1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to commerce; regulating financial institution 
  1.3             examinations, applications, loans, and organizational 
  1.4             provisions; revising the standard nonforfeiture law 
  1.5             for individual deferred annuities; making various 
  1.6             technical changes; repealing obsolete rules; amending 
  1.7             Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 46.04, subdivision 
  1.8             1; 46.041, subdivision 2; 47.015, by adding a 
  1.9             subdivision; 47.101, subdivision 2; 47.59, subdivision 
  1.10            2; 48.08; 48.24, subdivision 6; 52.06, subdivision 1; 
  1.11            61A.245, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6, 12; 300.025; 300.23; 
  1.12            332.29, subdivision 1; repealing Minnesota Rules, 
  1.13            parts 2675.0300; 2675.2250; 2675.6400. 
  1.14  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.15     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 46.04, 
  1.16  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.17     Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL.] The commissioner of commerce, 
  1.18  referred to in chapters 46 to 59A, and sections 332.12 to 
  1.19  332.29, as the commissioner, is vested with all the powers, 
  1.20  authority, and privileges which, prior to the enactment of Laws 
  1.21  1909, chapter 201, were conferred by law upon the public 
  1.22  examiner, and shall take over all duties in relation to state 
  1.23  banks, savings banks, trust companies, savings associations, and 
  1.24  other financial institutions within the state which, prior to 
  1.25  the enactment of chapter 201, were imposed upon the public 
  1.26  examiner.  The commissioner of commerce shall exercise a 
  1.27  constant supervision, either personally or through the examiners 
  1.28  herein provided for, over the books and affairs of all state 
  1.29  banks, savings banks, trust companies, savings associations, 
  2.1   credit unions, industrial loan and thrift companies, and other 
  2.2   financial institutions doing business within this state; and 
  2.3   shall, through examiners, examine each financial institution at 
  2.4   least once every ~~18~~ 24 calendar months.  In satisfying this 
  2.5   examination requirement, the commissioner may accept reports of 
  2.6   examination prepared by a federal agency having comparable 
  2.7   supervisory powers and examination procedures.  With the 
  2.8   exception of industrial loan and thrift companies which do not 
  2.9   have deposit liabilities and licensed regulated lenders, it 
  2.10  shall be the principal purpose of these examinations to inspect 
  2.11  and verify the assets and liabilities of each and so far 
  2.12  investigate the character and value of the assets of each 
  2.13  institution as to determine with reasonable certainty that the 
  2.14  values are correctly carried on its books.  Assets and 
  2.15  liabilities shall be verified in accordance with methods of 
  2.16  procedure which the commissioner may determine to be adequate to 
  2.17  carry out the intentions of this section.  It shall be the 
  2.18  further purpose of these examinations to assess the adequacy of 
  2.19  capital protection and the capacity of the institution to meet 
  2.20  usual and reasonably anticipated deposit withdrawals and other 
  2.21  cash commitments without resorting to excessive borrowing or 
  2.22  sale of assets at a significant loss, and to investigate each 
  2.23  institution's compliance with applicable laws and rules.  Based 
  2.24  on the examination findings, the commissioner shall make a 
  2.25  determination as to whether the institution is being operated in 
  2.26  a safe and sound manner.  None of the above provisions limits 
  2.27  the commissioner in making additional examinations as deemed 
  2.28  necessary or advisable.  The commissioner shall investigate the 
  2.29  methods of operation and conduct of these institutions and their 
  2.30  systems of accounting, to ascertain whether these methods and 
  2.31  systems are in accordance with law and sound banking 
  2.32  principles.  The commissioner may make requirements as to 
  2.33  records as deemed necessary to facilitate the carrying out of 
  2.34  the commissioner's duties and to properly protect the public 
  2.35  interest.  The commissioner may examine, or cause to be examined 
  2.36  by these examiners, on oath, any officer, director, trustee, 
  3.1   owner, agent, clerk, customer, or depositor of any financial 
  3.2   institution touching the affairs and business thereof, and may 
  3.3   issue, or cause to be issued by the examiners, subpoenas, and 
  3.4   administer, or cause to be administered by the examiners, 
  3.5   oaths.  In case of any refusal to obey any subpoena issued under 
  3.6   the commissioner's direction, the refusal may at once be 
  3.7   reported to the district court of the district in which the bank 
  3.8   or other financial institution is located, and this court shall 
  3.9   enforce obedience to these subpoenas in the manner provided by 
  3.10  law for enforcing obedience to subpoenas of the court.  In all 
  3.11  matters relating to official duties, the commissioner of 
  3.12  commerce has the power possessed by courts of law to issue 
  3.13  subpoenas and cause them to be served and enforced, and all 
  3.14  officers, directors, trustees, and employees of state banks, 
  3.15  savings banks, trust companies, savings associations, and other 
  3.16  financial institutions within the state, and all persons having 
  3.17  dealings with or knowledge of the affairs or methods of these 
  3.18  institutions, shall afford reasonable facilities for these 
  3.19  examinations, make returns and reports to the commissioner of 
  3.20  commerce as the commissioner may require; attend and answer, 
  3.21  under oath, the commissioner's lawful inquiries; produce and 
  3.22  exhibit any books, accounts, documents, and property as the 
  3.23  commissioner may desire to inspect, and in all things aid the 
  3.24  commissioner in the performance of duties.  
