1.    Credit for reinsurance must be allowed a domestic ceding insurer as either an asset or a reduction from liability on account of reinsurance ceded only when the reinsurer meets the requirements of subsection 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. Credit will be allowed under subsection 2, 3, or 4 only with respect to cessions of a kind or class of business that the assuming insurer is licensed or otherwise permitted to write or assume in its state of domicile or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, in the state through which it is entered and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance. Credit must be allowed under subsection 4 or 5 only if the applicable requirements of subsection 9 have been satisfied.

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 26.1-31.2-01

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
  • Individual: means a human being. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Rule: includes regulation. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • written: include "typewriting" and "typewritten" and "printing" and "printed" except in the case of signatures and when the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See North Dakota Code 1-01-37
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See North Dakota Code 1-01-33

2.    Credit must be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that is licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state.

3.    Credit must be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer which is accredited by the commissioner as a reinsurer in this state. In order to be eligible for accreditation, a reinsurer:

a.    Shall file with the commissioner evidence of its submission to this state’s jurisdiction; b.    Shall submit to this state’s authority to examine its books and records; c.    Must be licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state, or, in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, be entered through and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in at least one state; d.    Annually, shall file with the commissioner a copy of its annual statement filed with the insurance department of its state of domicile and a copy of its most recent audited financial statement; and

e.    Shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commissioner the assuming insurer has adequate financial capacity to meet the assuming insurer’s reinsurance obligations and is otherwise qualified to assume reinsurance from domestic insurers. An assuming insurer is deemed to meet this requirement as of the time of application the assuming insurer maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount which is not less than twenty million dollars and the assuming insurer’s accreditation has not been denied by the commissioner within ninety days after submission of its application.

4.     a.    Credit must be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer domiciled in, or in the case of a United States branch of an alien assuming insurer, is entered through, a state which employs standards regarding credit for reinsurance substantially similar to those applicable under this statute and the assuming insurer or United States branch of an alien assuming insurer:

(1) Maintains a surplus as regards policyholders in an amount not less than twenty million dollars; and

(2) Submits to the authority of this state to examine its books and records.

b.    The requirement of subdivision a does not apply to reinsurance ceded and assumed pursuant to pooling arrangements among insurers in the same holding company system.

5.     a.    Credit must be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that maintains a trust fund in a qualified United States financial institution, as defined in subsection 2 of section 26.1-31.2-03, for the payment of valid claims of its United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest. To enable the commissioner to determine the sufficiency of the trust fund, the assuming insurer shall report annually to the commissioner information substantially the same as that required to be reported on the national association of insurance commissioners annual statement form by licensed insurers. The assuming insurer shall submit to examination of the insurer’s books and records by the commissioner and bear the expense of examination.

b.     (1) Credit for reinsurance may not be granted under this subsection unless the form of the trust and any amendments to the trust have been approved by: (a)    The commissioner of the state in which the trust is domiciled; or

(b)    The commissioner of another state who, pursuant to the terms of the trust instrument, accepted principal regulatory oversight of the trust.

(2) The form of the trust and any trust amendments also must be filed with the commissioner of every state in which the ceding insurer beneficiaries of the trust are domiciled. The trust instrument must provide that contested claims are valid and enforceable upon the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States. The trust must vest legal title to the trust’s assets in the trust’s trustees for the benefit of the assuming insurer’s United States ceding insurers, their assigns, and successors in interest. The trust and the assuming insurer are subject to examination as determined by the commissioner.

(3) The trust shall remain in effect for as long as the assuming insurer has outstanding obligations due under the reinsurance agreements subject to the trust. No later than February twenty-eighth of each year the trustee of the trust shall report to the commissioner in writing the balance of the trust and listing of the trust’s investments at the preceding year-end and shall certify the date of termination of the trust, if so planned, or certify the trust will not expire before the following December thirty-first.

c.    The following requirements apply to the following categories of assuming insurer: (1) The trust fund for a single assuming insurer must consist of funds in trust in an amount not less than the assuming insurer’s liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers and, in addition, the assuming insurer shall maintain a trusteed surplus of not less than twenty million dollars, except as provided in paragraph 2.

(2) At any time after the assuming insurer has permanently discontinued underwriting new business secured by the trust for at least three full years, the commissioner with principal regulatory oversight of the trust may authorize a reduction in the required trusteed surplus, but only after a finding, based on an assessment of the risk, that the new required surplus level is adequate for the protection of United States ceding insurers, policyholders, and claimants in light of reasonably foreseeable adverse loss development. The risk assessment may involve an actuarial review, including an independent analysis of reserves and cash flows, and must consider all material risk factors, including when applicable the lines of business involved, the stability of the incurred loss estimates, and the effect of the surplus requirements on the assuming insurer’s liquidity or solvency.

