NY State Senate Bill 2021-S3564

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to insurance
Jan 30, 2021	referred to insurance

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3408
Current Committee:: Senate Insurance
Law Section:: Insurance Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §3201, Ins L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S5432, A7661
2023-2024: S3543, A4446
2025-2026: S5341, A2006

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Describes when policy forms for life insurance products need to be filed and when they are exempt from filing.

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S3564

SPONSOR: BRESLIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to the approval of policy
forms

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends section 3201 of the Insurance Law to add a provision
which identifies certain group policies, group contracts and certif-
icates issued thereunder, exempting them from the filing and approval
requirements. in the section. The provision sets forth the standards by
which the superintendent shall have the authority to issue a cease and
desist order with regard to the issue of such exempted policy forms.
There is also authority granted to the issuer of the group policy form
to include provisions in these policies, contracts and certificates
which are at least as favorable as the standard provisions required in
the law.

Sections two sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill would allow New York licensed life insurers to market group
life and group annuities to large employer groups without the require-
ment to obtain prior approval of the policy language from the Department
of Financial Services. This legislation would enable life insurers to
respond to the timeframes demanded by the national large group insurance
marketplace, yet maintain the statutory standards for the protection of
policyholders and insureds set forth in the Insurance Law. New York
property and casualty insurers currently have the ability to market
policies to large commercial clients without the Department's prior
approval through the Department's Free Trade Zone; this legislation
would extend similar authority to life insurers. The current law
provides a system of policy form filing requirements. This legislation
would allow life insurers to obtain relief from these procedural
requirements, but still require the policy and contract forms to meet
the substantive provisions in the Insurance Law governing the content,
benefits and other coverage requirements for group life insurance and
annuities. An exemption from filing requirements would enhance the abil-
ity c New York authorized insurers to respond quickly to requests for
coverage, and to tailor the policy language to the particular needs of
the institutional customer. Such policies would however continue to
remain subject to all other applicable provisions of the Insurance Law.
This legislation would only apply to groups with 500 or more employees
or members who have a "qualified benefits manager" as defined in the
legislation, and the group policyholder would be notified that the poli-
cy is not subject to the Department's filing and approval requirements.
The filing exemption set forth in this legislation would not impact, nor
be available for policies sold to individual consumers.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S5432 - 19/20

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
30th day after it shall have become a law

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3564
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 30, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
 
 AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to the approval of policy
   forms
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Paragraph 6 of subsection (c) of section 3201 of the insur-
 ance  law,  as amended by chapter 341 of the laws of 2006, is amended to
 read as follows:
   (6) [(a) The] (A) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR IN  SUBSECTION  (E)
 OF THIS SECTION, THE superintendent may disapprove any policy form spec-
 ified  in  paragraph  two  of subsection (b) of this section issued by a
 domestic life insurer or fraternal benefit society for delivery  outside
 the  state  if its issuance would be prejudicial to the interests of its
 policyholders or members.
   [(b)] (B) Except for the policy forms specified in  paragraph  two  of
 subsection  (b) of this section, every domestic life insurer and frater-
 nal benefit society shall file annually with the superintendent  a  list
 identifying  and  describing  the  policy forms issued by the insurer or
 fraternal benefit society for delivery  outside  the  state  in  a  form
 prescribed  by the superintendent. If the superintendent determines that
 the issuance of a policy form has been or  may  be  prejudicial  to  the
 interests  of  policyholders or members, the superintendent may take any
 action he or she deems appropriate, including issuing an order, after  a
 hearing, to cease and desist issuing the policy form.
   (C)  ANY INSURER OR FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETY WHO SHALL ISSUE A POLICY
 FORM WHICH SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE FILING AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS  OF
 PARAGRAPHS  ONE  AND  TWO  OF SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, SHALL FILE
 ANNUALLY WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT A LIST IDENTIFYING AND DESCRIBING  SUCH
 POLICY  FORMS  IN  A MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT PURSUANT TO
 PARAGRAPH ONE OF SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD07510-01-1

