Section 709. (a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (d), the commissioner shall review each workers' compensation insurance filing made by a rating organization or an insurer as soon as reasonably possible after the filing has been made in order to determine whether it meets the requirements of this article. No filing for the provision for claim payment shall become effective prior to its approval by the commissioner unless the commissioner fails to approve or disapprove the filing within the time period described in subsection (b)(1) or any extension of that period under subsection (b)(2).
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), any insurer filing for loss adjustment or claim management expenses, other operating expenses, assessments, taxes and profits or contingency allowances filed with the commissioner with respect to the period after December 1, 1994, shall not be subject to the commissioner's approval unless such insurer's rates are found to be in violation of sections 704 and 711.
(b) (1) The effective date of each filing under this article shall be the date specified in the filing. The effective date of the filing may not be earlier than thirty (30) days after the date the filing is received by the commissioner or the date of receipt of the information furnished in support of the filing if such supporting information is required by the commissioner.
(2) The period during which the filing may not become effective may be extended by the commissioner for an additional period not to exceed one hundred fifty (150) days if the commissioner gives written notice within the period described in paragraph (1) to the insurer or rating organization which made the filing that the commissioner needs additional time for the consideration of the filing. No filing shall be made effective for any period prior to the later of the proposed effective date or the expiration of an extension by the commissioner pursuant to this paragraph.
(3) Upon written application by an insurer or rating organization, the commissioner may authorize a filing, which the commissioner has reviewed to become effective before the expiration of the period described in paragraph (1).
(4) A filing shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this article unless disapproved by the commissioner within the period described in paragraph (1) or any extension thereof.
(c) (1) Subject to approval or disapproval under subsection (b), a rating organization shall file with the commissioner: (i) On an annual basis, workers' compensation rates and rating plans that are limited to provision for claim payment. (ii) Each workers' compensation policy form to be used by its members. (iii) The uniform classification system. (iv) The uniform experience rating plan and related rules. (v) Any other information that the commissioner requests relevant to the foregoing and is otherwise entitled to receive under this article.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, the commissioner may approve or disapprove any filing by a rating organization without determining whether a reasonable degree of competition exists within the market.
(d) If the loss cost provision in a schedule of workers' compensation rates for specific classifications of risks filed by an insurer does not differ from the provision for claim payment contained in the schedule of workers' compensation rates for those classifications filed by a rating organization under subsection (c) and approved pursuant to the provisions of this article, then the schedule of rates filed by the insurer shall not be subject to subsection (b) but shall become effective for the purposes of section 705.
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (d), the commissioner may investigate and evaluate all workers' compensation filings to determine whether the filings meet the requirements of this article.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 705, the commissioner may require any insurer or rating organization to comply with the requirements of subsection (b) if the commissioner has found pursuant to section 710 that a reasonable degree of competition does not exist within the workers' compensation insurance market.

(709 added July 2, 1993, P.L.190, No.44)