Cal. Ins. Code § 10489.8

Reserves for any category of policies, contracts or benefits as established by the commissioner may be calculated, at the option of the insurer, according to any standards which produce greater aggregate reserves for such category than those calculated according to the minimum standard herein provided, but the rate or rates of interest used for policies and contracts, other than annuity and pure endowment contracts, shall not be higher than the corresponding rate or rates of interest used in calculating any nonforfeiture benefits provided for therein.

Any such company which at any time shall have adopted any standard of valuation producing greater aggregate reserves than those calculated according to the minimum standard provided in this article may, with the approval of the commissioner, adopt any lower standard of valuation, but not lower than the minimum provided in this article. However, for the purposes of this section, the holding of additional reserves previously determined by a qualified actuary to be necessary to render the opinion required by Section 10489.15 shall not be deemed to be the adoption of a higher standard of valuation.