 S. 3564                             2
 
   § 2. Section 3201 of the insurance law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subsection (e) to read as follows:
   (E)(1)  FOR  PURPOSES  OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE
 THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "LARGE GROUP POLICYHOLDER" SHALL MEAN A GROUP WITH  A  MINIMUM  OF
 FIVE  HUNDRED EMPLOYEES OR MEMBERS THAT EITHER EMPLOY OR CONTRACT WITH A
 QUALIFIED BENEFITS MANAGER THAT SHALL SATISFY THE CRITERIA SET FORTH  IN
 THIS SUBSECTION.
   (B) (I) "QUALIFIED BENEFITS MANAGER" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT:
   A. IS A FIDUCIARY UNDER THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF
 1974 (ERISA);
   B.  HOLDS  A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER FROM AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR
 UNIVERSITY;
   C. HAS A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS' EXPERIENCE  ANALYZING,  DESIGNING,  OR
 ADVISING  GROUPS  DEFINED  HEREIN  REGARDING GROUP BENEFIT PROGRAMS THAT
 INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, LIFE  INSURANCE,  ACCIDENT  AND  HEALTH
 INSURANCE OR ANNUITY PRODUCTS; OR
   D. HAS A DESIGNATION AS A CERTIFIED BENEFIT PLAN ADMINISTRATOR, CERTI-
 FIED  EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT  SPECIALIST FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION OF
 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS, CERTIFIED BENEFITS PROFESSIONAL  FROM  WORLD  AT
 WORK,  RETIREMENT  PLAN  PROFESSIONAL  ISSUED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
 PENSION PROFESSIONALS  AND  ACTUARIES,  ANY  OTHER  SIMILAR  DESIGNATION
 ISSUED BY AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, CHARTERED LIFE UNDERWRIT-
 ER  (C.L.U.),  OR  IS  A  LICENSED INSURANCE AGENT OR BROKER PURSUANT TO
 ARTICLE TWENTY-ONE OF THE THIS CHAPTER; AND
   (II) A QUALIFIED BENEFITS MANAGER SHALL NOT INCLUDE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT
 SHALL BE EMPLOYED BY THE INSURER OR FRATERNAL  BENEFIT  SOCIETY  ISSUING
 THE  GROUP  POLICY  OR  ANY PERSON IN THE INSURERS' OR FRATERNAL BENEFIT
 SOCIETY'S HOLDING COMPANY SYSTEM.
   (2) NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS SECTION TO THE  CONTRARY,  POLICY
 FORMS DELIVERED OR ISSUED FOR DELIVERY IN THE STATE, POLICY FORMS DEEMED
 TO  HAVE  BEEN  DELIVERED IN THE STATE REGARDLESS OF THE PLACE OF ACTUAL
 DELIVERY, OR POLICY FORMS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH TWO OF  SUBSECTION  (B)
 OF  THIS  SECTION  WHICH SHALL HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO A LARGE GROUP POLICY-
 HOLDER  AS  DEFINED  IN  SUBPARAGRAPH  (A)  OF  PARAGRAPH  ONE  OF  THIS
 SUBSECTION  AND THAT ARE ISSUED TO GROUPS DEFINED IN SECTION THREE THOU-
 SAND TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO OF THIS ARTICLE, EXCEPT AN AGREEMENT PROVID-
 ING FOR PERIODIC PAYMENTS IN SATISFACTION OF A CLAIM, SECTION FOUR THOU-
 SAND TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER, OTHER THAN POLICY FORMS TO  BE
 ISSUED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH THREE OR FOURTEEN OF SUBSECTION (B) OF SUCH
 SECTION,  AND  SECTION  FOUR  THOUSAND  TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT OF THIS
 CHAPTER ARE EXEMPT FROM FILING  AND  APPROVAL  UNDER  PARAGRAPH  ONE  OF
 SUBSECTION  (B)  OF  THIS  SECTION  AND FILING FOR DELIVERY OUTSIDE THIS
 STATE UNDER PARAGRAPH TWO OF SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION.
   (3) THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DISAPPROVE  ANY
 SUCH POLICY FORM, BUT SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY, AFTER NOTICE AND A HEAR-
 ING  SHALL  HAVE  BEEN GIVEN TO THE INSURER OR FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETY
 WHICH ISSUED ANY SUCH POLICY FORM, TO ISSUE A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER  TO
 SUCH  INSURER  OR  FRATERNAL  BENEFIT SOCIETY IF THE USE OF SUCH FORM IS
 CONTRARY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER OR INCONSISTENT WITH LAW AT
 THE TIME OF SUCH ORDER.
   (4) THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL HAVE  AUTHORITY  TO  ISSUE  A  CEASE  AND
 DESIST ORDER TO SUCH INSURER OF FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETY IN THE CASE OF
 ANY SUCH POLICY FORM:
   (A)  PERTAINING  TO  LIFE  INSURANCE,  ANNUITY CONTRACT, GROUP ANNUITY
 CERTIFICATE, OR FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR A POLICY FORM ISSUED FOR  DELIVERY

