1.    Upon determining that an examination should be conducted, the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee shall issue a letter appointing one or more examiners to perform the examination and instructing them as to the scope of the examination. In conducting the examination, the examiner shall observe those guidelines and procedures set forth in the examiners’ handbook adopted by the national association of insurance commissioners. The commissioner may also employ other guidelines or procedures as the commissioner may deem appropriate.

2.    For the purposes of making any examination required or authorized by law, every company or person from whom information is sought, its officers, directors, trustees, and agents must provide to the examiners appointed under subsection 1, in any examination required or authorized by law, timely, convenient, and free access at all reasonable hours at its offices to all books, records, accounts, papers, documents, and any or all computer or other recordings relating to the property, assets, business, and affairs of the company being examined. The officers, directors, employees, trustees, and agents of the company or person must facilitate the examination and aid in the examination so far as it is in their power to do so. The refusal of any company, by its officers, directors, employees, trustees, or agents to submit to examination or to comply with any reasonable request of the examiners is grounds for suspension or refusal of, or nonrenewal of, any license or authority held by the company to engage in an insurance or other business subject to the commissioner’s jurisdiction. Any proceedings for suspension, revocation, or refusal of any license or authority must be conducted pursuant to sections 26.1-01-03.1 and 26.1-11-09.

3.    The commissioner or any of the commissioner’s examiners have the power to issue subpoenas, to administer oaths, and to examine under oath any person as to any matter pertinent to the examination. Upon the failure or refusal of any person to obey a subpoena, the commissioner may petition a court of competent jurisdiction, and upon proper showing, the court may enter an order compelling the witness to appear and     testify or produce documentary evidence. Failure to obey the court order is punishable as contempt of court.

4.    Qualified regular employees of the commissioner, or the commissioner’s designated representatives acting as independent contract examiners under the direction of regular employees of the commissioner, shall conduct all examinations of an insurance company required or permitted by law to be conducted by the commissioner, whether or not the examinations are convention examinations called in accordance with rules promulgated by the national association of insurance commissioners. The commissioner may contract for and procure the services of financial and market conduct examiners and other or additional specialized technical or professional assistants, as independent contractors. None of the persons providing those services or assistance on a contract or fee basis may be in the classified service of the state.

5.    Nothing contained in this chapter may be construed to limit the commissioner’s authority to terminate or suspend any examination in order to pursue other legal or regulatory action pursuant to the insurance laws of this state. Findings of fact and conclusions made pursuant to any examination will be prima facie evidence in any legal or regulatory action by and before the insurance commissioner.

6.    Except as provided in subsections 5 and 6 of section 26.1-03-19.4, nothing contained in this chapter may be construed to limit the commissioner’s authority to use and, if appropriate, to make public any final or preliminary examination report, any examiner or company workpapers or other documents, or any other information discovered or developed during the course of any examination in the furtherance of any legal or regulatory action which the commissioner may, in the commissioner’s sole discretion, deem appropriate.