The minimum required trusteed surplus may not be reduced to an amount less than thirty percent of the assuming insurer’s liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding insurers covered by the trust.

(3)    (a)    In the case of a group, including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters:

[1] For reinsurance ceded under a reinsurance agreement with an inception, amendment, or renewal date after December 31, 1992, the trust must consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters’ several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any underwriter of the group; [2] For reinsurance ceded under a reinsurance agreement with an inception date before January 1, 1993, and not amended or renewed after that date, notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter, the trust must consist of a trusteed account in an amount not less than the respective underwriters’ several     insurance and reinsurance liabilities attributable to business written in the United States; and

[3] In addition to these trusts, the group shall maintain a trusteed surplus of one hundred million dollars which must be held jointly for the benefit of the United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group for all years of account.

(b)    The incorporated members of the group may not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and are subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the group’s domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.

(c)    Within ninety days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the group’s domiciliary regulator, the group shall provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the group’s domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or if a certification is unavailable, financial statements prepared by independent public accountants of each underwriter member of the group.

(4) In the case of a group of incorporated underwriters under common administration, the group:

(a)    Must have continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at least three years immediately prior to making application for accreditation; (b)    Shall maintain aggregate policyholders’ surplus of at least ten billion dollars; (c)    Shall maintain a trust fund in an amount not less than the group’s several liabilities attributable to business ceded by United States domiciled ceding insurers to any member of the group pursuant to reinsurance contracts issued in the name of the group; (d)    Shall maintain a joint trusteed surplus of which one hundred million dollars must be held jointly for the benefit of United States domiciled ceding insurers of any member of the group as additional security for these liabilities; and

(e)    Within ninety days after its financial statements are due to be filed with the group’s domiciliary regulator, shall make available to the commissioner an annual certification of each underwriter member’s solvency by the member’s domiciliary regulator and financial statements of each underwriter member of the group prepared by its independent public accountant.

6.    Credit must be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer that has been certified by the commissioner as a reinsurer in this state and secures the assuming insurer’s obligations in accordance with the requirements of this subsection.

a.    In order to be eligible for certification, the assuming insurer shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The assuming insurer must be domiciled and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in a qualified jurisdiction, as determined by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision c; (2) The assuming insurer shall maintain minimum capital and surplus, or its equivalent, in an amount to be determined by the commissioner pursuant to rule; (3) The assuming insurer shall maintain financial strength ratings from two or more rating agencies deemed acceptable by the commissioner pursuant to rule; (4) The assuming insurer shall agree to submit to the jurisdiction of this state, appoint the commissioner as its agent for service of process in this state, and agree to provide security for one hundred percent of the assuming insurer’s liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded by United States ceding    insurers if the assuming insurer resists enforcement of a final United States judgment; (5) The assuming insurer shall agree to meet applicable information filing requirements as determined by the commissioner, both with respect to an initial application for certification and on an ongoing basis; and

(6) The assuming insurer shall satisfy any other requirements for certification deemed relevant by the commissioner.

b.    An    association,    including    incorporated    and    individual    unincorporated underwriters, may be a certified reinsurer. In order to be eligible for certification, in addition to satisfying requirements of subdivision a:

(1) The association shall satisfy its minimum capital and surplus requirements through the capital and surplus equivalents, net of liabilities, of the association and the association’s members which must include a joint central fund that may be applied to any unsatisfied obligation of the association or any of the association’s members, in an amount determined by the commissioner to provide adequate protection; (2) The incorporated members of the association may not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the association and are subject to the same level of regulation and solvency control by the association’s domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members; and

(3) Within ninety days after the association’s financial statements are due to be filed with the association’s domiciliary regulator, the association shall provide to the commissioner an annual certification by the association’s domiciliary regulator of the solvency of each underwriter member; or if a certification is unavailable, financial statements, prepared by independent public accountants, of each underwriter member of the association.

c.    The commissioner shall create and publish a list of qualified jurisdictions, under which an assuming insurer licensed and domiciled in such jurisdiction is eligible to be considered for certification by the commissioner as a certified reinsurer.

