ORS 733.304
Opinion of actuary
- rules
(1)
Each insurer transacting life insurance in this state shall submit annually to the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services the opinion of a qualified actuary as provided in this section. The following provisions apply with respect to opinions required under this subsection:(a)
The opinion must state whether, in the opinion of the qualified actuary, the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the director by rule are computed appropriately, are based on assumptions that satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported amounts and comply with applicable laws of this state. The director by rule shall establish the specific requirements for the opinion and may require any other items that the director determines to be necessary to its scope.(b)
The opinion shall be submitted with the annual statement reflecting the valuation of the reserve liabilities for each year.(c)
The opinion shall apply to all business in force, including individual and group health insurance plans, in form and substance acceptable to the director as specified by rule.(d)
The director by rule:(A)
Shall adopt standards on which actuarial opinions under this subsection must be based. In adopting the standards, the director shall consider standards established from time to time by the Actuarial Standards Board of the American Academy of Actuaries.(B)
Shall define “qualified actuary” for purposes of this subsection, by establishing qualifications required of an actuary for the purpose of giving the opinions. In establishing the definition, the director shall consider standards established from time to time by the American Academy of Actuaries.(C)
May also adopt any other rules needed for carrying out this subsection.(e)
In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien insurer, the director may accept the opinion filed by the insurer with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the director determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a domestic insurer.(f)
Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, a qualified actuary shall not be liable for damages to any person other than the insurer or the director for any act, error, omission, decision or conduct with respect to the actuary’s opinion.(g)
For each opinion submitted under this subsection, a memorandum shall be prepared supporting the opinion. The memorandum must conform in form and substance to requirements established by the director by rule.(h)
If an insurer fails to provide a supporting memorandum within the period specified by rule or if the director determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the insurer fails to meet the standards prescribed by rule or is otherwise unacceptable to the director, the director may engage a qualified actuary at the expense of the insurer to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare any supporting memorandum that is required by the director.(i)
Except as provided in this paragraph, a memorandum in the possession or control of the director that is in support of an actuarial opinion, and any other material provided by the insurer to the director in connection with the memorandum, is confidential as provided in ORS 705.137 (Information that is confidential or not subject to disclosure). Notwithstanding ORS 705.137 (Information that is confidential or not subject to disclosure), such a memorandum and other materials are subject to subpoena only for the purpose of defending an action seeking damages from the actuary submitting the memorandum by reason of any action required by this section or by rules adopted under this section. Once any portion of the confidential memorandum is cited by the insurer in its marketing or is cited before any governmental agency other than a state insurance department or is released by the insurer to the news media, all portions of the confidential memorandum shall be no longer confidential. In addition to the uses and disclosures allowed under ORS 705.137 (Information that is confidential or not subject to disclosure), a memorandum or other material may otherwise be released by the director:(A)
With the written consent of the insurer; or(B)
To the American Academy of Actuaries upon request thereof, when the request states that the memorandum or other material is required for the purpose of professional disciplinary proceedings and sets forth procedures satisfactory to the director for preserving the confidentiality of the memorandum or other material.(j)
Grounds for disciplinary action by the director against the insurer or the qualified actuary shall be defined by rule.(2)
Unless exempted by the director by rule, each insurer transacting life insurance in this state shall include in each opinion required by subsection (1) of this section an opinion by the same actuary who prepared the opinion required by subsection (1) of this section. The following provisions apply with respect to the opinion:(a)
The actuary shall state the actuary’s opinion as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the director by rule, when considered in light of the assets held by the insurer with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including but not limited to the investment earnings on the assets and the considerations anticipated to be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make adequate provision for the insurer’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including but not limited to the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts.(b)
The director may provide by rule for a transition period for establishing any higher reserves that the actuary may deem necessary in order to render the opinion required under this subsection. [1991 c.401 §19; 2001 c.377 §12; 2015 c.547 §23](a)
