BILL NUMBER: S364
SPONSOR: GIANARIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to prohibiting certain
restrictions as it relates to dog breed
 
PURPOSE OF BILL:
To ensure that renters are able to secure renters' insurance policies
regardless of the breed of dog owned.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends Insurance Law § 3421, subdivision 1, by
prohibiting insurers that issue renters' insurance policies from refus-
ing to issue, renew, cancel, charge, or impose an increased premium for
such policy or contract, or exclude, limit, restrict, or reduce coverage
under such policy or contract based solely upon harboring or owning any
dog of a specific breed or mixture of breeds.
Section two of the bill sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Pet owners have long been subject to discrimination by insurance compa-
nies based on the breed of dog they own. Such discrimination may come in
the form of increased premiums, coverage restrictions or denial of an
insurance policy, even if the dog has never been involved in a biting
incident or shown any signs of aggression. These arbitrary restrictions
impede the ability for people to obtain the necessary insurance policy
for their home and are based on myths and stereotypes that suggest
certain breeds are inherently dangerous.
This legislation will ensure that renters, like homeowners, will not
face higher premiums or other obstacles when obtaining a renter's insur-
ance policy simply because of the type of dog they own.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S7416-B (Gianaris) PASSED SENATE / A6867-B (Rosenthal L) ordered
to third reading 2023: S7416-A (Gianaris) died in Insurance / A6867-A
died in insurance
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law and shall apply to all policies issued, renewed, modified,
altered or amended on or after such effective date.