 S. 3564                             3
 
 OUTSIDE THE STATE, IF ITS ISSUANCE WOULD BE PREJUDICIAL TO THE INTERESTS
 OF POLICYHOLDERS OR MEMBERS;
   (B)  PERTAINING  TO  LIFE  INSURANCE,  ANNUITY CONTRACT, GROUP ANNUITY
 CERTIFICATE, OR FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR A POLICY FORM DELIVERED OR  ISSUED
 FOR  DELIVERY  WITHIN  THE STATE, IF SUCH FORM CONTAINS PROVISIONS WHICH
 ARE UNJUST, UNFAIR OR INEQUITABLE; OR
   (C) PERTAINING TO CERTIFICATES DEEMED TO BE DELIVERED  IN  THIS  STATE
 REGARDLESS OF THE PLACE OF ACTUAL DELIVERY, IF SUCH CERTIFICATE FAILS TO
 AFFORD  INSUREDS  PROTECTIONS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THOSE WHICH SHALL
 BE PROVIDED BY CERTIFICATES DELIVERED IN THE STATE.
   (5) ANY SUCH CEASE AND DESIST ORDER SHALL BE EFFECTIVE NOT  LESS  THAN
 NINETY DAYS AFTER SUCH ORDER IS ISSUED.
   (6)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANYTHING IN THIS ARTICLE OR ARTICLE FORTY-TWO OF
 THIS CHAPTER TO THE CONTRARY, ANY SCHEDULE OF PREMIUM RATES, COMMISSIONS
 OR FEES WHICH SHALL RELATE TO A GROUP IDENTIFIED IN THIS SUBSECTION  AND
 ARE  REQUIRED  TO BE FILED PURSUANT TO SUCH ARTICLES, MAY IMMEDIATELY BE
 USED BY AN INSURER UPON THE MAILING OF SUCH SCHEDULE TO THE  SUPERINTEN-
 DENT.
   (7)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANYTHING  IN  THIS  SECTION TO THE CONTRARY, ANY
 GROUP POLICY FORM WHICH SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM FILING  OR  APPROVAL  UNDER
 PARAGRAPH  TWO  OF THIS SUBSECTION, MAY CONTAIN PROVISIONS WHICH ARE, AT
 THE MINIMUM, AS FAVORABLE AS THE PROVISIONS REQUIRED BY THIS ARTICLE AND
 ARTICLE FORTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER AS DETERMINED BY THE  ISSUER  OF  SUCH
 GROUP POLICY FORM.
   (8)  EVERY  POLICY  ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL CONTAIN A
 NOTICE TO THE GROUP POLICYHOLDER THAT SUCH POLICY  FORMS  SHALL  NOT  BE
 SUBJECT TO THE FILING AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE.
   §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

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Senate Bill S3564

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

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2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Neil D. Breslin

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Actions

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3564 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments