S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3965
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 31, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sen. SEWARD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law and the
volunteer firefighters' benefit law, in relation to penalties for
false representation and to repeal certain provisions of such laws
relating thereto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 55 of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law
is REPEALED and a new section 55 is added to read as follows:
§ 55. FRAUDULENT PRACTICES. 1. ANY PERSON WHO, KNOWINGLY AND WITH
INTENT TO DEFRAUD PRESENTS, CAUSES TO BE PRESENTED, OR PREPARES WITH
KNOWLEDGE OR BELIEF THAT IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO OR BY AN INSURER OR
PURPORTED INSURER, OR ANY AGENT THEREOF, ANY WRITTEN STATEMENT AS PART
OF, OR IN SUPPORT OF, AN APPLICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF OR THE RATING
OF AN INSURANCE POLICY FOR COMPENSATION INSURANCE, OR A CLAIM FOR
PAYMENT OR OTHER BENEFIT PURSUANT TO A COMPENSATION POLICY WHICH HE OR
SHE KNOWS TO: (I) CONTAIN A FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION CONCERNING
ANY FACT MATERIAL THERETO; OR (II) OMITS ANY FACT MATERIAL THERETO,
SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS E FELONY. UPON CONVICTION, THE COURT IN ADDI-
TION TO ANY OTHER AUTHORIZED SENTENCE, MAY ORDER FORFEITURE OF ALL
RIGHTS TO COMPENSATION OR PAYMENTS OF ANY BENEFIT, AND MAY ALSO REQUIRE
RESTITUTION OF ANY AMOUNT RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS
SUBDIVISION.
2. AN EMPLOYER OR CARRIER, OR ANY EMPLOYEE, AGENT, OR PERSON ACTING ON
BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYER OR CARRIER, WHO KNOWINGLY MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT
OR REPRESENTATION AS TO A MATERIAL FACT IN THE COURSE OF REPORTING,
INVESTIGATION OF, OR ADJUSTING A CLAIM FOR ANY BENEFIT OR PAYMENT UNDER
THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING PROVISION OF
SUCH PAYMENT OR BENEFIT SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS E FELONY.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04873-01-7
S. 3965 2
3. A PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION AS
TO A MATERIAL FACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING, MAINTAINING OR RENEWING
INSURANCE UNDER THIS CHAPTER, WHETHER FOR HIMSELF OR HERSELF OR FOR ANY
OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVADING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
SECTION FIFTY OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS E FELONY. IN
ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDY, THE CARRIER PROVIDING INSURANCE SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO RESTITUTION OF ANY AMOUNT OBTAINED OR WITHHELD AS A RESULT
OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
4. CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW, IN
ANY PROSECUTION ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO OR THREE OF
THIS SECTION, OR SECTIONS FIFTY-TWO AND ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THE
WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW, IN WHICH THE ACT OR ACTS ALLEGED MAY ALSO
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE PENAL OR OTHER LAW, THE PROSECUTING OFFI-
CIAL MAY CHARGE A PERSON PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AND
IN THE SAME ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT WITH A VIOLATION OF SUCH OTHER LAW.
5. A PERSON (A) WHO IS CONVICTED OF A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE
UNDER THIS SECTION WITHIN TEN YEARS OF THE PRIOR CONVICTION, OR (B) WHO
VIOLATES ANY PROVISION OF THIS SECTION CONCERNING TWO OR MORE CLAIMANTS,
SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS D FELONY.
6. IF FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING COMPENSATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
FIFTEEN OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW, OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF INFLU-
ENCING ANY DETERMINATION REGARDING ANY SUCH PAYMENT, A CLAIMANT KNOWING-
LY MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION AS TO A MATERIAL FACT, SUCH
PERSON SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM RECEIVING ANY COMPENSATION DIRECTLY
ATTRIBUTABLE TO SUCH FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION. IN ADDITION, AS
DETERMINED BY THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD, THE CLAIMANT SHALL BE
SUBJECT TO A DISQUALIFICATION OR AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY UP TO THE FOREGO-
ING AMOUNT DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESEN-
TATION. ANY PENALTY MONIES SHALL BE PAID INTO THE STATE TREASURY.
