Provides a reduction in insurance premium charges for insured volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel for a 3 year period after successfully completing the emergency vehicle operator's course as part of their training.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A524
SPONSOR: McMahon TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to providing a reduction
in insurance premium charges for insured volunteer firefighters or emer-
gency personnel for a three year period after successfully completing
the emergency vehicle operator's course as part of their training
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To permit a volunteer firefighter or emergency personnel member who has
successfully completed the emergency vehicle operator's course (EVOC) an
opportunity to receive an additional discount on his or her motor vehi-
cle insurance premium. This actuarially appropriate discount is in
addition to the current reduction that is offered to individuals who
have completed an accident prevention course. If an individual has not
completed a prior accident prevention course, that individual may still
be eligible for the discount upon completion of the EVOC training.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Sections 1 and 2: Provides that any schedule of rates or rating plan for
motor vehicle liability and collision insurance submitted to the Super-
intendent may provide for an actuarially appropriate reduction in premi-
um charges for insured volunteer firefighters or emergency personnel for
a three year period after successfully completing the emergency vehicle
operator's course (EVOC) as part of his or her training, provided that
there shall be no reduction in premiums for a self-instruction defensive
driving course or a course which does not provide for actual classroom
instruction for a minimum number of hours as determined by the depart-
ment of motor vehicles. Such reduction may be calculated at an actuari-
ally appropriate rate even if the insured volunteer firefighter or emer-
gency personnel has not previously qualified for a reduction in
premiums.
Section 3: Effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
Click here to enter text.
JUSTIFICATION:
New York's volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency personnel are
our hometown heroes who serve and protect their communities and save New
York billions through their selfless efforts. To do everything we can to
strengthen and support our volunteer first responders' services, this
bill will encourage all who are eligible to take the emergency vehicle
operator's course to enhance their safety skills. This will not only
make them safer drivers when responding but will also make them safer
drivers in their personal vehicles and help reduce accidents. Addi-
tionally, this benefit can be an incentive for prospective members of
the departments. Insurance companies in New York offer an array of
discounts to drivers, including accident-free, accident prevention
course, anti-theft devices, senior citizen, good student, and military,
among others. Insurance companies should be allowed to offer discounts
to drivers who volunteer time serving their communities.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2016: Referred to Insurance
2017: Referred to Insurance
2018: Referred to Insurance
2021: Referred to insurance
2022: Referred to insurance
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
524
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. McMAHON, BUTTENSCHON, SILLITTI, JACKSON -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to providing a reduction
in insurance premium charges for insured volunteer firefighters or
emergency personnel for a three year period after successfully
completing the emergency vehicle operator's course as part of their
training
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 2336 of the insurance law, as
2 amended by section 3 of chapter 4 of the laws of 2021, is amended by
3 adding a new paragraph 3 to read as follows:
4 (3) Any schedule of rates or rating plan for motor vehicle liability
5 and collision insurance submitted to the superintendent may provide for
6 an actuarially appropriate reduction in premium charges for insured
7 volunteer firefighters or emergency personnel for a three year period
8 after successfully completing the emergency vehicle operator's course
9 (EVOC) as part of their training, provided that there shall be no
10 reduction in premiums for a self-instruction defensive driving course or
11 a course which does not provide for actual classroom instruction for a
12 minimum number of hours as determined by the department of motor vehi-
13 cles.
14 § 2. Subsection (a) of section 2336 of the insurance law, as amended
15 by section 4 of chapter 4 of the laws of 2021, is amended by adding a
16 new paragraph 3 to read as follows:
17 (3) Any schedule of rates or rating plan for motor vehicle liability
18 and collision insurance submitted to the superintendent may provide for
19 an actuarially appropriate reduction in premium charges for insured
20 volunteer firefighters or emergency personnel for a three year period
21 after successfully completing the emergency vehicle operator's course
22 (EVOC) as part of their training, provided that there shall be no
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01345-01-3
A. 524 2
1 reduction in premiums for a self-instruction defensive driving course or
2 a course which does not provide for actual classroom instruction for a
3 minimum number of hours as determined by the department of motor vehi-
4 cles.
5 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided however that the
6 amendments to subsection (a) of section 2336 of the insurance law made
7 by section one of this act shall be subject to the expiration and rever-
8 sion of such subsection pursuant to section 5 of chapter 751 of the laws
9 of 2005, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section two
10 of this act shall take effect.