(1) In order to determine whether the domiciliary jurisdiction of a non-United States assuming insurer is eligible to be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction, the commissioner shall evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the reinsurance supervisory system of the jurisdiction, both initially and on an ongoing basis, and consider the rights, benefits, and the extent of reciprocal recognition afforded by the non-United States jurisdiction to reinsurers licensed and domiciled in the United States. A qualified jurisdiction must agree to share information and cooperate with the commissioner with respect to all certified reinsurers domiciled within that jurisdiction. A jurisdiction may not be recognized as a qualified jurisdiction if the commissioner has determined the jurisdiction does not adequately and promptly enforce final United States judgments and arbitration awards. Additional factors may be considered in the discretion of the commissioner.

(2) A list of qualified jurisdictions must be published through the national association    of    insurance    commissioner    committee    process.    The commissioner shall consider this list in determining qualified jurisdictions. If the commissioner approves a jurisdiction as qualified which does not appear on the list of qualified jurisdictions, the commissioner shall provide thoroughly documented justification in accordance with criteria to be developed under regulations.

(3) United States jurisdictions that meet the requirement for accreditation under the national association of insurance commissioners financial standards and accreditation program must be recognized as qualified jurisdictions.

(4) If a certified reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction ceases to be a qualified jurisdiction, in lieu of revocation, the commissioner may suspend the reinsurer’s certification indefinitely.

    d.    The commissioner shall assign a rating to each certified reinsurer. Giving due consideration to the financial strength ratings that have been assigned by rating agencies deemed acceptable to the commissioner pursuant to rule. The commissioner shall publish a list of all certified reinsurers and the reinsurer’s ratings.

e.    A certified reinsurer shall secure obligations assumed from United States ceding insurers under this subsection at a level consistent with the certified reinsurer’s rating, as specified in rules adopted by the commissioner.

(1) In order for a domestic ceding insurer to qualify for full financial statement credit for reinsurance ceded to a certified reinsurer, the certified reinsurer shall maintain security in a form acceptable to the commissioner and consistent with the provisions of section 26.1-31.2-02 or in a multibeneficiary trust in accordance with subsection 5, except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

(2) If a certified reinsurer maintains a trust to fully secure the certified reinsurer’s obligations subject to subsection 5, and chooses to secure the certified reinsurer’s obligations incurred as a certified reinsurer in the form of a multibeneficiary trust, the certified reinsurer shall maintain separate trust accounts for the certified reinsurer’s obligations incurred under reinsurance agreements issued or renewed as a certified reinsurer with reduced security as permitted by this subsection or comparable laws of other United States jurisdictions and for the certified reinsurer’s obligations subject to subsection 5. As a condition to the grant of certification under subsection 6, the certified reinsurer must have bound itself, by the language of the trust and agreement with the commissioner with principal regulatory oversight of each such trust account, to fund, upon termination of any such trust account, out of the remaining surplus of such trust any deficiency of any other such trust account.

(3) The minimum trusteed surplus requirements provided in subsection 5 are not applicable with respect to a multibeneficiary trust maintained by a certified reinsurer for the purpose of securing obligations incurred under this subsection, except that such trust must maintain a minimum trusteed surplus of ten million dollars.

(4) With respect to obligations incurred by a certified reinsurer under this subsection, if the security is insufficient, the commissioner shall reduce the allowable credit by an amount proportionate to the deficiency, and may impose further reductions in allowable credit upon finding there is a material risk the certified reinsurer’s obligations will not be paid in full when due.

(5) For purposes of this subsection, a certified reinsurer whose certification has been terminated for any reason must be treated as a certified reinsurer required to secure one hundred percent of the certified reinsurer’s obligations.

(a)    As used in this subsection, “terminated” refers to revocation, suspension, voluntary surrender, and inactive status.

(b)    If the commissioner continues to assign a higher rating as permitted by other provisions of this section, this requirement does not apply to a certified reinsurer in inactive status or to a reinsurer whose certification has been suspended.

f.    If an applicant for certification has been certified as a reinsurer in a national association of insurance commissioners accredited jurisdiction, the commissioner may defer to that jurisdiction’s certification, and may defer to the rating assigned by that jurisdiction, and such assuming insurer must be considered to be a certified reinsurer in this state.

g.    A certified reinsurer that ceases to assume new business in this state may request to maintain the certified reinsurer’s certification in inactive status in order to continue to qualify for a reduction in security for the certified reinsurer’s in-force    business. An inactive certified reinsurer shall continue to comply with all applicable requirements of this subsection, and the commissioner shall assign a rating that takes into account, if relevant, the reasons why the reinsurer is not assuming new business.

