S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
561
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to prohibiting insurers
from cancelling, refusing to issue or renew homeowner's insurance
based on the breed of dog owned
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 3421
to read as follows:
S 3421. HOMEOWNER'S LIABILITY INSURANCE; DOGS. NO INSURER ISSUING A
POLICY OR CONTRACT INSURING AGAINST LIABILITY FOR INJURY TO ANY PERSON,
OR INJURY TO OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF OWNERSHIP OR
LEASE OF RESIDENTIAL ONE, TWO, THREE OR FOUR DWELLING REAL PROPERTY
SHALL REFUSE TO ISSUE, RENEW OR CANCEL FOR SUCH A POLICY OR CONTRACT
BASED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UPON THE HARBORING OF ANY SPECIFIC BREED OR
BREEDS OF DOG OR DOGS UPON SUCH REAL PROPERTY. THE RATES FOR THAT
PORTION OF ANY SUCH POLICY OR CONTRACT WHICH INSURES AGAINST LIABILITY
FOR INJURY TO ANY PERSON, OR INJURY TO OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY SHALL
BE BASED ON SOUND UNDERWRITING AND ACTUARIAL PRINCIPLES. HOWEVER, IF ANY
SUCH DOG HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A DANGEROUS DOG PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE
HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW, THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS SECTION SHALL IN NO MANNER PROHIBIT AN INSURER FROM REFUSING TO
ISSUE OR RENEW OR FROM CANCELLING ANY SUCH CONTRACT OR POLICY, NOR FROM
IMPOSING AN INCREASED PREMIUM OR RATE FOR SUCH A POLICY OR CONTRACT
BASED ON SOUND UNDERWRITING AND ACTUARIAL PRINCIPLES REASONABLY RELATED
TO ACTUAL OR ANTICIPATED LOSS EXPERIENCE SUBJECT TO THE APPLICABLE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS
ARTICLE.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all
policies issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such
date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01496-01-5