Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/DOCS/2006/ACTS/ACT070.HTM
Timestamp: 2017-12-17 09:55:32
Document Index: 398388411

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 8500', '§ 8501', '§ 8502', '§ 8503', '§ 8504', '§ 8505', '§ 8506', '§ 8507', '§ 8508', '§ 8509', '§ 8510', '§ 8511', '§ 8512', '§ 8513', '§ 8514', '§ 8515', '§ 8516', '§ 8517', '§ 42', '§ 10405', '§ 10405', '§ 2351', '§ 2355', '§ 2405']

NO. 70. AN ACT RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE INSURANCE PRODUCT REGULATION COMPACT AND DEBT PROTECTION AGREEMENT.
(H.352)
Sec. 1. PURPOSES
The purposes of this compact, through means of joint and cooperative action among the compacting states, are to:
(1) promote and protect the interest of consumers of individual and group annuity, life insurance, disability income, and long-term care insurance products;
(2) develop uniform standards for insurance products covered under the compact;
(3) establish a central clearinghouse to receive and provide prompt review of insurance products covered under the compact and, in certain cases, advertisements related thereto, submitted by insurers authorized to do business in one or more compacting states;
(4) give appropriate regulatory approval to those product filings and advertisements satisfying the applicable uniform standard;
(5) improve coordination of regulatory resources and expertise between state insurance departments regarding the setting of uniform standards and review of insurance products covered under the compact;
(6) create the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission; and
(7) perform these and such other related functions as may be consistent with the state regulation of the business of insurance.
Sec. 2. 8 V.S.A. chapter 165 is added to read:
CHAPTER 165. INTERSTATE INSURANCE PRODUCT
REGULATION COMPACT
§ 8500. DEFINITIONS
(1) “Advertisement” means any material designed to create public interest in a product, or induce the public to purchase, increase, modify, reinstate, borrow on, surrender, replace, or retain a policy as more specifically defined in the rules and operating procedures of the commission.
(2) “Bylaws” means those bylaws established by the commission for its governance, or for directing or controlling the commission’s actions or conduct.
(3) “Commission” means the “Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission” established by this compact.
(4) “Commissioner” means the chief insurance regulatory official of a state, including, but not limited to commissioner, superintendent, director, or administrator.
(5) “Compacting state” means any state which has enacted this compact legislation and which has not withdrawn pursuant to subsection 8512(a) of this chapter, or been terminated pursuant to subsection 8512(b) of this chapter.
(6) “Domiciliary state” means the state in which an insurer is incorporated or organized; or, in the case of an alien insurer, its state of entry.
(7) “Insurer” means any entity licensed by a state to issue contracts of insurance for any of the lines of insurance covered by this chapter.
(8) “Member” means the person chosen by a compacting state as its representative to the commission, or his or her designee.
(9) “NAIC” means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
(10) “Noncompacting state” means any state which is not at the time a compacting state.
(11) “Operating procedures” means procedures adopted by the commission implementing a rule, uniform standard, or a provision of this compact.
(12) “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.
(13) “Rule” means a statement of general or particular applicability and future effect adopted by the commission, including a uniform standard developed pursuant to section 8505 of this chapter, 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.
(14) “State” means any state, district, or territory of the United States of America.
(15) “Third-party filer” means an entity that submits a product filing to the commission on behalf of an insurer.
(16) “Uniform standard” means a standard adopted by the commission for a product line, pursuant to section 8505 of this chapter, and shall include all of the product requirements in 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.
§ 8501. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION AND VENUE
(a) The compacting states hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the “Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission.” Pursuant to section 8502 of this chapter, 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, 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 wherein 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.
(b) The commission is a body corporate and politic, and an instrumentality of the compacting states.
(c) The commission is a not-for-profit entity, separate and distinct from the individual compacting states.
(d) The commission is solely responsible for its liabilities except as otherwise specifically provided in this compact.
(e) Venue is proper, and judicial proceedings by or against the commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the commission is located.
