What's happening
This bill requires insurance companies to provide premium reductions for boat owners who complete an approved boating safety or advanced boating safety course.
Why it matters
Encourages safer boating practices. By mandating premium reductions for those who complete approved safety courses, the bill incentivizes boaters to seek safety education, which could reduce accidents and injuries on the water.
Standardizes insurance incentives. The bill requires all boat liability insurance rate schedules to include these reductions, ensuring consistency and fairness across the industry rather than leaving it to the discretion of individual insurers.
Targets proactive learning, not remedial action. The premium reduction does not apply to those who attend safety courses as a penalty for boating infractions, focusing the benefit on those who proactively improve their skills.
Clarifies eligibility and oversight. The bill defines key terms (such as “boat,” “boating safety course,” and “boating safety certificate”) and gives the superintendent the authority to set standards for course approval, aiming for clear guidelines and effective program administration.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Discounts for Boating Safety Courses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.449
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.181
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Lower Boat Insurance for Courses
In Senate Committee · Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 2985 A. 2336
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
January 18, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sens. LAVALLE, DeFRANCISCO, GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, RAIA, JEAN-PIERRE, GALEF, SALADINO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the navigation law and the insurance law, in relation to insurance rate reductions upon completion of a boating safety course or an advanced boating safety course
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 78-a of the navigation law, as added by chapter 160 of the laws of 1990 and as further amended by section 104 of part A of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
§ 78-a. Insurance rate reduction. Any insurance carrier licensed to issue yacht or boating liability insurance in this state is authorized to grant rate reductions with the approval of the department of financial services to any owner of a yacht or boat who has successfully completed a boating safety course or an advanced boating safety course or holds a valid United States Coast Guard operators license.
§ 2. The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 2336-b to read as follows:
§ 2336-b. Boat liability insurance rates; premium reductions in certain cases. (a) Any schedule of rates or rating plan for boat liability insurance submitted to the superintendent shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges, as described in section seventy-eight-a of the navigation law, for any insured who has successfully completed a boating safety course or an advanced boating safety course which meets the requirements of part five of article four of the navigation law and has been approved by the commissioner of parks, recreation
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07151-01-7
S. 2985 2 A. 2336
and historic preservation. The provisions of this section shall not apply to attendance at a course pursuant to sections forty-five or forty-nine of the navigation law as a result of any boating infraction.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) the term "boat" shall mean any residential or pleasure vessel that is not a crew racing shell as defined in section two of the navigation law.
(2) the term "boating safety course" or "advanced boating safety course" shall mean a course of instruction or advanced course of instruction that has been approved by the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation pursuant to section seventy-nine of the navigation law.
(3) the term "boating safety certificate" shall mean a document which cannot be altered and which is provided to a person who successfully completes a boating safety course or advanced boating safety course pursuant to section seventy-eight of the navigation law.
(c) An insurer, upon approval of the superintendent, may upon submission of a completion certificate by an insured, provide an actuarially appropriate reduction of the premium for such insured's yacht or boating liability insurance.
(d) The superintendent may establish, by rule or otherwise, standards or guidelines to be used by the superintendent when reviewing the proposed boating safety course or an advanced boating safety course.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, any actions necessary to be taken for the implementation of the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the navigation law and the insurance law, in relation to insurance rate reductions upon completion of a boating safety course or an advanced boating safety course
Purpose
To provide for boating liability insurance reductions for those who take boater safety courses.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends section 78-a of the Navigation Law by providing the authority for insurance carriers to grant rate reductions with the approval of the Department of Financial Services for boat owners who complete a boating safety course or an advanced boating safety course.
Section 2. Amends the Insurance Law by adding a new section 2336-B providing that rate schedules submitted to the Commissioner for boat liability insurance shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges, as described in section 78-a of the navigation law, for insured owners who successfully complete a boating safety course or an advanced boating course. This legislation would not apply to those cases in which mandatory courses are taken in response to boating infractions.
Defines the following terms for the purpose of this section: (1) "boat"; (2) "boating safety course" or "advanced boating safety course" and (3) "boating safety certificate".
Once approved by the Superintendent, an insurer may upon submission of a completion certificate by an insured, provide an actuarially appropriate reduction of the premium for such insured's yacht or boating liability insurance.
The Superintendent may establish, by rule or otherwise, standards or guidelines to be used upon the review of the proposed boating safety course or an advanced boating safety course.
Section 3. Effective date.
Justification
Owning and operating a pleasure boat can provide many hours of enjoyment and summertime pleasure. However, there are many perils and responsibilities which arise when a boat leaves the dock not only from the elements but also from other water craft. There are rules and basic procedures which boat operators should know and observe. This bill would provide an incentive to learn and follow those safety rules and procedures by giving owners who complete basic or advanced boating safety courses a reduction in boating liability insurance.
Legislative history
2015-16 S.789A/A.584A; 2013-14 S.2022/A.1930; 2012 S.7855
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
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, however, that effective immediately, any actions necessary to be taken for the implementation of provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.