58-10-260. Exemptions and effective dates.

(a) Upon written application of any insurer, the Commissioner may grant an exemption from compliance with any and all provisions of this Part if the Commissioner finds, upon review of the application, that compliance with this Part would constitute a financial or organizational hardship upon the insurer. An exemption may be granted at anytime and from time to time for a specified period or periods. Within 10 days after a denial of an insurer's written request for an exemption, the insurer may request in writing a hearing on its application for an exemption. The hearing shall be held in accordance with Article 3A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.

(b) Domestic insurers retaining a certified public accountant on July 31, 2009, who qualify as independent shall comply with this Part for the year ending December 31, 2010, and each year thereafter unless the Commissioner permits otherwise.

(c) Foreign insurers shall comply with this Part for the year ending December 31, 2010, and each year thereafter unless the Commissioner permits otherwise.

(d) The requirements of G.S. 58-10-210(d) shall become effective for audits of the year beginning January 1, 2010, and each year thereafter.

(e) The requirements of G.S. 58-10-245 shall become effective on January 1, 2010. An insurer or group of insurers that is not required to have independent audit committee members or only a majority of independent audit committee members, as opposed to a supermajority, because the total written and assumed premium is below the threshold and subsequently becomes subject to one of the independence requirements due to changes in premium shall have one year following the year the threshold is exceeded, but not earlier than January 1, 2010, to comply with the independence requirements. Likewise, an insurer that becomes subject to one of the independence requirements as a result of a business combination shall have one calendar year following the date of acquisition or combination to comply with the independence requirements.

(f) The requirements of G.S. 58-10-255 become effective beginning with the reporting period ending December 31, 2010, and each year thereafter. An insurer or group of insurers that is not required to file a report because the total written premium is below the threshold and subsequently becomes subject to the reporting requirements shall have two years following the year the threshold is exceeded, but not earlier than December 31, 2010, to file a report. An insurer acquired in a business combination shall have two calendar years after the date of acquisition or combination to comply with the reporting requirements.