  3.25     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 46.041, 
  3.26  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  3.27     Subd. 2.  [NOTICE OF FILING APPLICATION; PUBLICATION.] Upon 
  3.28  notice of acceptance of an application as complete in all 
  3.29  respects for filing, the applicant shall within 30 days of the 
  3.30  receipt of the form prescribed by the commissioner, publish a 
  3.31  notice of the filing of the application, in a qualified 
  3.32  newspaper published in the municipality in which the proposed 
  3.33  bank is to be located, and if there is no such newspaper, then 
  3.34  in a qualified newspaper likely to give notice in the 
  3.35  municipality in which the bank is proposed to be located.  The 
  3.36  notice must be in the form prescribed by the commissioner ~~and,~~ 
  4.1   ~~in addition to the publication, the applicant shall mail a copy~~ 
  4.2   ~~of the notice by certified mail to every bank located within~~ 
  4.3   ~~three miles of the proposed location of the bank~~. 
  4.4      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 47.015, is 
  4.5   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  4.6      Subd. 5.  [PERMISSIVE CLOSING ON DECEMBER 24.] A financial 
  4.7   institution may close at noon on December 24.  The financial 
  4.8   institution shall post on its premises a written notice of the 
  4.9   closing. 
  4.10     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 47.101, 
  4.11  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  4.12     Subd. 2.  [BANKING INSTITUTIONS; CERTAIN RELOCATIONS, 
  4.13  APPLICATIONS, NOTICE, APPROVAL.] A banking institution defined 
  4.14  in section 48.01, subdivision 2, desiring to relocate its main 
  4.15  office within the lesser of a radius of three miles measured in 
  4.16  a straight line or the municipality, as defined in section 
  4.17  47.51, in which it is located shall notify the commissioner of 
  4.18  commerce in a form prescribed by the commissioner of commerce.  
  4.19  The applicant shall publish once in a form prescribed by the 
  4.20  commissioner a notice of the relocation in a qualified newspaper 
  4.21  published in the municipality where the banking institution is 
  4.22  located.  If there are no such newspapers, then notice shall be 
  4.23  published in qualified newspapers likely to give notice in the 
  4.24  municipality.  The applicant shall cause the notice to be 
  4.25  publicly displayed in its lobby ~~and sent by certified mail to~~ 
  4.26  ~~all banking institutions within three miles of the proposed~~ 
  4.27  ~~location measured in a straight line~~.  
