WSR 09-03-102

PERMANENT RULES

OFFICE OF

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

[ Insurance Commissioner Matter No. R 2008-26 -- Filed January 21, 2009, 8:10 a.m. , effective February 21, 2009 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: These new rules set forth the requirements and procedures for a domestic insurer to obtain the Insurance commissioner's approval to use a permitted accounting practice in filing its annual and quarterly financial statements with the commissioner.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 48.02.060, 48.44.050, 48.46.200.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 08-21-159 on October 22, 2008.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 4, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 4, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: January 21, 2009.

Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner

OTS-1648.2

PERMITTED ACCOUNTING PRACTICES
NEW SECTION
WAC 284-07-500   Definitions.   For purposes of this rule:

     (1) A "permitted accounting practice" is an accounting practice that departs from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual or state prescribed accounting practices, and has been approved in writing by the commissioner.

     (2) "State prescribed accounting practices" are those accounting practices that are incorporated directly or by reference by Titles 48 RCW and 284 WAC applicable to domestic insurers.

     (3) A "domestic insurer" includes an entity organized under the laws of this state as an insurer authorized under chapter 48.05 RCW, a fraternal benefit society licensed under chapter 48.36A RCW, a health care service contractor registered under chapter 48.44 RCW, a health maintenance organization registered under chapter 48.46 RCW, a self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement authorized under chapter 48.125 RCW, or other entity regulated under Title 48 RCW and required to comply with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual and state prescribed accounting practices.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 284-07-510   Prior approval required for a domestic insurer to use permitted accounting practice.   (1) If a domestic insurer wishes to use a permitted accounting practice, the domestic insurer must obtain prior written approval of the permitted accounting practice from the commissioner.

     (2) An insurer must submit its request for a permitted accounting practice to the commissioner in writing.

     (3) A request for a permitted accounting practice must be received by the commissioner more than thirty days prior to its proposed effective date and may not be used until thirty days after the commissioner has approved the practice in writing. For good cause shown, the commissioner may reduce either time period.

     (4) Instructions as to how and where a domestic insurer must send its request for a permitted accounting practice to the commissioner may be found on the commissioner's web site at www.insurance.wa.gov.

     (5) The insurer may not implement any permitted practice prior to written approval by the commissioner.

     (6) An insurer may use only those permitted accounting practices which have been specifically approved for that insurer and only for the time period permitted by the commissioner.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 284-07-520   Information to be included in a permitted accounting practice request.   A request for a permitted accounting practice must contain, at a minimum, all of the following information:

     (1) The proposed effective date and the date of the first filed financial statement in which the proposed permitted accounting practice will be reported;

     (2) A detailed description of the permitted accounting practice being requested, including specific citation to the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual or state prescribed accounting practices from which the proposed permitted accounting practice will depart;

     (3) The periods, if any, in which the proposed permitted accounting practice was previously in effect;

     (4) The period in which the proposed permitted accounting practice will be effective (e.g., specific beginning and ending dates);

     (5) Specific identification of each financial statement line item and its respective impact from the proposed permitted accounting practice. The respective impact must compare the financial statements prepared in accordance with RCW 48.05.073, 48.36A.263, 48.43.097, or 48.125.090(2) and financial statements incorporating the permitted accounting practices;

     (6) The total financial impact on the capital and surplus of the proposed permitted accounting practice and any other previously granted permitted accounting practices. The total impact must compare the financial statements prepared in accordance with RCW 48.05.073, 48.36A.263, 48.43.097, or 48.125.090(2) and financial statements incorporating the permitted accounting practice; and

     (7) The capital and surplus effect of the proposed permitted accounting practice, on a legal entity basis, on the domestic insurer, its ultimate and intermediate parents and all affiliated United States insurers. The capital and surplus effect must compare the financial statements prepared in accordance with RCW 48.05.073, 48.36A.263, 48.43.097, or 48.125.090(2) and financial statements incorporating the permitted accounting practice on a legal entity basis on the domestic insurer, its ultimate and intermediate parents and all affiliated United States insurers.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 284-07-530   Expiration of a permitted accounting practice.   The commissioner may only approve a request to use a permitted accounting practice for up to one calendar year. All permitted practices will expire no later than December 31. An insurer wishing to continue the permitted practice must file a new permitted practice request with the commissioner. Permitted accounting practices that were previously approved by the commissioner that remain in effect as of the effective date of this rule which do not have a specific termination date will expire upon any change of control of the insurer or December 31, 2010, whichever occurs first.

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