Requires public vessels operating in New York state to carry marine protection and indemnity insurance; permits excess line brokers to provide marine liability insurance; allows owners of public vessels to be self-insured upon approval of the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A6699A
SPONSOR: Schimminger (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the insurance law and the navigation
law, in relation to requiring certain policies of insurance for public
vessels which carry passengers
 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL: Requires public vessels operating in New York
State to carry marine protection and indemnity insurance.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill clarifies subsection (a) of section 2105 of the
insurance Jaw regarding the - authority of excess line brokers to
provide marine liability insurance.
Section two of the bill amends section 50 of the navigation law to state
no certificate of inspection or temporary permit shall be issued unless
the owner of a public vessel produces proof of insurance to the inspec-
tor.
Section three of the bill adds two new sections 51 and 52 of the naviga-
tion law. Section 51 of the bill requires owners of public vessels
certified to carry passengers which operate on the navigable waters of
the state, except vessels which navigate on waters over which the United
States exercises active control, to obtain marine protection and indem-
nity insurance as defined in Insurance Law Section 1113(a) (21). This
coverage may take the form of a surety bond or may be purchased from an
authorized (licensed) insurer or through a licensed excess line broker.
An owner or operator of a public vessel seeking a certificate of
inspection under the Navigation Law must submit proof of this liability
insurance, with a minimum coverage of one million dollars per occur-
rence, upon the request of any person possessing the authority to
enforce the provisions of the Navigation Law,. This section also makes
the failure to do so a misdemeanor.
Section 52 of the bill allows for owners of public vessels to be self-
insured upon the approval of the commissioner.
Section four of the bill contains the effective date.