Notwithstanding any general law to the contrary, any corporation, whether organized with capital stock or as a mutual association, that is organized for the purpose of carrying on within this state the business of insurance, surety, or indemnity, shall be organized pursuant to chapter 1.2 of this title and shall have all the rights and privileges and be subject to provisions of chapter 1 of Title 27, relating to domestic insurance companies; provided, however, the articles of incorporation comply with requirements established by rule or regulation promulgated by the director of the department of business regulation, and provided, further, that no insurance corporation may commence business until it has satisfied the requirements enumerated in § 27-1-37. Any corporation as defined in this section and, notwithstanding the provisions of § 27-41-22, any corporation organized, created, or established in any manner pursuant to chapters 19, 20, 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, and 41 of title 27, shall obtain prior approval from the director of the department of business regulation for all charter amendments made pursuant to this title. Any corporation defined in this section created by special act of the general assembly, may amend its charter pursuant to § 7-1.2-902, subject to prior approval of the amendment by the director of the department of business regulation.