PIANY’s top-priority photo inspection law (A.3172-A/S.5889) went into effect on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. This legislation makes important changes to New York state’s antiquated photo inspection system.
The law allows insurance carriers to submit a waiver to the New York State Department of Financial Services, making photo inspections optional for certain auto insurance customers. This flexibility gives those customers relief from needing to locate and commute to an available photo inspection site to obtain a photo inspection.
Agents and insurance carriers are awaiting guidance from the DFS on how this new legislation will be implemented. The DFS issued a Notice of proposed rule making on April 3, 2024, with a public comment period ending on Monday, June 3, 2024. PIANY has submitted comments to the DFS suggesting the creation of an online standardized form to simplify administrative procedures and bring the regulation in-line with the modern expectations of digital-first interactions.
PIANY would again like to thank all the PIA members who participated in PIANY’s grassroots campaign to advocate for this measure during each stage of the legislative process. PIANY would like to extend an expression of gratitude to Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, D-96, Sen. Neil D. Breslin, D-44, and Gov. Kathy Hochul for their exceptional leadership on this issue.
Learn more about photo inspection reform here.
PIA Northeast is keeping tracking of what specific carriers are doing with relation to waiving photo inspections. We encourage members to send their carrier notices on photo inspections to us at resourcecenter@pia.org.
Let’s build on this success
For 2024, PIA is working on numerous legislative initiatives to assist our members, and the consumers and businesses you serve, including a standardized definition of windstorm, elimination of the anti-arson application, and excess-line reforms.
If you are interested in getting involved with PIANY’s legislative and advocacy work, there are many ways to engage with the association:
- Participate in PIANY’s District Office Visit Program;
- Become a member of Agents Advocacy Coalition; and
- Watch your PIA Northeast publications and PIA Northeast’s social-media channels for important New York updates, and share them with your followers.
Shirley Albright, CPIA, CISR
Shirley Albright, CPIA, CISR, joined PIA in 1983 and has worked in many facets of the association over the years. In 1995, she was an integral part of establishing the Industry Resource Center to include the development of the software system to record and track all incoming and outgoing inquiries. She quickly moved from industry resource representative to assistant director and eventually to her current position as director. Currently, Shirley oversees the daily operations of the Industry Resource Center to include the triage of thousands of incoming member inquiries. Her other accomplishments include obtaining her New York state property/casualty broker’s license, CPIA and CISR designations.