§ 8502. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION
(1) To adopt rules, pursuant to section 8505 of this chapter, which 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 this compact;
(2) To exercise its rulemaking authority and establish reasonable uniform standards for products covered under the compact, and 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 section 8505 of this chapter, to the extent and in the manner provided in 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 Commissioners’ 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 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 on the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided in 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 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;
(5) To exercise its rulemaking authority and designate products and advertisement that may be subject to a self-certification process without the need for prior approval by the commission;
(6) To adopt operating procedures, pursuant to section 8505 of this chapter, which shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided in this compact;
(7) To bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in its name as the commission; provided, that the standing of any state insurance department to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected;
(8) To issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence;
(9) To establish and maintain offices;
(10) To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
(11) To borrow, accept or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a compacting state;
(12) To hire employees, professionals, or specialists, and elect or appoint officers, and to fix their compensation, define their duties, and 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;
(13) To accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, and to receive, utilize, and dispose of the same; provided that at all times the commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety;
(14) To lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve, or use, any property, real, personal, or mixed; provided that at all times the commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety;
(15) To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal, or mixed;
(16) To collect and remit filing fees to compacting states as may be set forth in the bylaws, rules, or operating procedures;
(17) To enforce compliance by compacting states with rules, uniform standards, operating procedures, and bylaws;
(18) To provide for dispute resolution among compacting states;
(19) To advise compacting states on issues relating to insurers domiciled or doing business in noncompacting jurisdictions, consistent with the purposes of this compact;
(20) To provide advice and training to those personnel in state insurance departments responsible for product review, and to be a resource for state insurance departments;
(21) To establish a budget and make expenditures;
(22) To borrow money;
(23) To appoint committees, including advisory committees comprising members, state insurance regulators, state legislators or their representatives, insurance industry and consumer representatives, and such other interested persons as may be designated in the bylaws;
(24) To provide and receive information from and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies;
(25) To adopt and use a corporate seal; and
(26) To perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact consistent with the state regulation of the business of insurance.
§ 8503. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION
(a) Membership. 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 he or she shall be appointed. Any vacancy occurring in the commission shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the compacting state wherein 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. The commissioner of the Vermont department of banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration, or the commissioner's designee, shall be the member appointed by Vermont to the commission.
(b) Voting. 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 adoption of a uniform standard shall be effective unless two-thirds of the members vote in favor thereof.
(c) Bylaws.
(1) The commission shall, by a majority of the members, prescribe bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and exercise the powers of the compact, including:
(C) providing reasonable standards and procedures:
(D) providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the commission that consist 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 en toto or in part. As soon as practicable, the commission must make public a copy of the vote to close the meeting, revealing the vote of each member with no proxy votes allowed, and votes taken during such meeting;
(E) establishing the titles, duties, authority, and reasonable procedures for the election of the officers of the commission;
(G) adopting a code of ethics to address permissible and prohibited activities of commission members and employees; and
(2) The commission shall publish its bylaws in a convenient form and file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the compacting states.
(d) Management committee.
(1) A management committee comprising no more than 14 members shall be established as follows:
(A) One member from each of the six compacting states with the largest premium volume for individual and group annuities, life, disability income, and long-term care insurance products determined from the records of the NAIC for the prior year;
(B) Four members from those compacting states with at least two percent of the market based on the premium volume described in subdivision (1)(A) of this subsection, other than the six compacting states with the largest premium volume, selected on a rotating basis as provided in the bylaws; and
(C) Four members from those compacting states with less than two percent of the market, based on the premium volume described in subdivision (1)(A) of this subsection, with one selected from each of the four zone regions of the NAIC as provided in the bylaws.
(2) The management committee shall have such authority and duties as may be set forth in the bylaws, including:
(B) 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) planning, implementing, and coordinating communications and activities with other state, federal, and local government organizations in order to advance the goals of the commission.
(3) The commission annually shall elect officers from the management committee, with each having such authority and duties, as may be specified in the bylaws.
