Frequently-asked questions

What is PIANYPAC?

PIANYPAC is PIANY's sponsored Political Action Committee. It exists to strengthen PIANY's credibility as a serious political force in New York state elections. Combined with members' individual participation in the campaigns of their favored candidates, PIANYPAC helps support the lawmakers that understand the issues affecting insurance professionals.

How is PIANYPAC organized?

PIANYPAC is a voluntary, unincorporated, not-for-profit political committee composed of members of the Professional Insurance Agents of New York State Inc. (PIANY) and others engaged in the insurance industry in general and the American agency system in particular, who are interested in the purpose of the organization and who are contributors to the PIANYPAC.

What is the purpose of PIANYPAC?

PIANYPAC is a nonprofit political committee organized and operated exclusively for the purpose of influencing the selection, nomination or election of individuals to state office and participating in the election process in other ways that are consistent with all applicable New York state and/or federal laws or regulations. PIANYPAC is separate from your national PIAPAC. Contributions to PIANYPAC stay in your state and are used to support state legislative candidates. Contributions to the national PIAPAC are used to support federal legislative candidates and are separate from the state PIANYPAC.

What does PIANYPAC do?

PIANYPAC supports candidates of all political parties. Its contributions are determined by a strictly bipartisan committee of politically attuned insurance agents. Contributions to PIANYPAC can be made via agency check or credit card. (State PACs, unlike federal, can accept support from business entities.)

How is PIANYPAC governed?

Management of the business and affairs of PIANYPAC is vested in a Governing Committee consisting of 11 directors, including a PIANY-YIP liaison. Each director exercises his or her independent judgment on behalf of PIANYPAC, consistent with its stated purposes. Directors serve without compensation. PIANYPAC also has an Executive Committee that consists of the PIANYPAC chairman, the vice chairman, the treasurer and two additional PIANYPAC directors appointed by the chairman.

How much has PIANYPAC raised?

Since its inception, PIANYPAC has raised more than $1.2 million.

How are PIANYPAC donations handled?

Contributions to PIANYPAC are wholly voluntary and the funds of PIANYPAC are never commingled with those of any individual or other organization, nor shall they inure to the private benefit of any person.