The opinion must state whether, in the opinion of the qualified actuary, the reserves and related actuarial items the insurer holds in support of the policies and contracts specified by the director by rule are computed appropriately, are based on assumptions that satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported amounts and comply with applicable laws of this state. The director by rule shall establish the specific requirements for the opinion and may require any other items that the director determines to be necessary to the opinion’s scope.(b)
The opinion must be submitted with an annual statement that reflects the valuation of the reserve liabilities for each year.(c)
The opinion shall apply to all business in force, including individual and group health insurance plans, in form and substance acceptable to the director as specified by rule.(d)
The director by rule:(A)
Shall adopt standards on which actuarial opinions under this subsection must be based. In adopting the standards, the director shall consider standards that the Actuarial Standards Board of the American Academy of Actuaries establishes from time to time.(B)
Shall define “qualified actuary” for purposes of this subsection, by establishing qualifications required of an actuary for the purpose of giving the opinions. In establishing the definition, the director shall consider standards that the American Academy of Actuaries establishes from time to time.(C)
May also adopt any other rules needed for carrying out this subsection.(e)
The director may accept the opinion that a foreign or alien insurer submitted to the insurance supervisory official of another state as the opinion that the foreign or alien insurer must submit under this section if the director determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements that apply to a domestic insurer.(f)
Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, a qualified actuary is not liable for damages to any person other than the insurer or the director for any act, error, omission, decision or conduct with respect to the actuary’s opinion.(g)
Except as provided in this paragraph, a memorandum in the possession or control of the director that is in support of an actuarial opinion, and any other material the insurer provides to the director in connection with the memorandum, is confidential as provided in ORS 705.137 (Information that is confidential or not subject to disclosure). Notwithstanding ORS 705.137 (Information that is confidential or not subject to disclosure), the memorandum and other materials are subject to subpoena only for the purpose of defending an action seeking damages from the actuary submitting the memorandum by reason of any action required by this section or by rules adopted under this section. Once the insurer cites any portion of the confidential memorandum in the insurer’s marketing or before any governmental agency other than a state insurance department or the insurer releases the confidential memorandum to the news media, all portions of the confidential memorandum are no longer confidential. In addition to the uses and disclosures allowed under ORS 705.137 (Information that is confidential or not subject to disclosure), the director may otherwise release a memorandum or other material:(A)
With the written consent of the insurer; or(B)
To the American Academy of Actuaries upon request thereof, if the request states that the memorandum or other material is required for the purpose of professional disciplinary proceedings and sets forth procedures satisfactory to the director for preserving the confidentiality of the memorandum or other material.(h)
The director shall define grounds for the director’s disciplinary action against the insurer or the qualified actuary by rule.(2)
Unless exempted by the director by rule, each insurer transacting life insurance in this state shall include in each opinion required by subsection (1) of this section an opinion by the same actuary who prepared the opinion required by subsection (1) of this section. The following provisions apply with respect to the opinion:(a)
The insurer shall support the opinion with a memorandum that conforms in form and substance to requirements the director establishes by rule. If an insurer fails to provide a supporting memorandum within the period specified by rule or if the director determines that the supporting memorandum that the insurer provides fails to meet the standards prescribed by rule or is otherwise unacceptable to the director, the director may engage a qualified actuary at the insurer’s expense to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and to prepare any supporting memorandum the director requires.(b)
The actuary shall state the actuary’s opinion as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items the insurer holds in support of the policies and contracts the director specifies by rule, when considered in light of the assets the insurer holds with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including but not limited to the investment earnings on the assets and the considerations the insurer expects to receive and retain under the policies and contracts, provide adequately for the insurer’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including but not limited to the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts.(c)
The director may provide by rule for a transition period for establishing any higher reserves that the actuary may deem necessary in order to render the opinion required under this subsection.
Source:
Section 733.304 — Opinion of actuary; rules, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors733.html.
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