Senate Bill S1797

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Relates to unfair claim settlement practices

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2023-S1797 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A7139
Current Committee:
Senate Insurance
Law Section:
Insurance Law
Laws Affected:
Add §2601-a, amd §§3425 & 2601, Ins L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:
S6813, A7285

2023-S1797 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to claim settlement practices when an insurer refuses to pay or is delaying payment of a settlement; provides a policyholder a private right of action against such insurer doing business in the state who has refused or delayed payment of an insurance claim.

2023-S1797 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S1797 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1797
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 17, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  RAMOS, KRUEGER, RIVERA, SALAZAR, STAVISKY -- read
   twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
   Committee on Insurance
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the insurance law, in relation to unfair claim settle-
   ment practices
 
   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 2601-a
 to read as follows:
   §  2601-A.  UNFAIR  CLAIM  SETTLEMENT PRACTICES; CIVIL REMEDY. (A) THE
 HOLDER OF A POLICY ISSUED OR RENEWED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE THIRTY-FOUR  OF
 THIS  CHAPTER  OR  INJURED  PERSON  SHALL HAVE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION
 AGAINST ANY INSURER DOING BUSINESS IN THIS STATE FOR DAMAGES AS PROVIDED
 IN THIS SECTION UPON PROOF BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT  SUCH
 INSURER'S  REFUSAL  TO  PAY OR UNREASONABLY DELAY PAYMENT TO THE POLICY-
 HOLDER OR INJURED PERSON OF AMOUNTS CLAIMED TO BE DUE UNDER A POLICY  IS
 NOT  REASONABLY  JUSTIFIED.  AN  INSURER  IS NOT REASONABLY JUSTIFIED IN
 REFUSING TO PAY OR IS UNREASONABLY DELAYING PAYMENT WHEN THE INSURER:
   (1) FAILS  TO  PROVIDE  THE  POLICYHOLDER  WITH  ACCURATE  INFORMATION
 CONCERNING POLICY PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE COVERAGE AT ISSUE;
   (2) FAILS TO EFFECTUATE A PROMPT AND FAIR SETTLEMENT OF A CLAIM OR ANY
 PORTION  THEREOF,  IN THAT THE INSURER (I) FAILS TO REASONABLY ACCORD AT
 LEAST EQUAL OR MORE FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION TO ITS  INSURED'S  INTERESTS
 AS  IT  DID  TO  ITS OWN INTERESTS, AND THEREBY EXPOSES THE INSURED TO A
 JUDGMENT IN EXCESS OF THE POLICY LIMITS, OR (II) REFUSES  TO  SETTLE  IN
 RESPONSE  TO  A  FAIR  AND REASONABLE SETTLEMENT OFFER WITHIN THE POLICY
 LIMITS FROM AN INJURED PARTY;
   (3) FAILS TO PROVIDE A TIMELY WRITTEN DENIAL OF A POLICYHOLDER'S CLAIM
 WITH A FULL AND COMPLETE EXPLANATION OF SUCH  DENIAL,  INCLUDING  REFER-
 ENCES TO SPECIFIC POLICY PROVISIONS WHEREVER POSSIBLE;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00045-01-3
 S. 1797                             2
              

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