The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (1) "Advertisement" means any material designed to create public interest in a product, or induce the public to purchase, increase, modify, reinstate, borrow on, surrender, replace, or retain a policy, as more specifically defined in the rules and operating procedures of the commission.

     (2) "Bylaws" means those bylaws established by the commission for its governance, or for directing or controlling the commission's actions or conduct.

     (3) "Compact" means the compact set forth in this chapter.

     (4) "Compacting state" means any state which has enacted the compact and which has not withdrawn under RCW 48.130.130(1) or been terminated under RCW 48.130.130(2).

     (5) "Commission" means the interstate insurance product regulation commission established in RCW 48.130.020.

     (6) "Commissioner" means the insurance commissioner or the chief insurance regulatory official of a state including but not limited to commissioner, superintendent, director, or administrator.

     (7) "Domiciliary state" means the state in which an insurer is incorporated or organized; or, in the case of an alien insurer, its state of entry.

     (8) "Insurer" means any entity licensed by a state to issue contracts of insurance for any of the lines of insurance covered by the compact.

     (9) "Member" means the person chosen by a compacting state as its representative to the commission, or his or her designee.

     (10) "Noncompacting state" means any state which is not at the time a compacting state.

     (11) "Operating procedures" mean procedures adopted by the commission implementing a rule, uniform standard, or a provision of the compact.

     (12) "Product" means the form of a policy or contract, including any application, endorsement, or related form which is attached to and made a part of the policy or contract, and any evidence of coverage or certificate, for an individual or group annuity, life insurance, disability income, or long-term care insurance product that an insurer is authorized to issue.

     (13) "Rule" means a statement of general or particular applicability and future effect adopted by the commission, including a uniform standard developed under RCW 48.130.060, designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describing the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of the commission, which shall have the force and effect of law in the compacting states.

     (14) "State" means any state, district, or territory of the United States of America.

     (15) "Third-party filer" means an entity that submits a product filing to the commission on behalf of an insurer.

     (16) "Uniform standard" means a standard adopted by the commission for a product line, under RCW 48.130.060, and includes all of the product requirements in aggregate. However, each uniform standard shall be construed, whether express or implied, to prohibit the use of any inconsistent, misleading, or ambiguous provisions in a product and the form of the product made available to the public shall not be unfair, inequitable, or against public policy as determined by the commission.

[2005 c 92 § 2.]