Gov. Kathy Hochul this week signed S.8127 into law. It simplifies the process for placing business in the excess-lines marketplace. The new law, sponsored by Sen. Neil Breslin, D-44, and Assemblymember Pamela Hunter, D-128, reduces excessive reporting requirements....
N.Y.: Governor vetoes changes to workers’ compensation
Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a potentially disruptive change to New York’s workers’ compensation laws. The bill would have changed the definition of temporary total disability in a way that would have increased workers’ compensation premium costs for businesses across the...
N.Y.: Understanding a legislative proposal to disrupt workers’ compensation
A bill passed late in the 2022 New York legislative session (S.768/A.1118) proposes a change to the definition of temporary total disability as used in workers’ compensation policies in New York state. This technical change would alter the consideration of temporary...
N.Y.: Amendment to dog breed law signed
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed A.9284-A on Dec. 16, 2022. It closes a loophole in the law by prohibiting insurers from excluding, limiting, restricting or reducing coverage on homeowners insurance policies based solely on insureds owning specific breeds of dogs....
N.Y.: DFS issues guidance on cannabis-related criminal convictions and underwriting
The New York State Department of Financial Services issued a circular letter last week to provide guidance to the insurance industry on cannabis-related criminal convictions and insurance underwriting. Under New York state law, it is illegal for any person or entity...
Letter to the editor: It’s time to fix windstorm coverage in N.Y. insurance policies
Dear Editor, As we look at the damage caused by Hurricane Ian in Florida and South Carolina—and prepare for the possible damage caused by Hurricane Nicole—we say our prayers and think about how New Yorkers would fair in this type of disaster. The answer lies within...
N.Y.: Governor vetoes photo inspection legislation
In a stunning move, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed PIANY’s top-priority photo inspection legislation (A.6877/S.6028) yesterday. The legislation would have made New York’s outdated photo inspection requirements optional. The governor acted quickly on this bill. It...
An overview: Amendments to N.Y.’s cyber security regulation (23 NYCRR 500)
The New York State Department of Financial Services released the official proposed second amendment to the cybersecurity regulation (23 NYCRR 500). This follows an unofficial draft of the amendments that circulated in August. The amendment would make multi-factor...
N.Y.: Section-by-section analysis, DFS proposed second amendment to 23 NYCRR 500
Originally published in 2017, 23 NYCRR 500 was a first-in-the-nation attempt at creating standards for the financial services industry in protecting nonpublic information. These amendments would be the first major changes to the regulation since its adoption. The...
N.Y. elections: Democrats hold on to state-wide offices, likely to lose seats in the Legislature
The results of this election look a lot like most elections in New York state for the past 10 years. This year, Democrats won the state-wide positions of governor, comptroller, and attorney general, and hold comfortable majorities in both the Assembly and the State....