Representatives of the Professional Insurance Agents of New York State Inc. met with key state legislators to share the association's top legislative issues on May 19, 2009, in Albany.

New York's independent insurance agents spoke one-on-one with local lawmakers at their Capitol offices and shared the concerns that most impact their businesses, the state economy and New York's insurance-buying public.

PIANY representatives in attendance included: Kevin Ryan, CIC, president-elect, Kingston; Bob Franzese, past president, Latham; Matthew Guilbault Esq., director of government and industry affairs; and Allison Lee, legislative representative. Throughout the year, PIANY has worked for the passage of a comprehensive legislative agenda on behalf of New York's independent insurance agents and their clients, which includes: repealing onerous mandatory photo inspections for personal auto insurance; making it more difficult for carriers to collect surcharges on automobile policies; and adopting credit scoring protections for commercial policyholders. They also discussed the impending producer compensation disclosure regulations expected soon.

PIANY representatives met with the following legislators: Assemblyman Jonathan Bing, D-73; Sen. Neil Breslin, D-46, chair of the Senate Insurance Committee; Sen. Craig Johnson, D-7; Assemblyman Brian Kolb, R-129; Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-132, chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee; Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, D-87; Sen. James Seward, R-51; and Sen. William Stachowski, D-58.