  4.28     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 47.59, 
  4.29  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  4.30     Subd. 2.  [APPLICATION.] Extensions of credit or purchases 
  4.31  of extensions of credit by financial institutions under sections 
  4.32  47.20, 47.21, 47.201, 47.204, 47.58, 47.60, 48.153, 48.185, 
  4.33  48.195, 59A.01 to 59A.15, 334.01, 334.011, 334.012, ~~334.021~~ 
  4.34  334.022, 334.06, and 334.061 to 334.19 may, but need not, be 
  4.35  made according to those sections in lieu of the authority set 
  4.36  forth in this section to the extent those sections authorize the 
  5.1   financial institution to make extensions of credit or purchase 
  5.2   extensions of credit under those sections.  If a financial 
  5.3   institution elects to make an extension of credit or to purchase 
  5.4   an extension of credit under those other sections, the extension 
  5.5   of credit or the purchase of an extension of credit is subject 
  5.6   to those sections and not this section, except this subdivision, 
  5.7   and except as expressly provided in those sections.  A financial 
  5.8   institution may also charge an organization a rate of interest 
  5.9   and any charges agreed to by the organization and may calculate 
  5.10  and collect finance and other charges in any manner agreed to by 
  5.11  that organization.  Except for extensions of credit a financial 
  5.12  institution elects to make under section 334.01, 334.011, 
  5.13  334.012, 334.021, 334.06, or 334.061 to 334.19, chapter 334 does 
  5.14  not apply to extensions of credit made according to this section 
  5.15  or the sections listed in this subdivision.  This subdivision 
  5.16  does not authorize a financial institution to extend credit or 
  5.17  purchase an extension of credit under any of the sections listed 
  5.18  in this subdivision if the financial institution is not 
  5.19  authorized to do so under those sections.  A financial 
  5.20  institution extending credit under any of the sections listed in 
  5.21  this subdivision shall specify in the promissory note, contract, 
  5.22  or other loan document the section under which the extension of 
  5.23  credit is made. 
  5.24     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 48.08, is amended 
  5.25  to read: 
  5.26     48.08 [DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS, RESTRICTED USE OF BANK 
  5.27  FUNDS; DEALINGS WITH BANK.] 
  5.28     No director, officer or employee shall, directly or 
  5.29  indirectly, in any manner, use the funds of the bank, or any 
  5.30  part thereof, except in its regular business transactions, and 
  5.31  every loan made to any of its directors, officers, employees, or 
  5.32  agents shall be upon the same security required of others and in 
  5.33  strict conformity to its rules and regulations.  ~~Every such~~ 
  5.34  ~~loan, or line of credit for a stated amount and not to run for~~ 
  5.35  ~~more than one year, shall be authorized in advance by the board~~ 
  5.36  ~~and acted upon in the absence of the applicant, except that a~~ 
  6.1   ~~loan to a director, officer, or employee for an amount which~~ 
  6.2   ~~will not increase such a liability to exceed the greater of (a)~~ 
  6.3   ~~$25,000 or (b) five percent of the bank's capital and unimpaired~~ 
  6.4   ~~surplus or $500,000, whichever is less, may be made without~~ 
  6.5   ~~previous approval but shall be acted upon by the board at the~~ 
  6.6   ~~next succeeding regular meeting.~~  No cashier or other officer or 
  6.7   employee of a bank shall sell to the bank, directly or 
  6.8   indirectly, any mortgage, bond, note, stock, or other security 
  6.9   without the written approval of the board of directors, filed in 
  6.10  the office of the bank or embodied in a resolution adopted by 
  6.11  the board.  A copy of this written approval or resolution shall 
  6.12  immediately be sent to the commissioner of commerce. 
  6.13     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 48.24, 
  6.14  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
  6.15     Subd. 6.  The discount of the following classes of paper 
  6.16  shall not be regarded as creating liability within the meaning 
  6.17  of this section: 
  6.18     (1) Bonds, orders, warrants, or other evidences of 
  6.19  indebtedness of the United States, of federal land banks, of 
  6.20  this state or of any county, city, town, hospital district, or 
  6.21  school district in this state, or of the bonds, representing 
  6.22  general obligation of any other state in the United States, or 
  6.23  bonds and obligations of the federal home loan banks established 
  6.24  by act of Congress known as the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, 
  6.25  approved July 23, 1932, and acts amendatory thereto, or 
  6.26  debentures and other obligations of the federal intermediate 
  6.27  credit banks established by act of Congress known as the Federal 
  6.28  Intermediate Credit Banks Act, approved March 4, 1923, and acts 
  6.29  amendatory thereto, in obligations issued by the banks for 
  6.30  cooperatives or any of them, and in bonds and obligations of the 
  6.31  home owners' loan corporation established by act of Congress, 
  6.32  known as the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, and acts amendatory 
  6.33  thereto, in exchange for mortgages on homes, or contracts for 
  6.34  deed, or real estate held by it.  
