, and information, the laws of any compacting state pertaining to confidentiality or nondisclosure shall not relieve any compacting state commissioner of the duty to disclose any relevant records, data, or information to the Commission; provided, that disclosure to the Commission shall not be deemed to waive or otherwise affect any confidentiality requirement; and further provided, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Compact, the Commission shall not be subject to the compacting state's laws pertaining to confidentiality and nondisclosure with respect to records, data, and information in its possession. Confidential information of the Commission shall remain confidential after such information is provided to any commissioner.
3. The Commission shall monitor compacting states for compliance with duly adopted bylaws, rules, including uniform standards, and operating procedures. The Commission shall notify any noncomplying compacting state in writing of its noncompliance with Commission bylaws, rules, or operating procedures. If a noncomplying compacting state fails to remedy its noncompliance within the time specified in the notice of noncompliance, the compacting state shall be deemed to be in default as set forth in Article XIV.
4. The commissioner of any state in which an insurer is authorized to do business, or is conducting the business of insurance, shall continue to exercise the commissioner's authority to oversee the market regulation of the activities of the insurer in accordance with the provisions of the state's law. The commissioner's enforcement of compliance with the Compact is governed by the following provisions:
A. With respect to the commissioner's market regulation of a product or advertisement that is approved by or certified to the Commission, the content of the product or advertisement shall not constitute a violation of the provisions, standards, or requirements of the Compact except on a final order of the Commission, issued at the request of a commissioner after prior notice to the insurer and an opportunity for a hearing before the Commission.
B. Before a commissioner may bring an action for violation of any provision, standard, or requirement of the Compact relating to the content of an advertisement not approved by or certified to the Commission, the Commission, or an authorized Commission officer or employee, must authorize the action. However, authorization pursuant to this paragraph does not require notice to the insurer, opportunity for a hearing, disclosure of requests for authorization, or disclosure of records of the Commission's action on such requests.
The Commission shall attempt, on the request of a member, to resolve any disputes or other issues that are subject to this Compact and which may arise between two or more compacting states, or between compacting states and non-compacting states, and the Commission shall promulgate an operating procedure providing for resolution of such disputes.
1. Insurers and third-party filers seeking to have a product approved by the Commission shall file the product with, and pay applicable filing fees to, the Commission. Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to restrict or otherwise prevent an insurer from filing its product with the insurance department in any state in which the insurer is licensed to conduct the business of insurance, and such filing shall be subject to the laws of the states where filed.
2. The Commission shall establish appropriate filing and review processes and procedures pursuant to Commission rules and operating procedures. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Commission shall promulgate rules to establish conditions and procedures under which the Commission will provide public access to product filing information. In establishing such rules, the Commission shall consider the interests of the public in having access to such information, as well as the protection of personal medical and financial information and trade secrets that may be contained in a product filing or supporting information.
1. Not later than 30 days after the Commission has given notice of a disapproved product or advertisement filed with the Commission, the insurer or third-party filer whose filing was disapproved may appeal the determination to a review panel appointed by the Commission. The Commission shall promulgate rules to establish procedures for appointing such review panels and provide for notice and a hearing. An allegation that the Commission, in disapproving a product or advertisement filed with the Commission, acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or in a manner that is an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with the law, is subject to judicial review in accordance with Article III, Section 4.
2. The Commission shall have authority to monitor, review, and reconsider products and advertisement subsequent to their filing or approval on a finding that the product does not meet the relevant uniform standard. Where appropriate, the Commission may withdraw or modify its approval after proper notice and hearing, subject to the appeal process in Section 1 of this article.
1. The Commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment and organization. To fund the cost of its initial operations, the Commission may accept contributions and other forms of funding from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, compacting states, and other sources. Contributions and other forms of funding from other sources shall be of such a nature that the independence of the Commission concerning the performance of its duties shall not be compromised.