7. IF WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF A CLAIMANT, ANOTHER PERSON KNOWINGLY MAKES
A FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION AS TO A MATERIAL FACT FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ASSISTING A CLAIMANT IN EITHER OBTAINING, OR INFLUENCING ANY
DETERMINATION REGARDING COMPENSATION PURSUANT TO SECTION FIFTEEN OF THE
WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW, SUCH CLAIMANT MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM
RECEIVING ANY COMPENSATION DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO SUCH FALSE STATEMENT
OR REPRESENTATION. IN ADDITION, AS DETERMINED BY THE WORKERS' COMPEN-
SATION BOARD, THE CLAIMANT MAY BE SUBJECT TO A DISQUALIFICATION OR AN
ADDITIONAL PENALTY UP TO THE FOREGOING AMOUNT DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO
THE FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION. ANY PENALTY MONIES SHALL BE
DEPOSITED TO THE CREDIT OF THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE.
8. IF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD OR ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION
OVER PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION DETERMINES
THAT THE PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT OF SUCH CLAIM, INCLUDING ANY APPEALS,
HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED OR CONTINUED WITHOUT REASONABLE GROUND:
(I) THE COST OF SUCH PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE PARTY
WHO HAS SO INSTITUTED OR CONTINUED THE PROCEEDINGS, WHICH SHALL BE PAYA-
BLE TO THE BOARD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE
HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW;
(II) REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES SHALL BE ASSESSED AGAINST AN ATTORNEY
OR LICENSED REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS INSTITUTED OR CONTINUED PROCEEDINGS
WITHOUT REASONABLE GROUNDS, WHICH ASSESSMENT SHALL BE PAYABLE TO THE
BOARD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE HUNDRED
FIFTY-ONE OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW. FEES AWARDED UNDER THIS
PROVISION MAY NOT BE RECOUPED FROM THE PARTY; AND
(III) SUCH ASSESSMENTS SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTY
PERMITTED UNDER THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW.
S. 3965 3
§ 2. Section 55 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law is REPEALED
and a new section 55 is added to read as follows:
§ 55. FRAUDULENT PRACTICES. 1. ANY PERSON WHO, KNOWINGLY AND WITH
INTENT TO DEFRAUD PRESENTS, CAUSES TO BE PRESENTED, OR PREPARES WITH
KNOWLEDGE OR BELIEF THAT IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO OR BY AN INSURER OR
PURPORTED INSURER, OR ANY AGENT THEREOF, ANY WRITTEN STATEMENT AS PART
OF, OR IN SUPPORT OF, AN APPLICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF OR THE RATING
OF AN INSURANCE POLICY FOR COMPENSATION INSURANCE, OR A CLAIM FOR
PAYMENT OR OTHER BENEFIT PURSUANT TO A COMPENSATION POLICY WHICH HE OR
SHE KNOWS TO: (I) CONTAIN A FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION CONCERNING
ANY FACT MATERIAL THERETO; OR (II) OMITS ANY FACT MATERIAL THERETO,
SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS E FELONY. UPON CONVICTION, THE COURT IN ADDI-
TION TO ANY OTHER AUTHORIZED SENTENCE, MAY ORDER FORFEITURE OF ALL
RIGHTS TO COMPENSATION OR PAYMENTS OF ANY BENEFIT, AND MAY ALSO REQUIRE
RESTITUTION OF ANY AMOUNT RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS
SUBDIVISION.
2. AN EMPLOYER OR CARRIER, OR ANY EMPLOYEE, AGENT, OR PERSON ACTING ON
BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYER OR CARRIER, WHO KNOWINGLY MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT
OR REPRESENTATION AS TO A MATERIAL FACT IN THE COURSE OF REPORTING,
INVESTIGATION OF, OR ADJUSTING A CLAIM FOR ANY BENEFIT OR PAYMENT UNDER
THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING PROVISION OF
SUCH PAYMENT OR BENEFIT SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS E FELONY.
