BILL NUMBER:  S4320

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to reducing the cost of
auto insurance for any automobile equipped with side door airbags


 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

This bill would allow for premium reductions for non-commercial
private passenger vehicles equipped with side door inflatable
restraint systems (airbags).

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1. Amends Section 2336 of the Insurance Law by adding new
subsection (i) that would give any schedule or rating plan for
non-commercial private passenger automobile insurance an appropriate
reduction in premium charges for personal injury protection and
medical payment coverage's with respect to any insured vehicle
equipped with a side door inflatable restraint system (airbags), which
meet federal or appropriate equivalent standards. Provides that with
respect to vehicles other than non-commercial private passenger
vehicle, any schedule rating plan may include an appropriate premium
credit, which reflects the existence of a side door inflatable
              

restraint system.

Section 2. Effective Date

 JUSTIFICATION :

Studies show that side airbags which protect people's heads, reduce
driver deaths in drivers side-struck cars by an estimated 37 percent.
Airbags that protect the chest and abdomen but not the head, while
still protecting the passengers, reduce deaths by only 26 percent.
New York State law currently provides for premium reductions for
vehicles equipped with passenger and driver side airbags. Since there
is clearly a reduction in passenger injuries and deaths with vehicles
equipped with side door airbags, this legislation aims to address
those benefits with appropriate premium reductions.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2008: S.7939 (Referred to Senate Insurance Committee)

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately after it shall have become a
law.