A certificate of exemption may be procured from the commissioner by filing with him or her certified copies of the articles of incorporation, association, bylaws, rules and regulations, or other organization or governing documents of the applicant together with certified copies of any evidences of insurance which it may issue and a statement of the operations of the applicant. There shall also be filed with the application a statement of the financial condition and income and disbursement exhibit of the applicant in such form as the commissioner may, in his or her discretion, find necessary in order to determine whether the applicant complies with the

applicable requirements of this article. The commissioner may, pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 730) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 1, require from any person transacting life or disability insurance, whether or not an applicant for a certificate of exemption, such information as will enable him or her to determine whether or not the person is transacting life or disability insurance in conformity with or in violation of this code.