3. A PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION AS
TO A MATERIAL FACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING, MAINTAINING OR RENEWING
INSURANCE UNDER THIS CHAPTER, WHETHER FOR HIMSELF OR HERSELF OR FOR ANY
OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVADING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
SECTION FIFTY OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS E FELONY. IN
ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDY, THE CARRIER PROVIDING INSURANCE SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO RESTITUTION OF ANY AMOUNT OBTAINED OR WITHHELD AS A RESULT
OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
4. CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW, IN
ANY PROSECUTION ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO OR THREE OF
THIS SECTION, OR SECTIONS FIFTY-TWO AND ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THE
WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW, IN WHICH THE ACT OR ACTS ALLEGED MAY ALSO
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE PENAL OR OTHER LAW, THE PROSECUTING OFFI-
CIAL MAY CHARGE A PERSON PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AND
IN THE SAME ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT WITH A VIOLATION OF SUCH OTHER LAW.
5. A PERSON (A) WHO IS CONVICTED OF A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE
UNDER THIS SECTION WITHIN TEN YEARS OF THE PRIOR CONVICTION, OR (B) WHO
VIOLATES ANY PROVISION OF THIS SECTION CONCERNING TWO OR MORE CLAIMANTS,
SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS D FELONY.
6. IF FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING COMPENSATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
FIFTEEN OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW, OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF INFLU-
ENCING ANY DETERMINATION REGARDING ANY SUCH PAYMENT, A CLAIMANT KNOWING-
LY MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION AS TO A MATERIAL FACT, SUCH
PERSON SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM RECEIVING ANY COMPENSATION DIRECTLY
ATTRIBUTABLE TO SUCH FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION. IN ADDITION, AS
DETERMINED BY THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD, THE CLAIMANT SHALL BE
SUBJECT TO A DISQUALIFICATION OR AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY UP TO THE FOREGO-
ING AMOUNT DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESEN-
TATION. ANY PENALTY MONIES SHALL BE PAID INTO THE STATE TREASURY.
7. IF WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF A CLAIMANT, ANOTHER PERSON KNOWINGLY MAKES
A FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION AS TO A MATERIAL FACT FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ASSISTING A CLAIMANT IN EITHER OBTAINING, OR INFLUENCING ANY
DETERMINATION REGARDING COMPENSATION PURSUANT TO SECTION FIFTEEN OF THE
WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW, SUCH CLAIMANT MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM
S. 3965 4
RECEIVING ANY COMPENSATION DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO SUCH FALSE STATEMENT
OR REPRESENTATION. IN ADDITION, AS DETERMINED BY THE WORKERS' COMPEN-
SATION BOARD, THE CLAIMANT MAY BE SUBJECT TO A DISQUALIFICATION OR AN
ADDITIONAL PENALTY UP TO THE FOREGOING AMOUNT DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO
THE FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION. ANY PENALTY MONIES SHALL BE
DEPOSITED TO THE CREDIT OF THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE.
8. IF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD OR ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION
OVER PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION DETERMINES
THAT THE PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT OF SUCH CLAIM, INCLUDING ANY APPEALS,
HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED OR CONTINUED WITHOUT REASONABLE GROUND: (I) THE
COST OF SUCH PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE PARTY WHO HAS SO
INSTITUTED OR CONTINUED THE PROCEEDINGS, WHICH SHALL BE PAYABLE TO THE
BOARD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE HUNDRED
FIFTY-ONE OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW; (II) REASONABLE ATTORNEYS'
FEES SHALL BE ASSESSED AGAINST AN ATTORNEY OR LICENSED REPRESENTATIVE
WHO HAS INSTITUTED OR CONTINUED PROCEEDINGS WITHOUT REASONABLE GROUNDS,
WHICH ASSESSMENT SHALL BE PAYABLE TO THE BOARD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THE WORKERS'
COMPENSATION LAW. FEES AWARDED UNDER THIS PROVISION MAY NOT BE RECOUPED
FROM THE PARTY; AND (III) SUCH ASSESSMENTS SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY
OTHER PENALTY PERMITTED UNDER THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.