REFERENCE INTEREST RATE

(a) In this section, "Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average" means the Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average--Monthly Average Corporates, as published by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (g), the reference interest rate for purposes of Section 425.061 is determined as provided by Subsections (c)-(f). (c) The reference interest rate for a life insurance policy is the lesser of the average over a period of 36 months or the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year preceding the year of issue, of the Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average. (d) The reference interest rate is the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or year of purchase, of the Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average for: (1) a single premium immediate annuity or annuity benefits involving life contingencies arising from another annuity with a cash settlement option or from a guaranteed interest contract with a cash settlement option; (2) an annuity or guaranteed interest contract with a cash settlement option, other than an annuity or contract described by Subdivision (1), that is valued on an issue year basis and has a guarantee duration as determined under Section 425.062(f) of 10 years or less; or (3) an annuity or guaranteed interest contract without a cash settlement option. (e) The reference interest rate is the lesser of the average over a period of 36 months or the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or purchase, of the Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average for an annuity or guaranteed interest contract with a cash settlement option, other than an annuity or contract described by Subsection (d)(1), that is valued on an issue year basis and has a guarantee duration as determined under Section 425.062(f) greater than 10 years. (f) The reference interest rate is the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of the change in the fund, of the Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average, for an annuity or guaranteed interest contract with a cash settlement option, other than an annuity or contract described by Subsection (d)(1), that is valued on a change in fund basis. (g) At least annually, the commissioner shall: (1) determine whether the reference interest rates prescribed by Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) continue to be a reasonably accurate approximation of the average yield achieved from purchases in the United States in publicly quoted markets of investment grade fixed term and fixed interest corporate obligations for the periods referenced in Subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f), as applicable; and (2) if the commissioner determines that a reference interest rate prescribed by Subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f) is not a reasonably accurate approximation of the average yield described by Subdivision (1), adopt rules in the manner prescribed by Chapters 2001 and 2002, Government Code, to prescribe an alternative method of determining a reference interest rate, as appropriate, that is a reasonably accurate approximation of that average yield.