(e) Legislative and advisory committees. A legislative committee comprising 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 to 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.
(f) Advisory committees.
(1) The commission shall establish two advisory committees, one of which shall comprise consumer representatives independent of the insurance industry and the other shall comprise insurance industry representatives.
(2) The commission may establish additional advisory committees as its bylaws may provide for the carrying out of its functions.
(g) Corporate records of the commission. The commission shall maintain its corporate books and records in accordance with the bylaws.
(h) Qualified immunity, defense, and indemnification.
(1) 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 subdivision shall be construed to protect any such person from suit and liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of that person.
(2) 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 his or her 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.
(3) 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.
§ 8504. MEETINGS AND ACTS OF THE COMMISSION
(b) 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.
§ 8505. RULES AND OPERATING PROCEDURES: RULEMAKING
FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION AND OPTING OUT OF
(a) Rulemaking authority. The commission shall adopt 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 rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of this chapter, or the powers granted hereunder, such an action by the commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect.
(b) Rulemaking procedure. Rules and operating procedures shall be made pursuant to a rulemaking 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.
(c) Effective date and opt out of a uniform standard. A uniform standard shall become effective 90 days after its adoption 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 section. “Opt out” shall be defined as any action by a compacting state to decline to adopt or participate in an adopted 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.
(d) Opt out procedure.
(1) A compacting state may opt out of a uniform standard, either by legislation or rule duly adopted by the insurance department under the compacting state’s Administrative Procedure Act. The Vermont department of banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration may adopt an emergency rule for the purposes of this subsection. If a compacting state elects to opt out of a uniform standard by rule, it must give written notice to the commission no later than ten business days after the uniform standard is adopted, or at the time the state becomes a compacting state and 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 both 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 chapter and the presumption that a uniform standard adopted by the commission provides reasonable protections to consumers of the relevant product.
(2) 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 adopted.
(e) Effect of opt out.
(1) If a compacting state elects to opt out of a uniform standard, the uniform standard shall remain applicable in the compacting state electing to opt out until such time as the opt out legislation is enacted into law or the opt out rule becomes effective.
(2) 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 section 8512 of this chapter for withdrawals.
(f) Stay of uniform standard. If a compacting state has formally initiated the process of opting out of a uniform standard by rule, 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, a stay may not be permitted to remain in effect for more than one 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 upon notice that the rulemaking process has been terminated.
(g) Not later than 30 days after a rule or operating procedure is adopted, 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.
§ 8506. COMMISSION RECORDS AND ENFORCEMENT
(a) The commission shall adopt 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 adopt 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.
(b) 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 chapter, 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.
(c) 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 section 8513 of this chapter.
(d) 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 his or her 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:
(1) With respect to the commissioner’s market regulation of a product or advertisement that is approved 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 upon a final order of the commission, issued at the request of a commissioner after prior notice to the insurer and an opportunity for hearing before the commission.
(2) 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 or certified to the commission, the commission, or an authorized commission officer or employee, must authorize the action. However, authorization pursuant to this subdivision does not require notice to the insurer, opportunity for hearing or disclosure of requests for authorization, or records of the commission’s action on such requests.
§ 8507. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The commission shall attempt, upon 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 noncompacting states, and the commission shall adopt an operating procedure providing for resolution of such disputes.
§ 8508. PRODUCT FILING AND APPROVAL
(a) 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 chapter shall be construed to restrict or otherwise prevent an insurer from filing its product with the insurance department in any state wherein the insurer is licensed to conduct the business of insurance, and such filing shall be subject to the laws of the states where filed.
(b) 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 adopt 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 protection of personal medical and financial information and trade secrets, that may be contained in a product filing or supporting information.
§ 8509. REVIEW OF COMMISSION DECISIONS REGARDING FILINGS
(a) 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 adopt rules to establish procedures for appointing such review panels and provide for notice and 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 subsection 8501(e) of this chapter.
