What's happening
This bill creates a for-hire motor vehicle safety program and requires insurance premium reductions for companies whose drivers complete approved safety training.
Why it matters
Creates incentives for driver safety training. By requiring insurance premium reductions for companies whose drivers complete approved safety programs, the bill encourages for-hire vehicle operators to invest in comprehensive safety education, potentially lowering accident risks and improving overall public safety.
Sets standards for safety training content. The bill outlines specific topics that must be covered in the safety program—such as collision prevention, effects of alcohol and drugs, safe driving in hazardous conditions, and passenger safety—which may lead to more consistent and thorough training across the industry.
Targets high-capacity vehicles. The requirements and incentives specifically apply to vehicles that carry at least eight passengers, focusing on those that pose greater risks in the event of an accident, such as shuttles, large taxis, or minibuses.
Provides regulatory oversight and accountability. The superintendent of insurance is tasked with ensuring the programs are effective and actuarially sound, and with approving or evaluating courses, which helps maintain quality and prevents abuse of the premium reduction incentive.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Insurance for Safer Drivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Approval memo.51
- Signed chap.347
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- 3rd reading cal.832
- Substituted for S7881
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.471
- Reported
Show 4 earlier actions
- Reported referred to codes
- Print number 9763a
- Amend and recommit to insurance
- Referred to insurance
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 Insurance for Safer Drivers
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Leroy Comrie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9763--A
IN ASSEMBLY
February 10, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN, COOK, PERRY, VANEL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to establishing the forhire motor vehicle safety program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 2353 to read as follows:
§ 2353. For-hire motor vehicle safety program; reduction in rates of certain commercial risk insurance premiums for motor vehicles. (a) For the purposes of this section, an association shall mean an association where all the eligible members of the association have the same profession, trade, or occupation, and the association has been organized and maintained in good faith for purposes principally other than that of obtaining insurance, and has been in active existence for at least two years.
(b) An association representing motor vehicles engaged in the business of carrying or transporting passengers for-hire, having a seating capacity of not less than eight passengers, shall be authorized to create and implement a comprehensive educational program designed to advance forhire motor vehicle safety, which provides for the training of all operators in the safe operation of for-hire motor vehicles, education about safety equipment that can enhance the safe operation of vehicles, and training related to passenger safety. Such program shall include, but not be limited to, instruction which addresses the following subject areas:
(1) the concept of collision prevention, including a discussion of the factors involved in traffic situations;
(2) alcohol and drug use as a contributing factor in motor vehicle collisions;
(3) accident prevention techniques;
(4) the use of occupant restraints;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15096-05-0
A. 9763--A 2
(5) the risk factors involved in driver attitude and behavior such as speeding, reckless and aggressive driving, and improper lane use;
(6) traffic laws in New York state;
(7) physical and mental condition of drivers;
(8) conditions and strategies of driving;
(9) safe driving techniques in hazardous weather conditions including rain, wind, snow, ice, sleet and fog;
(10) equipment that can enhance the safe operation of vehicles; and
(11) passenger safety including but not limited to recommending the use of seat belts to passengers, warning passengers to exercise care when boarding and exiting a vehicle and notifying passengers of emergency exits if applicable.
(c) The association described in subsection (b) of this section shall provide a certificate to members of such association who successfully complete a course of instruction on for-hire vehicle safety as authorized pursuant to this section.
(d) The superintendent shall provide for an actuarially appropriate reduction for a period of three years in the rates of premiums for commercial risk insurance applicable to motor vehicles engaged in the business of carrying or transporting passengers for-hire, having a seating capacity of not less than eight passengers, for each triennial completion of a course of instruction on for-hire motor vehicle safety as authorized pursuant to this section. The superintendent shall evaluate and approve any for-hire vehicle safety program created pursuant to this section within sixty days of the effective date of this section.
(e) An authorized insurer shall, upon submission of a certificate by an insured evidencing that such insured has completed a course of instruction on for-hire motor vehicle safety as authorized pursuant to this section, provide an actuarially appropriate reduction, for a period of three years, of the premium for such insured's commercial risk insurance applicable to motor vehicles engaged in the business of carrying or transporting passengers for-hire, having a seating capacity of not less than eight passengers.
(f) The superintendent may promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all policies issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after the sixtieth day following the effective date of this act.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.