BILL NUMBER: S5974
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring owners of
firearms to obtain liability insurance
 
PURPOSE:
To amend the insurance law, to require firearm owners, prior to such
ownership, to obtain and continuously maintain a policy of liability
insurance to cover any damages resulting from the use of such firearm.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 2354.
Section 2: This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition , amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Injury and death by gun-related accidents has increasingly become a
problem in the U.S., and in New York State. In the wake of recent mass
shooting incidents in Aurora, Colorado and Newtown, Connecticut, there
has been a nationwide attention on gun control and public safety.
According to FBI Crime Report, there were 445 firearm murder in New York
in 2011 and 517 firearm murders in 2010. However, there is little atten-
tion on the economic impact these shootings have on the victims and
their families.
This legislation establishes and requires gun-owners to obtain and main-
tain liability insurance policy prior to such ownership. By having this
insurance policy in place, innocent victims of gun-related accidents
will be compensated for the medical care for their injuries.
In such cases where the gun was stolen, the original owner is typically
not liable unless the weapon was stolen through negligence on the part
of the owner. In addition, the insurance policy will also serve as an
incentive for firearm owners to implement safety measures in order to
conduct the activity as safely as possible and only when necessary.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S6033 - Referred to Insurance
2021-22: S4946
2019-20: S4868A Referred to Insurance
2017-18: S2857A-AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO INSURANCE PRINT NUMBER 486BA
2015-16: S.2683-REFERRED TO INSURANCE
2013-14: S.3853-Referred to 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. Effective immediately, the addition , amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such date.