1. (a) Actuarial opinion prior to the operative date of the valuation manual as defined by Section 27-36A-15.

   1. (1) GENERAL. Every life insurance company doing business in this state shall annually submit the opinion of a qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commissioner by regulation are computed appropriately, are based on assumptions which satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported amounts, and comply with applicable laws of this state. The commissioner, by regulation, shall define the specifics of this opinion and add any other items deemed to be necessary to its scope.

   2. (2) ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS OF RESERVES AND ASSETS SUPPORTING RESERVES.

      1. a. Every life insurance company, except as exempted pursuant to regulation, shall also annually include in the opinion required by subdivision (1) an opinion of the same qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commissioner by regulation when considered in light of the assets held by the company 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 company’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including, but not limited to, the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts.
      2. b. The commissioner may provide by regulation for a transition period for establishing higher reserves which the qualified actuary may deem necessary in order to render the opinion required by this section.

   3. (3) REQUIREMENT FOR OPINION UNDER SUBDIVISION (2). Each opinion required by subdivision (2) shall be governed by the following provisions:

      1. a. A memorandum, in form and substance acceptable to the commissioner as specified by regulation, shall be prepared to support each actuarial opinion.
      2. b. If the company fails to provide a supporting memorandum at the request of the commissioner within a period specified by regulation, or the commissioner determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the company fails to meet the standards prescribed by the regulation or is otherwise unacceptable to the commissioner, the commissioner may engage a qualified actuary at the expense of the company to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and the actuary shall prepare the supporting memorandum as is required by the commissioner.

   4. (4) REQUIREMENT FOR ALL OPINIONS SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (a). Every opinion subject to subsection (a) shall be governed by the following provisions:

      1. a. The opinion shall be submitted with the annual statement reflecting the valuation of the reserve liabilities for each year ending on or after December 31, 1996.
      2. b. The opinion shall apply to all business in force including individual and group health insurance plans. The form and substance shall comply with regulation of the commissioner.
      3. c. The opinion shall be based on standards adopted from time to time by the Actuarial Standards Board and on any additional standards as the commissioner may by regulation prescribe.
      4. d. In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that company with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company domiciled in this state.
      5. e. For the purposes of this section, qualified actuary means a member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries who meets the requirements set forth in the regulation.
      6. f. Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, the qualified actuary shall not be liable for damages to any person, other than the company and the commissioner, for any act, error, omission, decision, or conduct with respect to the actuary’s opinion.
      7. g. Disciplinary action by the commissioner against the company or the qualified actuary shall be defined by regulation of the commissioner.
      8. h. Except as provided in paragraphs l., m., and n., documents, materials, or other information in the possession or control of the Department of Insurance that are a memorandum in support of the opinion, and any other material included by the company to the commissioner in connection with the memorandum, shall be confidential by law and privileged, shall not be subject to any open records, freedom of information, sunshine or other public record disclosure laws, and shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private or civil action. However, the commissioner is authorized to use the documents, materials, or other information in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought as a part of the commissioner’s official duties.
      9. i. Neither the commissioner nor any person who received documents, materials, or other information while acting under the authority of the commissioner shall be permitted or required to testify in any private civil action concerning any confidential documents, materials, or information subject to paragraph h.

      10. j. In order to assist in the performance of the commissioner’s duties, the commissioner:

          1. 1. May share documents, materials, or other information, including the confidential and privileged documents, materials, or information subject to paragraph h. with other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies, with the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries, and with state, federal, and international law enforcement authorities, provided that the recipient agrees to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the document, material, or other information.
          2. 2. May receive documents, materials, or information, including otherwise confidential and privileged documents, materials, or information, from the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries, and from regulatory and law enforcement officials of other foreign or domestic jurisdictions, and shall maintain as confidential or privileged any document, material, or information received with notice or the understanding that it is confidential or privileged under the laws of the jurisdiction that is the source of the document, material, or information.
          3. 3. May enter into agreements governing sharing and use of information consistent with this paragraph and paragraphs h. and i.
      11. k. No waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the documents, materials, or information shall occur as a result of disclosure to the commissioner under this section or as a result of sharing as authorized in paragraph j.
      12. l. A memorandum in support of the opinion, and any other material provided by the company to the commissioner in connection with the memorandum, may be subject to subpoena for the purpose of defending an action seeking damages from the actuary submitting the memorandum by reason of an action required by this section or by regulations promulgated hereunder.
      13. m. The memorandum or other material may otherwise be released by the commissioner: (i) with the written consent of the company, or (ii) to the American Academy of Actuaries upon request, stating that the memorandum or other material is required for the purpose of professional disciplinary proceedings and setting forth procedures satisfactory to the commissioner for preserving the confidentiality of the memorandum or other material.
      14. n. Once any portion of the confidential memorandum is cited by the company in its marketing or is cited before any governmental agency other than a state insurance department or is released by the company to the news media, all portions of the confidential memorandum shall be no longer confidential.

2. (b) Actuarial opinion of reserves after the operative date of the valuation manual as defined by Section 27-36A-15.

   1. (1) GENERAL. Every company with outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and subject to regulation by the commissioner shall annually submit the opinion of the qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts 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 valuation manual will prescribe the specifics of this opinion including any items deemed to be necessary to its scope.
   2. (2) ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS OF RESERVES AND ASSETS SUPPORTING RESERVES. Every company with outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and subject to regulation by the commissioner, except as exempted in the valuation manual, shall also annually include in the opinion required by subdivision (1) an opinion of the same actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified in the valuation manual, when considered in light of the assets held by the company 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 company’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including, but not limited to, the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts.

   3. (3) REQUIREMENTS FOR OPINIONS SUBJECT TO SUBDIVISION (2). Each opinion required by subdivision (2) shall be governed by the following provisions:

      1. a. A memorandum, in form and substance as specified in the valuation manual, and acceptable to the commissioner, shall be prepared to support each actuarial opinion.
      2. b. If the company fails to provide a supporting memorandum at the request of the commissioner within a period specified in the valuation manual or the commissioner determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the company fails to meet the standards prescribed by the valuation manual or is otherwise unacceptable to the commissioner, the commissioner may engage a qualified actuary at the expense of the company to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare the supporting memorandum required by the commissioner.

   4. (4) REQUIREMENT FOR ALL OPINIONS SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (b). Every opinion subject to subsection (b) shall be governed by the following provisions:

      1. a. The opinion shall be in form and substance as specified in the valuation manual and acceptable to the commissioner.
      2. b. The opinion shall be submitted with the annual statement reflecting the valuation of such reserve liabilities for each year ending on or after the operative date of the valuation manual as defined in Section 27-36A-15.
      3. c. The opinion shall apply to all policies and contracts subject to subdivision (2), plus other actuarial liabilities as may be specified in the valuation manual.
      4. d. The opinion shall be based on standards adopted from time to time by the Actuarial Standards Board or its successor, and on such additional standards as may be prescribed in the valuation manual.
      5. e. In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that company with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company domiciled in this state.
      6. f. Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, the qualified actuary shall not be liable for damages to any person, other than the company and the commissioner, for any act, error, omission, decision, or conduct with respect to the actuary’s opinion.
      7. g. Disciplinary action by the commissioner against the company or the qualified actuary shall be defined in regulations by the commissioner.

(Act 2016-411, §2.)