  6.35     (2) Bills of exchange drawn in good faith against actually 
  6.36  existing values, including bills which are secured by shipping 
  7.1   documents conveying or securing title to goods shipped, and 
  7.2   which are not to be surrendered until such bills are paid in 
  7.3   cash or solvent credits.  This includes bankers' acceptances or 
  7.4   participations in bankers' acceptances of the kind and 
  7.5   maturities made eligible by law for rediscount with, or purchase 
  7.6   by, federal reserve banks, providing the same are accepted or 
  7.7   endorsed by a bank or trust company incorporated under the laws 
  7.8   of this state; or by any bank or trust company in the United 
  7.9   States which is a member of the Federal Reserve system.  
  7.10     (3) Paper based upon the collateral security of warehouse 
  7.11  receipts covering agricultural or manufactured products stored 
  7.12  in elevators or warehouses under the following conditions: 
  7.13     First, when the actual market value of the property covered 
  7.14  by such receipts at all times exceeds by at least ten percent 
  7.15  the amount loaned thereon, and 
  7.16     Second, when the full amount of every such loan is at all 
  7.17  times covered by fire insurance in duly authorized companies, 
  7.18  within the limit of their ability to cover such amounts, and the 
  7.19  excess, if any, in companies having sufficient paid-up capital 
  7.20  to authorize their admission, and payable, in case of loss, to 
  7.21  the bank or holder of the warehouse receipt.  
  7.22     (4) Total loans to an obligor secured by ~~either~~ 
  7.23  ~~certificates of deposit, or savings certificates or both, of any~~ 
  7.24  ~~such bank to the extent of the total of such certificates~~ 
  7.25  ~~pledged as security~~ segregated deposit accounts in the lending 
  7.26  bank, provided that a security interest in the deposit has been 
  7.27  perfected.  Where the deposit is eligible for withdrawal before 
  7.28  the secured loan matures, the bank shall establish internal 
  7.29  procedures to prevent release of the deposit without the lending 
  7.30  bank's prior consent.  
  7.31     (5) Debentures issued under the authority of the federal 
  7.32  National Mortgage Association.  
  7.33     (6) Obligations representing loans from one business day to 
  7.34  the next to any state bank or national banking association of 
  7.35  excess reserve balances from time to time maintained under the 
  7.36  provisions of section 48.221, or of section 19 of the Federal 
  8.1   Reserve Act, as amended, United States Code, title 12, sections 
  8.2   461 et seq.  
  8.3      Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 52.06, 
  8.4   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  8.5      Subdivision 1.  [REPORT AND AUDIT SCHEDULE.] Credit unions 
  8.6   shall be under the supervision of the commissioner of commerce.  
  8.7   Each credit union shall annually, on or before January 25, file 
  8.8   a report with the commissioner of commerce on forms supplied by 
  8.9   the commissioner for that purpose giving such relevant 
  8.10  information as the commissioner may require concerning the 
  8.11  operations during the preceding calendar year.  Additional 
  8.12  reports may be required.  Credit unions shall be examined, at 
  8.13  least once every ~~18~~ 24 calendar months, by the commissioner of 
  8.14  commerce.  Further, in lieu of this examination the commissioner 
  8.15  may accept any examination made by the National Credit Union 
  8.16  Administration, provided a copy of the examination is furnished 
  8.17  to the commissioner.  A report of the examination by the 
  8.18  commissioner of commerce shall be forwarded to the president, or 
  8.19  the chair of the board if the position is so designated pursuant 
  8.20  to section 52.09, subdivision 4, of the examined credit union 
  8.21  within 60 days after completion of the examination.  Within 60 
  8.22  days of the receipt of such report, a general meeting of the 
  8.23  directors and committees shall be called to consider matters 
  8.24  contained in the report.  For failure to file reports when due, 
  8.25  unless excused for cause, the credit union shall pay to the 
  8.26  state treasurer $5 for each day of its delinquency. 
