§ 23-61-205 — Examination reports

Arkansas § 23-61-205

• Jurisdiction: Arkansas
• Title: 23

Text

(a) (1) The Insurance Commissioner or his or her examiner shall make a full and true written report of each examination, which shall comprise only facts appearing upon the books, records, or other documents of the insurer, its agents, or other persons examined, or as ascertained from the sworn testimony of its officers or agents or other persons examined concerning its affairs, and shall include such conclusions and recommendations as may reasonably be warranted from the facts. (2) (A) No later than sixty (60) days following completion of the examination, the examiner in charge shall file with the State Insurance Department a verified written report of the examination under oath. (B) Upon receipt of the verified report, the State Insurance Department shall transmit the report to the company examined, together with a notice which shall afford the company examined twenty (20) days to make a written submission or rebuttal with respect to any matters contained in the examination report. (C) For good cause shown, the commissioner may grant an extension of time to the company to review the verified report. (3) Within thirty (30) days after the end of the period allowed for the receipt of written submissions or rebuttals, the commissioner shall fully consider and review the report, together with any written submissions or rebuttals and any relevant portions of the examiners' work papers, and enter an order: (A) 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, rule, or prior order of the commissioner, the commissioner may order the company to take any action the commissioner considers necessary and appropriate to cure such a violation; (B) 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 subdivision (a)(2) of this section; or (C) Calling for an investigatory hearing with no less than twenty (20) days' notice to the company for purposes of obtaining additional documentation, data, information, and testimony. (b) (1) All orders entered pursuant to subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this section shall be accompanied by findings and conclusions resulting from the commissioner's consideration and review of the examination report, relevant examiner work papers, and any written submissions or rebuttals. Any such order shall be considered a final administrative decision and may be appealed, pursuant to § 23-61-307 , and shall be served upon the company by certified mail, together with a copy of the adopted examination report. Within twenty (20) 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 subdivision (a)(3)(C) of this section by the commissioner or 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 commissioner's review of relevant work papers or by the written submission or rebuttal of the company. Within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of any such hearing, the commissioner shall enter an order pursuant to subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this section. (3) The hearing shall proceed expeditiously with discovery by the company limited to the examiner's work papers which tend to substantiate any assertions set forth in any written submission or rebuttal. The commissioner 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 State Insurance Department, the company, or other persons. The documents produced shall be included in the record, and testimony taken by the commissioner or his or her representative shall be under oath and preserved for the record at the cost of the company. Nothing contained herein shall require the State Insurance 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. (c) (1) Upon the adoption of the examination report under subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this section, the commissioner shall continue to hold the content of the examination report as private and confidential information for thirty (30) days from the date the company received the order issued by the commissioner to adopt the examination report, except as provided in subdivision (a)(2) of this section. (2) After the expiration of thirty (30) days, the commissioner may open the report for public inspection if a court of competent jurisdiction has not stayed its publication. (d) Nothing contained in this subchapter 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 United States Government at any time, so long as the agency or office receiving the report or matters relating thereto agrees in writing to hold it confidential and in a manner consistent with this subchapter.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 469,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 2614, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2017, No. 283,§ 6, eff. 8/1/2017. Acts 1959, No. 148, § 34; A.S.A. 1947, § 66-2119; Acts 1991, No. 723, § 6; 2005, No. 506, §§ 7, 8.