Provides for equitable disability policies; prohibits any difference, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, or national origin in the amount or payment of premiums or rate charges, or in the benefits payable, or in any of the other terms or conditions of any policy of disability insurance under the workers' compensation law.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2596
SPONSOR: Woerner TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to providing
equitable disability policies
PURPOSE:
To address inequity in disability insurance policies.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: prohibits insurance carriers or the state insurance fund from
making or permitting any distinction, classification, discrimination, or
otherwise recognizing any difference, on the basis of race, color, reli-
gion, sex, marital status, or national origin, in the amount of payment
of premiums or rate charges or in benefits payable or any other terms or
conditions of any policy.
§ 2: establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Statistics show that women have historically paid more for the same
disability insurance benefits as men within the same occupation class.
This legislation will ensure that all New Yorker's will have fair and
equal access to disability insurance by prohibiting insurance providers
from charging a different rate for disability insurance on the basis of
race, color, religion, sex, marital status, or national origin. Similar
legislation has been enacted in Massachusetts and Montana.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A. 2611 of 2022: Referred to Labor.
A. 8328 of 2020: Referred to Labor.
S. 7575 of 2020: Referred to Labor.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
