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§ 323.5. Examination reports

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 40 P.S. Insurance

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 40 P.S. Insurance (Refs & Annos)
Chapter 1. Insurance Department (Refs & Annos)
Article IX. Examinations (Refs & Annos)
40 P.S. § 323.5
§ 323.5. Examination reports
(a) All examination reports shall be comprised of only facts appearing upon the books, records or other documents of the company, its agents or other persons examined or as ascertained from the testimony of its officers or agents or other persons examined concerning its affairs and such conclusions and recommendations as the examiners find reasonably warranted from such facts.
(b) No later than sixty days following completion of the examination, the examiner in charge shall file with the department a verified written report of examination under oath. Upon receipt of the verified report, the department shall transmit the report to the company examined, together with a notice which shall afford such company examined a reasonable opportunity of not more than thirty days to make a written submission or rebuttal with respect to any matters contained in the examination report.
(c) Within thirty days of the end of the period allowed for the receipt of written submissions or rebuttals, the commissioner or his designee shall fully consider and review the report, together with any written submissions or rebuttals and any relevant portions of the examiner's workpapers, and enter an order:
(1) adopting the examination report as filed or with modification or corrections. If the examination report reveals that the company is operating in violation of any law, regulation or prior order of the department, the commissioner may order the company to take any action the commissioner considers necessary and appropriate to cure such violation;
(2) rejecting the examination report with directions to the examiners to reopen the examination for purposes of obtaining additional data, documentation or information and refiling pursuant to subsection (a); or
(3) calling for an investigatory hearing with no less than twenty days' notice to the company for purposes of obtaining additional documentation, data, information and testimony.
(d)(1) All orders entered pursuant to subsection (c)(1) shall be accompanied by findings and conclusions resulting from the commissioner's consideration and review of the examination report, relevant examiner workpapers and any written submissions or rebuttals. Any such order shall be considered a final administrative decision and may be appealed to the commissioner pursuant to 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to administrative law and procedure), and shall be served upon the company by certified mail, together with a copy of the adopted examination report. Within thirty days of the issuance of the adopted report, the company shall file affidavits executed by each of its directors stating under oath that they have received a copy of the adopted report and related orders.
(2) Any hearing conducted under subsection (c)(3) by the department or its authorized representative shall be conducted as a nonadversarial confidential investigatory proceeding as necessary for the resolution of any inconsistencies, discrepancies or disputed issues apparent upon the face of the filed examination report or raised by or as a result of the department's review of relevant workpapers or by the written submission or rebuttal of the company. Within twenty days of the conclusion of any such hearing, the commissioner shall enter an order pursuant to subsection (c)(1).
(3) The commissioner shall not appoint an examiner as an authorized representative to conduct the hearing. The hearing shall proceed expeditiously with discovery by the company limited to the examiner's workpapers which tend to substantiate any assertions set forth in any written submission or rebuttal. The commissioner or his representative may issue subpoenas for the attendance of any witnesses or the production of any documents deemed relevant to the investigation whether under the control of the department, the company or other persons. The documents produced shall be included in the record and testimony taken by the commissioner or his representative shall be under oath and preserved for the record.
(4) The hearing shall proceed with the commissioner or his designee posing questions to the persons subpoenaed. Thereafter the company and the department may present testimony relevant to the investigation. Cross examination shall be conducted only by the commissioner or his designee. The company and the department shall be permitted to make closing statements and may be represented by counsel of their choice.
(5) Nothing contained in this section shall require the department to disclose any information or records which would indicate or show the existence or content of any investigation or activity of a criminal justice agency.
(e)(1) Upon the adoption of the examination report under subsection (c)(1), the department shall continue to hold the content of the examination report as private and confidential information for a period of thirty days except to the extent provided in subsection (b). Thereafter, the department may open the report for public inspection so long as no court of competent jurisdiction has stayed its publication.
(2) Nothing contained in this article shall prevent or be construed as prohibiting the commissioner from disclosing the content of an examination report, preliminary examination report or results or any matter relating thereto to the Insurance Department of this or any other state or country or to law enforcement officials of this or any other state or agency of the Federal Government at any time so long as such agency or office receiving the report or matters relating thereto agrees in writing to hold it confidential and in a manner consistent with this article.
(3) In the event the department determines that regulatory action is appropriate as a result of any examination, it may initiate any proceedings or actions as provided by law.
(f) All working papers, recorded information, documents and copies thereof produced by, obtained by or disclosed to the department or any other person in the course of an examination made under this article shall be given confidential treatment and are not subject to subpoena and may not be made public by the department or any other person except to the extent provided in subsection (e). Access may also be granted to the NAIC. Such parties must agree in writing prior to receiving the information to provide to it the same confidential treatment as required by the act of June 21, 1957 (P.L. 390, No. 212), referred to as the Right-to-Know Law,1 unless the prior written consent of the company to which it pertains has been obtained.

Credits

1921, May 17, P.L. 789, No. 285, art. IX, § 905, added 1992, Dec. 18, P.L. 1496, No. 177, § 12, effective in 120 days.

Footnotes

65 P.S. § 66.1 et seq. (repealed); see 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.
40 P.S. § 323.5, PA ST 40 P.S. § 323.5
Current through the end of the 2023 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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