7.     a.    Credit must be allowed if the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer meeting each of the following conditions:

(1) The assuming insurer must have the assuming insurer’s head office or be domiciled in, as applicable, and be licensed in a reciprocal jurisdiction. A “reciprocal jurisdiction” is a jurisdiction that meets one of the following:

(a)    A non-United States jurisdiction that is subject to an in-force covered agreement with the United States, each within its legal authority, or, in the case of a covered agreement between the United States and European Union, is a member state of the European Union. As used in this subsection, a “covered agreement” is an agreement entered pursuant to the federal Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act [31 U.S.C. § 313 and 314] which is currently in effect or in a period of provisional application and addresses the elimination, under specified conditions, of collateral requirements as a condition for entering a reinsurance agreement with a ceding insurer domiciled in this state or for allowing the ceding insurer to recognize credit for reinsurance; (b)    A United States jurisdiction that meets the requirements for accreditation under the national association of insurance commissioners financial standards and accreditation program recognized by the commissioner; or

(c)    A qualified jurisdiction, as determined by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision c of subsection 6, which is not otherwise described in subdivision a or b of subsection 6 and which meets certain additional requirements, consistent with the terms and conditions of in-force covered agreements, as specified by rules adopted by the commissioner.

(2) The assuming insurer must have and maintain, on an ongoing basis, minimum capital and surplus, or its equivalent, calculated according to the methodology of the assuming insurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction, in an amount in compliance with rules adopted by the commissioner. If the assuming insurer is an association, including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters, the assuming insurer must have and maintain, on an ongoing basis, minimum capital and surplus equivalents, net of liabilities, calculated according to the methodology applicable in the domiciliary jurisdiction of the assuming insurer, and a central fund containing a balance in compliance with rules adopted by the commissioner.

(3) The assuming insurer must have and maintain, on an ongoing basis, a minimum solvency or capital ratio, as applicable, in compliance with rules adopted by the commissioner. If the assuming insurer is an association, including incorporated and individual unincorporated underwriters, the assuming insurer must have and maintain, on an ongoing basis, a minimum solvency or capital ratio in the reciprocal jurisdiction in which the assuming insurer has the assuming insurer’s head office or is domiciled, as applicable, and is also licensed.

(4) The assuming insurer shall agree and provide adequate assurance to the commissioner, in a form in compliance with rules adopted by the commissioner, as follows:

(a)    The assuming insurer shall provide prompt written notice and explanation to the commissioner if the assuming insurer falls below the minimum requirements set forth in paragraph 2 or 3, or if any     regulatory action is taken against the assuming insurer for serious noncompliance with applicable law; (b)    The assuming insurer shall consent in writing to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state and to the appointment of the commissioner as agent for service of process. The commissioner may require consent for service of process be provided to the commissioner and included in each reinsurance agreement. This subparagraph does not limit or in any way alter the capacity of parties to a reinsurance agreement to agree to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, except to the extent such agreements are unenforceable under applicable insolvency or delinquency laws; (c)    The assuming insurer shall consent in writing to pay all final judgments, wherever enforcement is sought, obtained by a ceding insurer or the ceding insurer’s legal successor, which have been declared enforceable in the jurisdiction in which the judgment was obtained; (d)    Each reinsurance agreement must include a provision requiring the assuming insurer to provide security in an amount equal to one hundred percent of the assuming insurer’s liabilities attributable to reinsurance ceded pursuant to that agreement if the assuming insurer resists enforcement of a final judgment that is enforceable under the law of the jurisdiction in which the final judgment was obtained or a properly enforceable arbitration award, whether obtained by the ceding insurer or by the ceding insurer’s legal successor on behalf of the ceding insurer’s resolution estate; and

(e)    The assuming insurer shall confirm the assuming insurer is not presently participating in any solvent scheme of arrangement that involves this state’s ceding insurers, and agree to notify the ceding insurer and the commissioner and to provide security in an amount equal to one hundred percent of the assuming insurer’s liabilities to the ceding insurer, if the assuming insurer enters such a solvent scheme of arrangement. Such security must be in a form consistent with the provisions of subsection 6 and section 26.1-31.2-02 and as specified by the commissioner by rule.

(5) The assuming insurer or the assuming insurer’s legal successor shall provide, if requested by the commissioner, on behalf of the assuming insurer and any legal predecessors, certain documentation to the commissioner, as specified by the commissioner by regulation.