  8.27     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 61A.245, 
  8.28  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  8.29     Subd. 3.  (a) In the case of contracts issued on or after 
  8.30  the operative date specified in subdivision 12, no contract of 
  8.31  annuity, except as stated in subdivision 2, shall be delivered 
  8.32  or issued for delivery in this state unless it contains in 
  8.33  substance the following provisions, or corresponding provisions 
  8.34  which in the opinion of the commissioner are at least as 
  8.35  favorable to the contract holder, upon cessation of payment of 
  8.36  considerations under the contract: 
  9.1      ~~(a)~~ (1) that upon cessation of payment of considerations 
  9.2   under a contract, or upon the written request of the contract 
  9.3   owner, the company ~~will~~ shall grant a paid-up annuity benefit on 
  9.4   a plan stipulated in the contract of the value specified in 
  9.5   subdivisions 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10; 
  9.6      ~~(b)~~ (2) if a contract provides for a lump sum settlement at 
  9.7   maturity, or at any other time, that upon surrender of the 
  9.8   contract at or prior to the commencement of any annuity 
  9.9   payments, the company ~~will~~ shall pay in lieu of any paid-up 
  9.10  annuity benefit a cash surrender benefit of the amount specified 
  9.11  in subdivisions 5, 6, 8 and 10.  The company ~~shall~~ may reserve 
  9.12  the right to defer the payment of the cash surrender benefit for 
  9.13  a period ~~of~~ not to exceed six months after demand therefor with 
  9.14  surrender of the contract after making a written request and 
  9.15  receiving written approval of the commissioner.  The request 
  9.16  must address the necessity and equitability to all contract 
  9.17  holders of the deferral; 
  9.18     ~~(c)~~ (3) a statement of the mortality table, if any, and 
  9.19  interest rates used in calculating any minimum paid-up annuity, 
  9.20  cash surrender or death benefits that are guaranteed under the 
  9.21  contract, together with sufficient information to determine the 
  9.22  amounts of the benefits; and 
  9.23     ~~(d)~~ (4) a statement that any paid-up annuity, cash 
  9.24  surrender or death benefits that may be available under the 
  9.25  contract are not less than the minimum benefits required by any 
  9.26  statute of the state in which the contract is delivered and an 
  9.27  explanation of the manner in which the benefits are altered by 
  9.28  the existence of any additional amounts credited by the company 
  9.29  to the contract, any indebtedness to the company on the contract 
  9.30  or any prior withdrawals from or partial surrenders of the 
  9.31  contract. 
  9.32     Notwithstanding the requirements of this ~~section~~ 
  9.33  subdivision, any deferred annuity contract may provide that if 
  9.34  no considerations have been received under a contract for a 
  9.35  period of two full years and the portion of the paid-up annuity 
  9.36  benefit at maturity on the plan stipulated in the contract 
 10.1   arising from considerations paid prior to ~~the~~ that period would 
 10.2   be less than $20 monthly, the company may at its option 
 10.3   terminate the contract by payment in cash of the then present 
 10.4   value of the portion of the paid-up annuity benefit, calculated 
 10.5   on the basis of the mortality table, if any, and interest rate 
 10.6   specified in the contract for determining the paid-up annuity 
 10.7   benefit, and by the payment shall be relieved of any further 
 10.8   obligation under the contract. 
 10.9      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 61A.245, 
 10.10  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 10.11     Subd. 4.  The minimum values as specified in subdivisions 
 10.12  5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 of any paid-up annuity, cash surrender or 
 10.13  death benefits available under an annuity contract shall be 
 10.14  based upon minimum nonforfeiture amounts as defined in this 
 10.15  subdivision. 
