Ark. Code Ann. § 23-92-101 (2026)

1. “Multiple employer welfare arrangement” has the same meaning as under 29 U.S.C. § 1002(40), as it existed on January 1, 2019.
2. 1. A fully insured multiple employer trust and fully insured multiple employer welfare arrangement that intends to provide benefits to citizens of this state shall register with the Insurance Commissioner before soliciting or enrolling members or before conducting any other business activity in Arkansas.
   2. 1. Each fully insured multiple employer trust and fully insured multiple employer welfare arrangement under this section that is conducting any business activity in Arkansas shall register with the commissioner.
      2. After the initial registration, a fully insured multiple employer trust and fully insured multiple employer welfare arrangement under this section that conducts business in Arkansas shall register with the commissioner no later than January 1 of each year for as long as it continues to do business in Arkansas.
3. 1. A multiple employer trust or multiple employer welfare arrangement that is not fully insured shall obtain a certificate of authority under rules promulgated by the commissioner before doing business in Arkansas.
   2. In order to remain licensed, a multiple employer trust or multiple employer welfare arrangement that is not fully insured shall comply with applicable terms of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., as it existed on January 1, 2019.
   3. 1. The commissioner shall adopt rules regulating multiple employer trusts and multiple employer welfare arrangements that are not fully insured.
      2. The rules shall include information and procedures concerning:
         1. The criteria and application for obtaining a certificate of authority from the State Insurance Department to conduct business in Arkansas that are not inconsistent with 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-1 et seq., as it existed on January 1, 2019;
         2. The benefits to be offered that are not inconsistent with similarly situated single employer plans;
         3. Financial requirements consistent with sound actuarial principles;
         4. Fees;
         5. Insolvency procedures;
         6. Examinations;
         7. Filing of forms and rates;
         8. Written disclosures and other consumer protections;
         9. Reporting requirements;
         10. Excess or stop loss insurance; and
         11. Other factors the commissioner deems necessary for the effective regulation of multiple employer welfare trusts and multiple employer welfare arrangements that are not fully insured, if the requirements are not inconsistent with 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-1 et seq., as it existed on January 1, 2019.
4. 1. To the extent permitted by federal law, a fully insured or self-insured multiple employer welfare arrangement may include employers in a common trade or industry, employers representing two (2) or more trades or industries, sole proprietors, or working owners as defined in 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-5(e), as it existed on January 1, 2019.
   2. The rules by which the multiple employer welfare arrangement shall abide are determined at the aggregate level so that in an arrangement in which the total number of employers in the multiple employer welfare arrangement, including working owners, exceeds fifty (50), the multiple employer welfare arrangement is subject to the requirements of the large group market.

History. Acts 1985, No. 795, §§ 1, 2; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 66-6001, 66-6002; Acts 2001, No. 1603, § 44; 2003, No. 516, § 6; 2005, No. 1697, § 22; 2019, No. 919, § 1.

A.C.R.C. Notes. Acts 2005, No. 1697, § 1, provided: “Purpose. The General Assembly recognizes that a competitive market for insurance products is vital to Arkansans and that active competition in the insurance marketplace produces the fairest and lowest rates over any given period of time. Furthermore, open and transparent regulation of the insurance industry as well as widespread dissemination of information concerning regulatory actions regarding insurance rates and information helpful to consumers in purchasing and utilizing insurance coverage will assist Arkansans in purchasing, maintaining, and utilizing wisely their insurance coverages. Therefore, the purpose of this act is to assist consumers by providing them the information and tools necessary to be an informed and educated consumer of insurance coverage.”

Amendments. The 2019 amendment substituted “January 1, 2019” for “January 1, 2003” in (a); in (b)(1), substituted “A fully insured” for “Every fully insured”, substituted “Insurance Commissioner before soliciting” for “Insurance Commissioner prior to soliciting”, and substituted “members or before conducting” for “members or prior to conducting”; in (b)(2)(A), deleted “as of March 18, 2003” following “Arkansas” and deleted “no later than July 1, 2003” following “commissioner”; in (b)(2)(B), substituted “a fully insured” for “each fully insured” and deleted “thereafter” preceding “register”; in (c)(1), substituted “shall obtain” for “must obtain” and substituted “rules” for “regulations”; in (c)(2), substituted “shall comply” for “must comply”, substituted “applicable terms of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974” for “all Arkansas laws that are not inconsistent with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974”, inserted “29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.”, and substituted “January 1, 2019” for “January 1, 2003”; added “that are not inconsistent with 29 C.F.R. § 2510, as it existed on January 1, 2019” in (c)(3)(B)(i); added “that are not inconsistent with similarly situated single employer plans” in (c)(3)(B)(ii); added “consistent with sound actuarial principles” in (c)(3)(B)(iii); added “if the requirements are not inconsistent with 29 C.F.R. § 2510, as it existed on January 1, 2019” in (c)(3)(B)(xi); added (d); and made stylistic changes.