(6) The assuming insurer shall maintain a practice of prompt payment of claims under reinsurance agreements, pursuant to criteria set forth by the commissioner by rule.

(7) The assuming insurer’s supervisory authority shall confirm to the commissioner on an annual basis, as of the preceding December thirty-first or at the annual date otherwise statutorily reported to the reciprocal jurisdiction, that the assuming insurer complies with the requirements set forth in paragraphs 2 and 3.

(8) This subdivision does not preclude an assuming insurer from providing the commissioner with information on a voluntary basis.

b.    The commissioner shall create timely and publish a list of reciprocal jurisdictions.

(1) A list of reciprocal jurisdictions is published through the national association of insurance commissioners committee process. The commissioner’s list must include any reciprocal jurisdiction as defined under subparagraphs a and b of paragraph 1 of subdivision a, and must consider any other reciprocal jurisdiction included on the national association of insurance commissioners’ list. The commissioner may approve a jurisdiction that does not appear on the national association of insurance commissioners’ list of    reciprocal jurisdictions in accordance with criteria to be set by rules adopted by the commissioner.

(2) The commissioner may remove a jurisdiction from the list of reciprocal jurisdictions upon a determination the jurisdiction no longer meets the requirements of a reciprocal jurisdiction, in accordance with a process set by rules adopted by the commissioner, except that the commissioner may not remove from the list a reciprocal jurisdiction as defined under subparagraphs a and b of paragraph 1 of subdivision a. Upon removal of a reciprocal jurisdiction from this list credit for reinsurance ceded to an assuming insurer that has the assuming insurer’s home office or is domiciled in that jurisdiction must be allowed, if otherwise allowed pursuant to chapter 26.1-31.2.

c.    The commissioner timely shall create and publish a list of assuming insurers that have satisfied the conditions set forth in this subsection and to which cessions must be granted credit in accordance with this subsection. The commissioner may add an assuming insurer to the list if a national association of insurance commissioners accredited jurisdiction has added the assuming insurer to a list of the assuming insurers or if, upon initial eligibility, the assuming insurer submits the information to the commissioner as required under paragraph 4 of subdivision a and complies with any additional requirements the commissioner may impose by rule, except to the extent the requirements conflict with an applicable covered agreement.

d.    If the commissioner determines an assuming insurer no longer meets one or more of the requirements under this subsection, the commissioner may revoke or suspend the eligibility of the assuming insurer for recognition under this subsection in accordance with procedures set forth by rule.

(1) While an assuming insurer’s eligibility is suspended, a reinsurance agreement issued, amended, or renewed after the effective date of the suspension does not qualify for credit except to the extent the assuming insurer’s obligations under the contract are secured in accordance with section 26.1-31.2-02.

(2) If an assuming insurer’s eligibility is revoked, credit for reinsurance may not be granted after the effective date of the revocation with respect to any reinsurance agreements entered by the assuming insurer, including reinsurance agreements entered before the date of revocation, except to the extent the assuming insurer’s obligations under the contract are secured in a form acceptable to the commissioner and consistent with the provisions of section 26.1-31.2-02.

e.    If subject to a legal process of rehabilitation, liquidation, or conservation, as applicable, the ceding insurer, or the ceding insurer’s representative, may seek and, if determined appropriate by the court in which the proceedings are pending, may obtain an order requiring the assuming insurer post security for all outstanding ceded liabilities.

f.    This subsection does not limit or in any way alter the capacity of parties to a reinsurance agreement to agree on requirements for security or other terms in that reinsurance agreement, except as expressly prohibited by this chapter.

g.    Credit may be taken under this subsection only for reinsurance agreements entered, amended, or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act, and only with respect to losses incurred and reserves reported on or after the later of the date on which the assuming insurer has met all eligibility requirements pursuant to subdivision a and the effective date of the new reinsurance agreement, amendment, or renewal.

(1) This subdivision does not alter or impair a ceding insurer’s right to take credit for reinsurance, to the extent that credit is not available under this subsection, as long as the reinsurance qualifies for credit under any other applicable provision of this chapter.

(2) This subsection does not authorize an assuming insurer to withdraw or reduce the security provided under any reinsurance agreement except as permitted by the terms of the agreement.

(3) This subsection does not limit or in any way alter the capacity of parties to any reinsurance agreement to renegotiate the agreement.

8.    Credit must be allowed when the reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer not meeting the requirements of subsection 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 but only as to the insurance of risks located in jurisdictions where the reinsurance is required by applicable law or regulation of that jurisdiction.