 10.16     (a) ~~With respect to contracts providing for flexible~~ 
 10.17  ~~considerations,~~ The minimum nonforfeiture amount at any time at 
 10.18  or prior to the commencement of any annuity payments shall be 
 10.19  equal to an accumulation up to that time at ~~a rate~~ rates of 
 10.20  interest ~~of three percent per annum~~ as indicated in paragraph (b)
 10.21  of ~~percentages of~~ the net considerations, as defined in this 
 10.22  subdivision, paid prior to that time, decreased by the sum 
 10.23  of clauses (1) through (4): 
 10.24     ~~(i)~~ (1) any prior withdrawals from or partial surrenders of 
 10.25  the contract accumulated at ~~a rate~~ rates of interest ~~of three~~ 
 10.26  ~~percent per annum and (ii)~~ as indicated in paragraph (b); 
 10.27     (2) an annual contract charge of $50, accumulated at rates 
 10.28  of interest as indicated in paragraph (b); 
 10.29     (3) any premium tax paid by the company for the contract 
 10.30  and not subsequently credited back to the company, such as upon 
 10.31  early termination of the contract, in which case this decrease 
 10.32  must not be taken, accumulated at rates of interest as indicated 
 10.33  in paragraph (b); and 
 10.34     (4) the amount of any indebtedness to the company on the 
 10.35  contract, including interest due and accrued~~; and increased by~~ 
 10.36  ~~any existing additional amounts credited by the company to the~~ 
 11.1   ~~contract~~. 
 11.2      The net considerations for a given contract year used to 
 11.3   define the minimum nonforfeiture amount shall be an amount ~~not~~ 
 11.4   ~~less than zero and shall be~~ equal to ~~the corresponding~~ 87.5 
 11.5   percent of the gross considerations credited to the contract 
 11.6   during that contract year ~~less an annual contract charge of $30~~ 
 11.7   ~~and less a collection charge of $1.25 per consideration credited~~ 
 11.8   ~~to the contract during that contract year.  The percentages of~~ 
 11.9   ~~net considerations shall be 65 percent of the net consideration~~ 
 11.10  ~~for the first contract year and 87.5 percent of the net~~ 
 11.11  ~~considerations for the second and later contract years.~~  
 11.12  ~~Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding sentence, the~~ 
 11.13  ~~percentage shall be 65 percent of the portion of the total net~~ 
 11.14  ~~consideration for any renewal contract year which exceeds by not~~ 
 11.15  ~~more than two times the sum of those portions of the net~~ 
 11.16  ~~considerations in all prior contract years for which the~~ 
 11.17  ~~percentage was 65 percent~~. 
 11.18     ~~(b) With respect to contracts providing for fixed scheduled~~ 
 11.19  ~~considerations, minimum nonforfeiture amounts shall be~~ 
 11.20  ~~calculated on the assumption that considerations are paid~~ 
 11.21  ~~annually in advance and shall be defined as for contracts with~~ 
 11.22  ~~flexible considerations which are paid annually with two~~ 
 11.23  ~~exceptions:~~ 
 11.24     ~~(1) the portion of the net consideration for the first~~ 
 11.25  ~~contract year to be accumulated shall be the sum of 65 percent~~ 
 11.26  ~~of the net consideration for the first contract year plus 22.5~~ 
 11.27  ~~percent of the excess of the net consideration for the first~~ 
 11.28  ~~contract year over the lesser of the net considerations for the~~ 
 11.29  ~~second and third contract years; and~~ 
 11.30     ~~(2) the annual contract charge shall be the lesser of (i)~~ 
 11.31  ~~$30 or (ii) ten percent of the gross annual consideration.~~ 
 11.32     ~~(c) With respect to contracts providing for a single~~ 
 11.33  ~~consideration, minimum nonforfeiture amounts shall be defined as~~ 
 11.34  ~~for contracts with flexible considerations except that the~~ 
 11.35  ~~percentage of net consideration used to determine the minimum~~ 
 11.36  ~~nonforfeiture amount shall be equal to 90 percent and the net~~ 
 12.1   ~~consideration shall be the gross consideration less a contract~~ 
 12.2   ~~charge of $75.~~ 
 12.3      (b) The interest rate used in determining minimum 
 12.4   nonforfeiture amounts must be an annual rate of interest 
 12.5   determined as the lesser of three percent per annum and the 
 12.6   following, which must be specified in the contract if the 
 12.7   interest rate will be reset: 
 12.8      (1) the five-year constant maturity treasury rate reported 
 12.9   by the Federal Reserve as of a date, or average over a period, 
 12.10  rounded to the nearest 1/20 of one percent, specified in the 
 12.11  contract no longer than 15 months prior to the contract issue 
 12.12  date or redetermination date under clause (4); 
 12.13     (2) reduced by 125 basis points; 
 12.14     (3) where the resulting interest rate is not less than one 
 12.15  percent; and 
 12.16     (4) the interest rate shall apply for an initial period and 
 12.17  may be redetermined for additional periods.  The redetermination 
 12.18  date, basis, and period, if any, shall be stated in the 
 12.19  contract.  The basis is the date or average over a specified 
 12.20  period that produces the value of the five-year constant 
 12.21  maturity treasury rate to be used at each redetermination date. 
