(1) Any life settlement provider, broker, or person licensed or regulated by this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of chapters 48.03 and 48.37 RCW, except as otherwise explicitly exempted or modified in this chapter.

     (2) For the purpose of ascertaining its condition, or compliance with this title, the commissioner may as often as the commissioner finds advisable examine the accounts, records, documents, and transactions of:

     (a) Any life settlement provider, broker, or person licensed or regulated under this chapter;

     (b) Any person having a contract under which he or she enjoys in fact the exclusive or dominant right to manage or control a provider or broker; and

     (c) Any person holding the shares of capital stock of a provider or broker for the purpose of control of its management either as voting trustee or otherwise.

     (3) In lieu of an examination or market conduct oversight activity under this chapter of any foreign or alien licensee licensed in this state, the commissioner may, at the commissioner's discretion, accept an examination report or market conduct oversight action on the provider or broker as prepared by the commissioner for the provider's or broker's state of domicile or port-of-entry state.

     (4)(a) Every examination, whatsoever, or any part of the examination of any person licensed or regulated under this chapter shall be at the expense of the person examined. RCW 48.03.060 (1) and (2) are not applicable to persons licensed or regulated under this chapter.

     (b) When making an examination under this section, the commissioner may retain attorneys, appraisers, independent actuaries, independent certified public accountants, or other professionals and specialists as examiners, the cost of which shall be borne by the person who is the subject of the examination.

     (c) The person examined and liable therefore shall reimburse the state upon presentation of an itemized statement thereof, for the actual travel expenses of the commissioner's examiners, their reasonable living expense allowance, and their per diem compensation, including salary and the employer's cost of employee benefits, at a reasonable rate approved by the commissioner, incurred on account of the examination. Per diem salary and expenses for employees shall be established by the commissioner on the basis of the national association of insurance commissioner's recommended salary and expense schedule for zone examiners, or the salary schedule established by the Washington personnel resources board and the expense schedule established by the office of financial management, whichever is higher.

     (d) The commissioner or the commissioner's examiners shall not receive or accept any additional emolument on account of any examination.

     (5) Nothing contained in this section limits the commissioner's authority to terminate or suspend any examination or market conduct oversight activities in order to pursue other legal or regulatory action under the insurance laws of this state. Findings of fact and conclusions made pursuant to any order adopting an examination report are prima facie evidence in any legal or regulatory action.

[2009 c 104 § 9.]