1.    The following apply to the actuarial opinions issued before the operative date of the valuation manual:

a.    Every life insurer 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 rule 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 rule shall define the specifics of this opinion and add any other items deemed to be necessary to its scope.

b.    Actuarial analysis of reserves and assets supporting such reserves.

(1) Every life insurer, except as exempted by or pursuant to rule, shall also annually include in the opinion required by subsection 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 rule, when considered in light of the assets held by the insurer with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including 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 insurer’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts.

(2) The commissioner may provide by rule for a transition period for establishing any higher reserves which the qualified actuary may deem necessary in order to render the opinion required by this section.

c.    Requirement for opinion under subdivision b. Each opinion required by subdivision b must be governed by the following provisions:

(1) A memorandum, in form and substance acceptable to the commissioner as specified by rule, must be prepared to support each actuarial opinion.

(2) If the insurer fails to provide a supporting memorandum at the request of the commissioner within a period specified by rule or the commissioner determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the insurer fails to meet the standards prescribed by rule or is otherwise unacceptable to the commissioner, the commissioner may engage a qualified actuary at the expense of the insurer to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare the supporting memorandum required by the commissioner.

d.    Requirement for all opinions subject to subsection 1. Every opinion subject to subsection 1 must be governed by the following provisions:

(1) The opinion must be submitted with the annual statement reflecting the valuation of such reserve liabilities for each year ending on or after December 31, 1994.

(2) The opinion must apply to all business in force, including individual and group health insurance plans, in form and substance acceptable to the commissioner as specified by rule.

(3) The opinion must be based on standards adopted from time to time by the actuarial standards board and on such additional standards as the commissioner may by rule prescribe.

(4) In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien insurer, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that insurer with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to an insurer domiciled in this state.

(5) 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 rule.

(6) Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, the qualified actuary is not liable for damages to any person, other than the insurer and the commissioner, for any act, error, omission, decision, or conduct with respect to the actuary’s opinion.

(7) Disciplinary action by the commissioner against the insurer or the qualified actuary must be defined in rules by the commissioner.

(8) Except as provided in paragraphs 12, 13, and 14, documents, materials, or other information in the possession or control of the insurance department that are a memorandum in support of the opinion, and any other material provided by the insurer to the commissioner in connection with the memorandum, are confidential records not subject to section 44-04-18 and are privileged, are not subject to subpoena, and are not subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. However, the commissioner may 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) Neither the commissioner nor any person who received documents, materials, or other information while acting under the authority of the    commissioner is permitted or required to testify in any private civil action concerning any confidential documents, materials, or information subject to paragraph 8.

(10) In order to assist in the performance of the commissioner’s duties, the commissioner:

(a)    May share documents, materials, or other information including the confidential and privileged documents, materials, or information subject to paragraph 8 with other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies; with the national association of insurance commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries; and with state, federal, and international law enforcement authorities, if the recipient agrees to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the document, material, or other information; (b)    May receive documents, materials, or information, including otherwise confidential and privileged documents, materials, or information, from the national association of insurance commissioners 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; and

(c)    May enter agreements governing sharing and use of information consistent with paragraphs 8, 9, and 10.

(11) A waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the documents, materials, or information may not occur as a result of disclosure to the commissioner under this section or as a result of sharing as authorized in paragraph 10.

(12) A memorandum in support of the opinion, and any other material provided by the insurer 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 rules adopted under this section.

(13) The memorandum or other material may otherwise be released by the commissioner with the written consent of the insurer or 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) Once any portion of the confidential memorandum is cited by the insurer in its marketing or is cited before any governmental agency other than a state insurance department or is released by the insurer to the news media, all portions of the confidential memorandum are no longer confidential.

2.    The following apply to actuarial opinions of reserves issued after the operative date of the valuation manual:

a.    Every insurer with outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and subject to regulation by the commissioner annually shall submit the opinion of the appointed 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 prescribes the specifics of this opinion, including any items deemed to be necessary to its scope.

b.    Every insurer 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, also annually shall include in the opinion required by subdivision a an opinion of the same appointed 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 insurer with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including 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 insurer’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts.

c.    Each opinion required by this subsection is governed by the following provisions: (1) A memorandum, in form and substance as specified in the valuation manual, and acceptable to the commissioner, must be prepared to support each actuarial opinion.

(2) If the insurer 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 insurer 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 insurer to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare the supporting memorandum required by the commissioner.

d.    Under this subsection, every opinion is governed by the following provisions:

(1) The opinion must be in a form and substance as specified in the valuation manual and acceptable to the commissioner.

(2) The opinion must 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.

(3) The opinion must apply to all policies and contracts subject to subdivision b, plus other actuarial liabilities as may be specified in the valuation manual.

(4) The opinion must be based on standards adopted by the actuarial standards board or its successor and approved by the commissioner and on such additional standards as may be prescribed in the valuation manual.

(5) In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien insurer, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that insurer with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to an insurer domiciled in this state.

(6) Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, the appointed actuary is not liable for damages to any person, other than the insurer and the commissioner, for any act, error, omission, decision, or conduct with respect to the appointed actuary’s opinion.

(7) Disciplinary action by the commissioner against the insurer or the appointed actuary must be defined in rules adopted by the commissioner.