Senate Bill No. 405
               Senate Bill No. 405

               PUBLIC ACT NO. 98-85


AN  ACT CONCERNING THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT SYSTEM
FOR ELECTRONIC RATE AND FORM FILING.


    Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and House of
Representatives in General Assembly convened:
    Section  38a-8  of  the  general  statutes  is
repealed and the following is substituted in  lieu
thereof:
    (a)  The  commissioner shall see that all laws
respecting  insurance  companies  are   faithfully
executed  and  shall  administer  and  enforce the
provisions of this title. The commissioner has all
powers   specifically  granted,  and  all  further
powers that are reasonable and necessary to enable
the commissioner to protect the public interest in
accordance with the duties imposed by this  title.
The  commissioner  shall  pay to the Treasurer all
the fees which he receives. The  commissioner  may
administer oaths in the discharge of his duties.
    (b)  The  commissioner  shall recommend to the
General Assembly changes which,  in  his  opinion,
should be made in the laws relating to insurance.
    (c)  In  addition  to the specific regulations
which the commissioner is required to  adopt,  the
commissioner may adopt such further regulations as
are reasonable  and  necessary  to  implement  the
provisions  of  this  title.  Regulations shall be
adopted  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of
chapter 54.
    (d)  The  commissioner shall develop a program
of periodic review to  ensure  compliance  by  the
Insurance  Department  with  the minimum standards
established  by  the   National   Association   of
Insurance  Commissioners  for  effective financial
surveillance and regulation of insurance companies
operating  in  this  state. The commissioner shall
adopt  regulations,   in   accordance   with   the
provisions   of  chapter  54,  pertaining  to  the
financial surveillance and solvency regulation  of
insurance   companies   as   are   reasonable  and
necessary to obtain or maintain the  accreditation
of   the  Insurance  Department  by  the  National
Association  of   Insurance   Commissioners.   The
commissioner  shall maintain, as confidential, any
confidential  documents  or  information  received
from   the   National   Association  of  Insurance
Commissioners, or  any  documents  or  information
from  insurance  departments in other states which
are  confidential  in  such   jurisdictions.   The
commissioner  may share any information, including
confidential  information,   with   the   National
Association    of   Insurance   Commissioners   or
insurance departments of other states so  long  as
the  commissioner  determines  that  such entities
agree   to   maintain   the    same    level    of
confidentiality   in   their  jurisdiction  as  is
available in this state.
    (e)    THE    INSURANCE   COMMISSIONER   SHALL
ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO REDUCE COSTS  AND  INCREASE
EFFICIENCY  THROUGH  THE USE OF ELECTRONIC METHODS
TO TRANSMIT DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING POLICY  FORM  AND
RATE   FILINGS,  TO  AND  FROM  INSURERS  AND  THE
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT. THE COMMISSIONER MAY SIT  AS
A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF A CONSORTIUM ORGANIZED BY
OR IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
INSURANCE   COMMISSIONERS   FOR   THE  PURPOSE  OF
COORDINATING A SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC RATE AND FORM
FILING   AMONG  STATE  INSURANCE  DEPARTMENTS  AND
INSURERS.

Approved May 22, 1998