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History
- Referred to insurance
Companion bill
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Authorizes superintendent of insurance to conduct a study and make recommendations on title insurance premium rates in N.Y. state
In Assembly Committee · Insurance · Sponsor David Weprin
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S812
Title of bill
An act in relation to directing the superintendent of financial services to conduct a study and issue a report regarding title insurance premium rates
Purpose or general idea of bill
It authorizes the state superintendent of financial services to conduct a study and make recommendations on title insurance premium rates in New York State.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1.1: The superintendent of financial services is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a comprehensive study on title insurance programs. The workers' compensation law is amended to add a new subdivision 6.
Section 1.2: Within a year of the effective date of the act the superintendent shall issue a report to the governor and the legislature that shall include but not be limited to a.) an analysis of title insurance premiums in New York State; b.) steps that can be taken to reduce such rates; and c.) what service charges are regularly added to customers' bills for title services.
Justification
Title insurance guarantees homebuyers against claims of prior liens against property they intend to purchase. Like other forms of insurance, it is regulated by New York State. currently, title insurance is available only through private entities and costs citizens an average of $1.2 billion, in order to guarantee payments of $50 million, according to 2007 statistics. Because title insurance is a requirement of home purchase, citizens must accept the prices set by private industry, but that require the approval of the New York State Insurance Department. New York State should take a greater interest in protecting citizens from the overpricing of something the state requires of home buyers. For example, the State of Iowa has prohibited the private sale of title insurance, allowing the government to set rates and ensure that its citizens are offered standard price. A study of current, private title insurance pricing will allow the State superintendent of financial services to properly assess what appropriate rates for title insurance should be according to both the market and the actual costs of insuring title.
Prior legislative history
S.6289 2010: Held in Insurance Committee S.3571 2011: Held in Insurance Committee
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.