6. The Commission shall keep complete and accurate accounts of all its internal receipts, including grants and donations, and disbursements of all funds under its control. The internal financial accounts of the Commission shall be subject to the accounting procedures established under its bylaws. The financial accounts and reports, including the system of internal controls and procedures of the Commission, shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant. On the determination of the Commission, but no less frequently than every 3 years, the review of the independent auditor shall include a management and performance audit of the Commission. The Commission shall make an annual report to the governor and legislature of the compacting states, which shall include a report of the independent audit. The Commission's internal accounts shall not be confidential and such materials may be shared with the commissioner of any compacting state on request; provided, however, that any work papers related to any internal or independent audit and any information regarding the privacy of individuals and insurers' proprietary information, including trade secrets, shall remain confidential.
2. The Compact shall become effective and binding on legislative enactment of the Compact into law by two compacting states; provided, that the Commission shall become effective for purposes of adopting uniform standards for, reviewing, and giving approval or disapproval of, products filed with the Commission that satisfy applicable uniform standards only after 26 states are compacting states; or, alternatively, by states representing greater than 40 percent of the premium volume for life insurance, annuity, disability income, and long-term care insurance products, based on records of the NAIC for the prior year. Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding as to any other compacting state on enactment of the Compact into law by that state.
B. The effective date of withdrawal is the effective date of the repealing statute. However, the withdrawal shall not apply to any product filings approved or self-certified, or any advertisement of such products, on the date the repealing statute becomes effective, except by mutual agreement of the Commission and the withdrawing state unless the approval is rescinded by the withdrawing state as provided in subsection E of this section.
E. The withdrawing state is responsible for all obligations, duties, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including any obligations, the performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal, except to the extent those obligations may have been released or relinquished by mutual agreement of the Commission and the withdrawing state. The Commission's approval of products and advertisement prior to the effective date of withdrawal shall continue to be effective and be given full force and effect in the withdrawing state, unless formally rescinded by the withdrawing state in the same manner as provided by the laws of the withdrawing state for the prospective disapproval of products or advertisement previously approved under state law.
A. If the Commission determines that any compacting state has at any time defaulted (defaulting state) in the performance of any of its obligations or responsibilities under the Compact, the bylaws, or duly promulgated rules or operating procedures, then, after notice and a hearing as set forth in the bylaws, all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by this Compact on the defaulting state shall be suspended from the effective date of default as fixed by the Commission. The grounds for default include the failure of a compacting state to perform its obligations or responsibilities and any other grounds designated in Commission rules. The Commission immediately shall notify the defaulting state in writing of the defaulting state's suspension pending a cure of the default. The Commission shall stipulate the conditions and the time period within which the defaulting state must cure its default. If the defaulting state fails to cure the default within the time period specified by the Commission, the defaulting state shall be terminated from the Compact and all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by this Compact shall be terminated from the effective date of termination.
B. Product approvals by the Commission or product self-certifications, or any advertisement in connection with such product, that are in force on the effective date of termination shall remain in force in the defaulting state in the same manner as if the defaulting state had withdrawn voluntarily pursuant to Section 1 of this article.
B. For any product approved by or certified to the Commission, the rules, uniform standards, and any other requirements of the Commission shall constitute the exclusive provisions applicable to the content, approval, and certification of such products. For an advertisement that is subject to the Commission's authority, any rule, uniform standard, or other requirement of the Commission which governs the content of the advertisement shall constitute the exclusive provision that a commissioner may apply to the content of the advertisement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action taken by the Commission shall abrogate or restrict: (i) the access of any person to state courts; (ii) remedies available under state law related to breach of contract, tort, or other laws not specifically directed to the content of the product; (iii) state law relating to the construction of insurance contracts; or (iv) the authority of the attorney general of the state, including maintaining any actions or proceedings, as authorized by law.
D. In the event any provision of this Compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any compacting state, the obligations, duties, powers, or jurisdiction sought to be conferred by that provision on the Commission shall be ineffective as to that compacting state, and those obligations, duties, powers, or jurisdiction shall remain in the compacting state and shall be exercised by the agency thereof to which those obligations, duties, powers, or jurisdiction are delegated by law in effect at the time this Compact becomes effective.
Credits
Added by Acts 2005, c. 508, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2006.
MD Code, Insurance, § 29-101, MD INSURANCE § 29-101
Current with all legislation from the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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