(b) The commission shall have authority to monitor, review, and reconsider products and advertisement subsequent to their filing or approval upon 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 subsection (a) of this section.
§ 8510. FINANCE
(a) 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.
(b) The commission shall collect a filing fee from each insurer and third‑party filer filing a product with the commission to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff in a total amount sufficient to cover the commission’s annual budget.
(c) The commission’s budget for a fiscal year shall not be approved until it has been subject to notice and comment as set forth in section 8505 of this chapter.
(f) 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. Upon the determination of the commission, but no less frequently than every three 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 governors and legislatures 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 upon 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.
§ 8511. COMPACTING STATES; EFFECTIVE DATE AND
(b) The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by two compacting states; provided, 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 upon enactment of the compact into law by that state.
§ 8512. WITHDRAWAL
(a) Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every compacting state; provided, that a compacting state may withdraw from the compact (“withdrawing state”) by enacting a statute specifically repealing the statute which enacted the compact into law.
(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.
(c) The commissioner of the withdrawing state shall immediately notify the management committee in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state.
(d) The commission shall notify the other compacting states of the introduction of such legislation within ten days after its receipt of notice thereof.
(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 extends 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.
(f) Reinstatement following withdrawal of any compacting state shall occur upon the effective date of the withdrawing state reenacting the compact.
§ 8513. DEFAULT
(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 this compact, the bylaws or duly adopted rules or operating procedures, after notice and 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, but are not limited to, failure of a compacting state to perform its obligations or responsibilities and any other grounds designated in commission rules. The commission shall immediately 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 8512 of this chapter.
(c) Reinstatement following termination of any compacting state requires a reenactment of the compact.
§ 8514. Dissolution of Compact
(a) The compact dissolves effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the compacting state which reduces membership in the compact to one compacting state.
(b) Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the commission shall be wound up and any surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.
§ 8515. SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION
(a) The provisions of this compact shall be severable; and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact shall be enforceable.
§ 8516. OTHER LAWS
(a) Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a compacting state, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) For any product approved 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 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:
(1) the access of any person to state courts;
(2) remedies available under state law related to breach of contract, tort, or other laws not specifically directed to the content of the product;
(3) state law relating to the construction of insurance contracts; or
(4) the authority of the attorney general of the state, including but not limited to maintaining any actions or proceedings, as authorized by law.
(c) All insurance products filed with individual states shall be subject to the laws of those states.
§ 8517. Binding Effect of this Compact
(a) All lawful actions of the commission, including all rules and operating procedures adopted by the commission, are binding upon the compacting states.
(b) All agreements between the commission and the compacting states are binding in accordance with their terms.
(c) Upon the request of a party to a conflict over the meaning or interpretation of commission actions, and upon a majority vote of the compacting states, the commission may issue advisory opinions regarding the meaning or interpretation in dispute.
(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 upon 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 is delegated by law in effect at the time this compact becomes effective.
Sec. 3. 9 V.S.A. § 42(a)(4) is amended to read:
(4) the reasonable cost of creditor life or disability insurance, or of a debt protection agreement as set forth in section 10405 of Title 8, if agreed to by the borrower;
Sec. 4. 8 V.S.A. § 10405 is added to read:
§ 10405. DEBT PROTECTION AGREEMENTS
(a) Debt protection agreements that meet the requirements of this section, including without limitation requirements related to necessary disclosures, prohibited activities, and to the sale, transfer, and assignment of such agreements are not insurance as defined by section 3301a of this title and are not governed by the insurance laws of the state of Vermont.
(1) “Debt protection agreement” means a loan term or contractual arrangement that may be part of, or separate from, the loan agreement or retail or motor vehicle installment contract that modifies the loan or retail or motor vehicle installment contract terms governing the extension of credit under the loan agreement, or retail or motor vehicle installment contract, and under which the creditor agrees to provide one or more of the following protections:
(A) debt cancellation, which is an agreement to cancel all or part of a borrower’s obligation to repay an extension of credit from that creditor upon the occurrence of a specified event and shall include a guaranteed asset protection waiver agreement wherein the creditor agrees to cancel all or part of a borrower’s obligation to repay an extension of credit to the extent that there is an outstanding balance on the loan or retail or motor vehicle installment contract after application of property insurance proceeds in the event of total physical damage or theft of the property; or
(B) debt suspension, which is an agreement to suspend all or part of a borrower’s obligation upon the occurrence of a specified event.