 12.22     (c) During the period or term that a contract provides 
 12.23  substantive participation in an equity indexed benefit, it may 
 12.24  increase the reduction described in clause (2) by up to an 
 12.25  additional 100 basis points to reflect the value of the equity 
 12.26  index benefit.  The present value at the contract issue date, 
 12.27  and at each redetermination date thereafter, of the additional 
 12.28  reduction must not exceed the market value of the benefit.  The 
 12.29  commissioner may require a demonstration that the present value 
 12.30  of the additional reduction does not exceed the market value of 
 12.31  the benefit.  Lacking such a demonstration that is acceptable to 
 12.32  the commissioner, the commissioner may disallow or limit the 
 12.33  additional reduction. 
 12.34     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 61A.245, 
 12.35  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 12.36     Subd. 5.  Any paid-up annuity benefit available under a 
 13.1   contract shall be such that its present value on the date 
 13.2   annuity payments are to commence is at least equal to the 
 13.3   minimum nonforfeiture amount on that date.  The present value 
 13.4   shall be computed using the mortality table, if any, and the 
 13.5   interest ~~rate~~ rates specified in the contract for determining 
 13.6   the minimum paid-up annuity benefits guaranteed in the contract. 
 13.7      Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 61A.245, 
 13.8   subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 13.9      Subd. 6.  For contracts which provide cash surrender 
 13.10  benefits, the cash surrender benefits available prior to 
 13.11  maturity shall not be less than the present value as of the date 
 13.12  of surrender of that portion of the maturity value of the 
 13.13  paid-up annuity benefit which would be provided under the 
 13.14  contract at maturity arising from considerations paid prior to 
 13.15  the time of cash surrender reduced by the amount appropriate to 
 13.16  reflect any prior withdrawals from or partial surrenders of the 
 13.17  contract, the present value being calculated on the basis of an 
 13.18  interest rate not more than one percent higher than the interest 
 13.19  rate specified in the contract for accumulating the ~~net~~ 
 13.20  considerations to determine the maturity value, decreased by the 
 13.21  amount of any indebtedness to the company on the contract, 
 13.22  including interest due and accrued, and increased by any 
 13.23  existing additional amounts credited by the company to the 
 13.24  contract. In no event shall any cash surrender benefit be less 
 13.25  than the minimum nonforfeiture amount at that time.  The death 
 13.26  benefit under the contracts shall be at least equal to the cash 
 13.27  surrender benefit. 
 13.28     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 61A.245, 
 13.29  subdivision 12, is amended to read: 
 13.30     Subd. 12.  ~~After August 1, 1978, any company may file with~~ 
 13.31  ~~the commissioner a written notice of its election to comply with~~ 
 13.32  ~~the provisions of this section after a specified date before~~ 
 13.33  ~~August 1, 1980.  After the filing of such notice, then upon the~~ 
 13.34  ~~specified date, which shall be considered the operative date of~~ 
 13.35  ~~this section for such company, this section shall become~~ 
 13.36  ~~operative with respect to annuity contracts thereafter issued by~~ 
 14.1   ~~the company.  If a company makes no election, the operative date~~ 
 14.2   ~~of this section for the company shall be August 1, 1980.~~ After 
 14.3   the effective date of this act, a company may elect to apply its 
 14.4   provisions to annuity contracts on a contract form-by-contract 
 14.5   form basis before the second anniversary of the effective date 
 14.6   of this act.  In all other instances, this act applies to 
 14.7   annuity contracts issued by the company after the second 
 14.8   anniversary of this act. 
