SB 304
Enacts provisions relating to disclosure of insurance companies' corporate governance structure
Sponsor:
LR Number:
0841S.02I
Last Action:
1/31/2017 - SCS Voted Do Pass S Insurance and Banking Committee (0841S.03C)
Journal Page:
Title:
Calendar Position:
Effective Date:
January 1, 2018

Current Bill Summary

SCS/SB 304 - This act requires Missouri insurance companies to file a "Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure" (CGAD) with the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP) no later than June first of each calendar year. Other insurers must file the same upon the Director's request. Insurers that are part of insurance groups shall submit this report to the Director or commissioner of insurance for the lead state for the insurance group if that state has adopted the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Act and National Association of Insurance Commissioners Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Regulations.

CGADs must include a statement, signed by the CEO or corporate secretary, that the insurer has implemented the corporate governance practices and that a copy of the disclosure has been provided to the board of directors or appropriate committee thereof. Information provided to the state in other filings can be incorporated by reference in the CGAD. A CGAD shall contain the information necessary to permit the Director to understand the company's governance structure, policies, and practices. The Director of DIFP may request additional information if needed. Documentation and supporting information shall be maintained and made available on the Director's request.

Insurers and insurance groups may provide information on their corporate governance at the ultimate controlling person level, the intermediate holding company level, or the individual entity level, depending on how the insurer or insurance group is structured. The insurer or insurance group is encouraged to make this determination based on certain criteria, and shall indicate which criteria were used to determine how the report would be made. Insurers and insurance groups shall explain subsequent changes in their reporting.

Documents, materials, and other information provided to the DIFP pursuant to this act shall be recognized by this state as proprietary and containing trade secrets. The documents, materials, and other information shall be confidential and privileged, but may be used in regulatory or legal proceedings brought by the Director. No one with whom documents, materials, or other CGAD-related information has been shared shall testify in any private civil action concerning any of the documents, materials, and other information.

In order to assist in the performance of his or her regulatory duties, the Director of DIFP may share and receive confidential or privileged documents, materials, and other information with other state, federal, and international financial regulatory agencies. Sharing such information shall not constitute waiver of the confidentiality or privilege.

The Director of DIFP may retain, at the insurer's expense, third-party consultants as may be reasonably necessary to review the CGAD. Such third parties shall verify they are free from a conflict of interest and have internal procedures to monitor compliance with a conflict and with confidentiality and privilege requirements.

Written agreements with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or a third-party consultant governing sharing and use of information provided pursuant to this act shall require the written consent of the insurer prior to making public any information provided pursuant to this act, and shall contain certain other provisions.

This act provides that insurers failing to timely file a CGAD commit a level two regulatory violation for each day's delay, but sets a $5,000 maximum penalty.

This act is effective on January 1, 2018.

This act is similar to HB 259 (2017) and HB 337 (2017).

ERIC VANDER WEERD

Amendments