(2) The term “creditor” shall include:
(A) the lender in a credit transaction;
(B) any “retail seller” or “seller” of “motor vehicles” or of other “goods” and “services” that provides credit to “retail buyers” or “buyers” of such motor vehicles or goods and services as those terms are all defined in 9 V.S.A. §§ 2351 and 2401, respectively; provided that such entities comply with the provisions of this section, including without limitation the provisions of subdivisions (c)(1) and (2) of this section; and
(C) the assignees of any of the foregoing to whom the credit obligation is payable.
(3) The term “borrower” shall include a debtor, retail buyer of a motor vehicle or other good or service, or other person who obtains an extension of credit from a creditor.
(4) The term “actuarial method” shall mean the method of allocating payments made on a debt between the amount financed and the finance charge pursuant to which a payment is applied first to the accumulated finance charge and any remainder is subtracted from or any deficiency is added to the unpaid balance of the amount financed.
(1) In the case of credit granted by a seller or retail seller of motor vehicles or of other goods and services that is not required to be licensed under chapter 73 of this title, such retail seller or seller of motor vehicles or of other goods and services, shall, within 15 business days sell, assign, or otherwise transfer the loan agreement, motor vehicle installment contract, or retail sales installment contract, together with the related debt protection agreement, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection.
(2) All assignments, sales, or transfers of a loan agreement or motor vehicle or retail installment contract to which a debt protection agreement relates and the related debt protection agreement, shall be to a financial institution as defined in subdivision 11101(32) of this title, a credit union or an entity licensed under subdivision 2201(a)(1) or (3) of this title to engage in lending or sales financing.
(3) In the event that a retail seller or seller of motor vehicles or of other goods or services cannot within 15 business days sell, assign, or otherwise transfer the loan agreement or motor vehicle or retail sales installment contract and the related debt protection agreement as required by subdivision (1) of this subsection, or in the event that an assignment is made contrary to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, shall not apply and the product shall be considered to be insurance governed by the insurance laws of the state of Vermont.
(4) The debt protection agreement forms a part of the loan agreement or sales contract and must be assigned, sold, or transferred together with any assignment, sale or transfer of the loan agreement or retail or motor vehicle installment contract to which it was originally related.
(5) A creditor shall disclose in writing, such disclosures shall be conspicuous, readily understandable, and designed to call attention to the nature and significance of the information provided:
(A) that neither the extension of credit, the terms of the credit nor the terms of the related sale in the case of a motor vehicle or other good or service are to be conditioned upon the purchase of a debt protection agreement;
(B) the charge for the debt protection agreement; and
(C) the terms and conditions of coverage, including without limitation the eligibility requirements for coverage, conditions, or exclusions associated with the contract, a clear representation of the parties to the agreement, procedures for making a claim under the agreement, and the length of term of coverage.
(6) The buyer signs or initials an affirmative written request to purchase a debt protection agreement after receiving the disclosures specified in this subsection. Any buyer in the transaction may sign or initial the request.
(7) Neither the extension of credit, the terms of the credit, nor the terms of the related sale in the case of a motor vehicle or other good or service are to be conditioned upon the purchase of a debt protection agreement.
(8) The fees charged for debt protection agreements shall not vary as between individual borrowers except in relation to the amount and maturity date of the underlying loan or extension of credit.
(9) Creditors may not offer debt protection agreements where the products contain terms that allow the creditor to modify unilaterally the contract, unless the modification is favorable to the borrower and is made without additional charge to the borrower, or the borrower is notified of the proposed change and can cancel the debt protection agreement without penalty.