 14.9      Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 300.025, is 
 14.10  amended to read: 
 14.11     300.025 [ORGANIZATION OF FINANCIAL CORPORATIONS.] 
 14.12     (a) Three or more persons may form a corporation for any of 
 14.13  the purposes specified in section 47.12 by applying to the 
 14.14  department of commerce and complying with all applicable 
 14.15  organizational requirements and the conditions set out in 
 14.16  clauses (1) to (7).  However, no corporation may be formed under 
 14.17  this section if it may be formed under the Minnesota Business 
 14.18  Corporation Act.  The incorporators must subscribe a certificate 
 14.19  specifying: 
 14.20     (1) the corporation's name, which must distinguish it from 
 14.21  all other corporations authorized to do business in this state, 
 14.22  and must contain the word "company," "corporation," "bank," 
 14.23  "association," or "incorporated"; 
 14.24     (2) the general nature of the corporation's business and 
 14.25  its principal place of business; 
 14.26     (3) the period of its duration, if limited; 
 14.27     (4) the names and places of residence of the incorporators; 
 14.28     (5) the board in which the management of the corporation 
 14.29  will be vested, the date of the annual meeting at which it will 
 14.30  be elected, and the names and addresses of the board members 
 14.31  until the first election, a majority of whom must always 
 14.32  be either residents of this state or reside within 25 miles of 
 14.33  the main office of the financial corporation; 
 14.34     (6) the amount of capital stock, if any, how the capital 
 14.35  stock is to be paid in, the number of shares into which it is to 
 14.36  be divided, and the par value of each share; and, if there is to 
 15.1   be more than one class, a description and the terms of issue of 
 15.2   each class, and the method of voting on each class; and 
 15.3      (7) the highest amount of indebtedness or liability to 
 15.4   which the corporation will at any time be subject. 
 15.5      The certificate may contain any other lawful provision 
 15.6   defining and regulating the powers and business of the 
 15.7   corporation, its officers, directors, trustees, members, and 
 15.8   stockholders.  However, a corporation subject to section 48.27 
 15.9   may show its highest amount of indebtedness to be 30 times the 
 15.10  amount of its capital and actual surplus.  
 15.11     (b) A person doing business in this state may contest the 
 15.12  subsequent registration of a name with the office of the 
 15.13  secretary of state as provided in section 5.22. 
 15.14     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 300.23, is 
 15.15  amended to read: 
 15.16     300.23 [VOTING, HOW REGULATED.] 
 15.17     Unless otherwise provided in the certificate or bylaws, at 
 15.18  every meeting each stockholder or member is entitled to one vote 
 15.19  in person, or by proxy made within one year or other time 
 15.20  specially limited by law, for each share or other lawful unit of 
 15.21  representation held in an individual, corporate, or 
 15.22  representative capacity.  ~~No stock may be voted on at an~~ 
 15.23  ~~election within 20 days after its transfer on the books of the~~ 
 15.24  ~~corporation.  In the case of a banking corporation, the~~ 
 15.25  ~~commissioner of commerce may waive the 20-day limitation.~~ 
 15.26     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 332.29, 
 15.27  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 15.28     Subdivision 1.  [EXAMINATION; AUDIT.] The commissioner 
 15.29  shall examine the books and records of every licensee hereunder 
 15.30  and of any person engaged in the business of debt prorating 
 15.31  service as defined in section 332.13 at least once every ~~18~~ 24 
 15.32  calendar months.  The commissioner once during any calendar 
 15.33  year, may require the submission of an audit prepared by a 
 15.34  certified public accountant of the books and records of each 
 15.35  licensee hereunder.  If the licensee has, within one year 
 15.36  previous to the commissioner's demand, had an audit prepared for 
 16.1   some other purpose, this audit may be submitted to satisfy the 
 16.2   requirement of this section.  The commissioner may investigate 
 16.3   any complaint concerning violations of sections 332.12 to 332.29 
 16.4   and may require the attendance and sworn testimony of witnesses 
 16.5   and the production of documents.  
 16.6      Sec. 17.  [REPEALER.] 
 16.7      Minnesota Rules, parts 2675.0300; 2675.2250; and 2675.6400, 
 16.8   are repealed effective the day following final enactment.