S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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1025
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 14, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. L. 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 and
renters 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:
§ 3421. HOMEOWNER'S LIABILITY INSURANCE AND RENTERS 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 DWELL-
ING REAL PROPERTY, INCLUDING RENTERS INSURANCE, 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 OR RENTAL. 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.
§ 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.