(10) Creditors cannot offer debt protection agreements where the terms require a lump sum, single payment, for the contract payable at the outset and the product is for a residential mortgage loan, including primary or secondary residences and including first or subordinate liens. Periodic payments made in relation to a residential home loan must be evenly distributed over the same term as the term of the residential home loan.
(11) The borrower may cancel the debt protection agreement at any time and for any reason. In the event of termination or cancellation of the contract, the creditor must refund any unearned fee according to a formula fully disclosed to the borrower at the time of entering into the debt protection agreement, unless the contract provides otherwise. A debt protection agreement that does not provide for a refund may only be offered if an offer is also made of a bona fide option to purchase a comparable contract that provides for a refund. The refund must be fair and reasonable, and the method of calculating the refund must be at least as favorable to the borrower as the “actuarial method”; provided, however, that if such method produces a result of less than $5.00, no refund shall be required. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if cancellation by the borrower occurs within 30 days of entering into the debt protection agreement, the borrower shall receive a full refund.
(12) The creditor must manage the risks associated with debt protection agreements in accordance with safe and sound financial principles. The creditor must establish and maintain effective risk management and control processes over its debt protection agreements. Such processes include appropriate recognition and financial reporting of income, expenses, assets and liabilities, and appropriate treatment of all expected and unexpected losses associated with the products. The creditor also should assess the adequacy of its internal control and risk mitigation activities in view of the nature and scope of its debt protection agreement programs.
(13) Debt protection agreements, as defined in this section, shall not state that the borrower does not have a right to bring an action to enforce the terms of the debt protection agreement or otherwise challenge the denial of a claim, or that any civil action brought in connection with a debt protection agreement must be brought in the courts of a jurisdiction other than Vermont.
(14) Any other requirements prescribed by the commissioner, in order to further the purposes of this section, by rules adopted pursuant to this section.
(d) The commissioner may conduct an examination of any creditor, as defined under this section, for the purpose of determining compliance with this section and may make such investigation, as the commissioner deems necessary. To the extent necessary for such examination or investigation, the commissioner may, without limiting the foregoing, compel the production of all relevant books, records, documents, other evidence, or the attendance of witnesses, and may issue subpoenas with respect to the foregoing. The expense of any such investigation or examination shall be paid by the entity being examined or investigated. Nothing contained herein shall limit any other examination or investigation authority of the commissioner contained in Title 9 or this title.
(e) The commissioner may take any action reasonable, necessary, or desirable for the enforcement of this section, or any rule adopted pursuant to this section, or the enforcement of any order issued under this subsection and may:
(1) Order the creditor to cease and desist from offering debt protection agreements.
(2) Revoke or suspend the license or authority under this title of any person including creditors offering debt protection agreements.
(3) Impose a penalty of not more than $1,000.00 for each violation that the commissioner finds to exist.
(4) Order the creditor to make restitution to the borrower.
(f) The powers vested in the commissioner under this section are in addition to any other powers of the commissioner to enforce penalties, fines, or forfeitures authorized by law with respect to a violation of any other law under Title 9 or this title.
Sec. 5. 9 V.S.A. § 2355(f)(4) is amended to read:
(4) The amount, if any, for insurance including the cost of credit life insurance at a rate authorized by rate schedules then in effect and on file with the commissioner of banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration, the cost, if any, of physical damage insurance specifying the type or types and the term of coverage, and the cost, if any, for service contracts as defined in section 4247 of Title 8, and the reasonable cost, if any, for a debt protection agreement as set forth in section 10405 of Title 8;
Sec. 6. 9 V.S.A. § 2405(g)(4) is amended to read:
(4) The amount, if any, included for insurance, if a separate identified charge is made therefore, specifying the coverage and cost of each type of insurance at rates authorized by rate schedules then in effect and on file with the commissioner of banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration, and the cost, if any, for service contracts as defined in section 4247 of Title 8, and the reasonable cost, if any, for a debt protection agreement as set forth in section 10405 of Title 8;
Approved: June 18, 2005