9.     a.    If the assuming insurer is not licensed, accredited, or certified to transact insurance or reinsurance in this state, the credit permitted by subsections 4 and 5 may not be allowed unless the assuming insurer agrees in the reinsurance agreements:

(1) In the event of the failure of the assuming insurer to perform its obligations under the terms of the reinsurance agreement, the assuming insurer, at the request of the ceding insurer, shall submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction in any state of the United States, will comply with all requirements necessary to give the court jurisdiction, and will abide by the final decision of the court or of any appellate court in the event of an appeal; and (2) To designate the commissioner or a designated attorney as its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served any lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the ceding insurer.

b.    This subsection is not intended to conflict with or override the obligation of the parties to a reinsurance agreement to arbitrate their disputes, if this obligation is created in the agreement.

10.    If the assuming insurer does not meet the requirements of subsection 2, 3, 4, or 8, the credit permitted by subsection 5 or 6 may not be allowed unless the assuming insurer agrees in the trust agreements to the following conditions:

a.    Notwithstanding any other provisions in the trust instrument, if the trust fund is inadequate because the trust fund contains an amount less than the amount required by subdivision c of subsection 5, or if the grantor of the trust has been declared insolvent or placed into receivership, rehabilitation, liquidation, or similar proceedings under the laws of its state or country of domicile, the trustee shall comply with an order of the commissioner with regulatory oversight over the trust or with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the trustee to transfer to the commissioner with regulatory oversight all of the assets of the trust fund.

b.    The assets must be distributed by and claims must be filed with and valued by the commissioner with regulatory oversight in accordance with the laws of the state in which the trust is domiciled which are applicable to the liquidation of domestic insurers.

c.    If the commissioner with regulatory oversight determines the assets of the trust fund or any part of this trust fund are not necessary to satisfy the claims of the United States ceding insurers of the grantor of the trust, the assets or part of the assets must be returned by the commissioner with regulatory oversight to the trustee for distribution in accordance with the trust agreement.

d.    The grantor shall waive any right otherwise available to the grantor under United States law that is inconsistent with this provision.

11.    If an accredited or certified reinsurer ceases to meet the requirements for accreditation or certification, the commissioner may suspend or revoke the reinsurer’s accreditation or certification.

a.    The commissioner shall give the reinsurer notice and opportunity for a hearing.

The suspension or revocation may not take effect until after the commissioner’s order on a hearing, unless:

(1) The reinsurer waives the reinsurer’s right to a hearing;    (2) The commissioner’s order is based on regulatory action by the reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction or the voluntary surrender or termination of the reinsurer’s eligibility to transact insurance or reinsurance business in the reinsurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction or in the primary certifying state of the reinsurer under subdivision f of subsection 6; or

(3) The commissioner finds an emergency requires immediate action and a court of competent jurisdiction has not stayed the commissioner’s action.

b.    During the period of suspension of a reinsurer’s accreditation or certification, a reinsurance contract issued or renewed after the effective date of the suspension does not qualify for credit except to the extent that the reinsurer’s obligations under the contract are secured in accordance with section 26.1-31.2-02. If a reinsurer’s accreditation or certification is revoked, credit for reinsurance may not be granted after the effective date of the revocation, except to the extent the reinsurer’s obligations under the contract are secured in accordance with subdivision e of subsection 5 of section 26.1-31.2-02.

12.     a.    A ceding insurer shall take steps to manage the ceding insurer’s reinsurance recoverables proportionate to the ceding insurer’s own book of business. A domestic ceding insurer shall notify the commissioner within thirty days after reinsurance recoverables from any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, exceed fifty percent of the domestic ceding insurer’s last reported surplus to policyholders, or after it is determined reinsurance recoverables from any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, is likely to exceed this limit. The notification must demonstrate the exposure is safely managed by the domestic ceding insurer.

b.    A ceding insurer shall take steps to diversify the ceding insurer’s reinsurance program. A domestic ceding insurer shall notify the commissioner within thirty days after ceding to any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, more than twenty percent of the ceding insurer’s gross written premium in the prior calendar year, or after the ceding insurer’s determined the reinsurance ceded to any single assuming insurer, or group of affiliated assuming insurers, is likely to exceed this limit. The notification must demonstrate the exposure is safely managed by the domestic ceding insurer.

c.    Credit for reinsurance ceded to a certified reinsurer is limited to reinsurance contracts entered or renewed on or after the effective date of the commissioner’s certification of the assuming insurer.