What's happening
This bill requires insurance companies to reduce premiums for drivers who complete a high school driver education course.
Why it matters
Encourages early safe driving habits. By incentivizing high school driver education with insurance discounts, the bill supports safer driving behaviors among young and inexperienced drivers, potentially reducing accidents and injuries.
Makes insurance more affordable for families. The required premium reduction eases the financial burden on students and families, making car ownership and insurance more accessible for young drivers who complete formal training.
Recognizes high school courses as valid safety training. The legislation puts high school driver education on equal footing with established defensive driving and driver improvement courses, acknowledging its value in preparing responsible drivers.
Could influence high school curriculum offerings. By tying insurance savings to course completion, schools may be more motivated to offer or expand driver education programs, benefiting more students and promoting community road safety.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Insurance for Teen Drivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1179
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MARCELLINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring an appropriate reduction in premium charges for any insured that completes any driver education curriculum at any high school
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 2336 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 751 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Any schedule of rates or rating plan for motor vehicle liability and collision insurance submitted to the superintendent shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges for any insured for a three year period after successfully completing: (i) a motor vehicle accident prevention course, known as the national safety council's defensive driving course, [or] (ii) any driver improvement course approved by the department of motor vehicles as being equivalent to the national safety council's defensive driving course, or (iii) the driver education course prescribed by the commissioner of motor vehicles pursuant to subdivision four of section five hundred two of the vehicle and traffic law, provided that, except as provided in article twelve-C of the vehicle and traffic law, 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 department of motor vehicles. Such reduction in premium charges shall be subsequently modified to the extent appropriate, based upon analysis of loss experience statistics and other relevant factors. All such accident prevention courses shall be monitored by the department of motor vehicles and shall include components of instruction in "Road Rage" awareness and in "Work Zone Safety" awareness as defined by the commissioner of motor vehicles. The provisions of this
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05968-01-7
S. 1179 2
section shall not apply to attendance at a program pursuant to article twenty-one of the vehicle and traffic law as a result of any traffic infraction.
§ 2. Subsection (a) of section 2336 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 585 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Any schedule of rates or rating plan for motor vehicle liability and collision insurance submitted to the superintendent shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges for any insured for a three year period after successfully completing: (i) a motor vehicle accident prevention course, known as the national safety council's defensive driving course, [or] (ii) any driver improvement course approved by the department of motor vehicles as being equivalent to the national safety council's defensive driving course, or (iii) the driver education course prescribed by the commissioner of motor vehicles pursuant to subdivision four of section five hundred two of the vehicle and traffic law, provided that in either event 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 department of motor vehicles. Such reduction in premium charges shall be subsequently modified to the extent appropriate, based upon analysis of loss experience statistics and other relevant factors. All such accident prevention courses shall be monitored by the department of motor vehicles and shall include components of instruction in "Road Rage" awareness and in "Work Zone Safety" awareness as defined by the commissioner of motor vehicles. The provisions of this section shall not apply to attendance at a program pursuant to article twenty-one of the vehicle and traffic law as a result of any traffic infraction.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that section one of this act shall expire on the same date and in the same manner as section 1 of chapter 751 of the laws of 2005, as amended, expires, when upon such date section two of this act shall take effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring an appropriate reduction in premium charges for any insured that completes any driver education curriculum at any high school
Purpose
This bill will require an appropriate reduction in premium charges for any insured that completes any driver education curriculum at any high school.
Summary of provisions
Subsection (a) of section 2336 of the insurance law, as amended by Chapter 751 of the laws of 2005 and Chapter 585 of 2002 are amended to provide an appropriate reduction in premium charges for any insured that completes any driver education curriculum at any high school.
Justification
Held at high schools and approved by the New York State Education Department, driver education courses are comprehensive programs that include both classroom training and in-car driving instruction and practice.
These courses provide young drivers with more hours of classroom education than other pre-licensing courses and are invaluable tools in shaping safe drivers. The in depth nature of these courses should be recognized and the insurance discount that is provided to defensive driving courses should be extended to those drivers who successfully complete such the driver education curriculum.
Legislative history
S.388 of 2015/16
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that section one of this act shall expire on the same date and in the same manner as section 1 of chapter 751 of the laws of 2005, as amended, expires, when upon such date section two of this act shall take effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.