BILL NUMBER: S5461
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to homeowner natural
disaster preparedness, home safety and loss prevention courses
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to require that every "homeowner natural
disaster preparedness, home safety and loss prevention course" submitted
to the Department of Financial Services be subject to review and
approval by the Department.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill would require that every "homeowner natural
disaster preparedness, home safety and loss prevention course" submitted
to the Department of Financial Services be subject to review and
approval by the Department, the Department shall issue a request for
proposal for the "homeowner natural disaster preparedness, home safety
and loss prevention courses," and on or before March 1, 2025, the
Department shall submit a request for state funding in order to effectu-
ate the such review and approval of the course.
Section 2 of this bill provides that the effective date shall take
effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Over the last decade more and more catastrophic weather events have
struck the Northeastern region of the United States. The purpose of this
bill is to encourage homeowners to take a natural disaster preparedness
course to help reduce the risk of property damage, personal injury, and
loss of life that can occur as the result of these increasingly
catastrophic weather events. In addition, by encouraging residential
property owners to take such a class, it is the Sponsor's hope to help
reduce the economic and personal injuries that occur due to these weath-
er events. This bill would position the state to be better prepared,
more resilient and able to provide relief and recovery assistance to
impacted communities quickly.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.4057A (Mannion)- Committed to Finance.
2021-22: S.7917-A (Reichlin-Melnick) - Committed to Rules.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately