2017 Insurance-Related Legislative Summaries

Medical Indemnity Fund Chapter Amendment
Chapter 4 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 4 amended the Public Health Law to make changes to Chapter 517 of the Laws of 2016 with regard to payments from the New York State Medical Indemnity Fund.

State Insurance Advisory Board Chapter Amendment
Ch. 10 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 10 amended the Insurance Law to make changes to Chapter 515 of the Laws of 2016 regarding establishing a state insurance advisory board.

Pre-Need Funeral Services Sunset Extender
Chapter 32 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 32 amended Chapter 557 of the Laws of 2001, which amended the Insurance Law, Public Health Law, and General Business Law, to extend provisions pertaining to pre-need funeral services.

Transportation Network Company Regulation Effective Date
Chapter 34 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 34 amended Part AAA of Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2017, which amended the Insurance Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, and other laws, to change the effective date of provisions pertaining to the regulation of transportation network companies.

Choice of Repair Shop Disclosure Chapter Amendment
Chapter 36 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 36 amended the Insurance Law to make changes to Chapter 236 of the Laws of 2016 in relation to choice of repair shop disclosures.

Transportation Network Companies
Part AAA of Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2017
Part AAA of Chapter 59 amended the Insurance Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, and other laws to regulate transportation network companies.

Property/Casualty Insurance Sunset Extender
Chapter 69 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 69 amended the Insurance Law to extend the sunset dates of certain provisions of Insurance Law Articles 23 and 54.

Provider and Managed Care Organization Contracts Sunset Extender
Chapter 82 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 82 amended Chapter 451 of the Laws of 2007, which amended the Insurance Law, Public Health Law, and Social Services Law, to extend provisions pertaining to provider contracts with managed care organizations.

Continuing Education for Producer and Adjuster Entities
Chapter 274 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 274 amended the Insurance Law in relation to continuing education requirements for insurance producer and insurance adjuster entities.

Anti-Arson Applications
Chapter 289 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 289 amended the Insurance Law regarding anti-arson applications.

Annuity Dividend Reinvestment
Chapter 297 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 297 amended the Insurance Law in relation to annuity dividend reinvestment.

Accelerated Life Insurance Payments
Chapter 300 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 300 amended the Insurance Law in relation to accelerated life insurance payments for certain chronic conditions.

Election of Directors of Domestic Mutual Life Insurers
Chapter 309 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 309 amended the Insurance Law regarding the election of directors of domestic mutual life insurers.

Health Insurance Discontinuance Notices
Chapter 317 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 317 amended the Insurance Law regarding written notices of a discontinuance of a class of health insurance contract.

Volunteer Firefighter Enhanced Cancer Disability Benefits
Chapter 334 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 334 amended the General Municipal Law and Tax Law to provide volunteer firefighters who develop certain forms of cancer with enhanced disability benefits.

Small Group Stop Loss Coverage Sunset Extender
Chapter 370 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 370 amended Chapters 588 and 589 of the Laws of 2015 to extend provisions allowing for the sale of stop loss insurance to certain small groups and exempting certain municipal corporations from small group rating standards.

Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Net Retention Rule
Chapter 373 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 373 amended the Insurance Law in relation to the mortgage guaranty insurance net retention rule.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (“ICU”) Prior Authorization
Chapter 389 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 389 amended the Insurance Law and Public Health Law regarding prior authorization for coverage of services in a neonatal ICU.

Insurance Law § 3425 Report
Chapter 395 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 395 amended the Insurance Law regarding the submission of a report by the Superintendent of Financial Services to the Legislature pertaining to voluntary non-commercial property/casualty insurance.

Mammography by Breast Tomosynthesis
Chapter 414 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 414 amended the Insurance Law to require coverage for mammography screening by breast tomosynthesis.

Excess Line Placement Activities
Chapter 431 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 431 amended the Insurance Law to permit insurance brokers to engage in certain activities with respect to excess line insurance.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance Conditional Renewal Notices
Chapter 469 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 469 amended the Workers’ Compensation Law to require insurers to provide conditional renewal notices to workers’ compensation insurance policyholders when the premium will increase more than ten percent upon renewal with an affiliated insurer that is under common control with the previous insurer.  Note that Chapter 11 of the Laws of 2018 made technical amendments to Chapter 469.

Supplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (“SUM”) Coverage Limits
Ch. 490 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 490 amended the Insurance Law in relation to SUM coverage limits.  Note that Chapter 15 of the Laws of 2018 made technical amendments to Chapter 490.

Lavern’s Law
Chapter 506 of the Laws of 2017
Chapter 506 amended the Civil Practice Law and Rules in relation to accrual of causes of action for medical, dental, and podiatric malpractice.   Note that Chapter 1 of the Laws of 2018 made technical amendments to Chapter 506.