Nov 16, 2017

Two-Minute Survey results help guide 2018 legislative priorities

PIACT conducted a Two-Minute Survey last month to determine the legislative issues that are important to its members. Thirty-six percent of survey participants ranked requiring all insurance carriers that utilize motor vehicle reports as a rating or underwriting factor of personal auto policies to run these reports prior to binding coverage as their No. 1 priority for the 2018 legislative session.

Mitigating the impact any impending cybersecurity regulation considered by the state has on agents and brokers who have resident and nonresident licenses in the state ranked as the second-most important issue, according to the survey. This issue stems from the recent implementation of the New York cybersecurity regulation that requires insurance agents and brokers, among other entities, to establish and maintain a cybersecurity program designed to protect consumers. This regulation has been incredibly difficult for agents and brokers to comply with, and affects resident and nonresident licenses. Since then, it has been incorporated in the latest draft of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners model legislation. PIACT has been tracking this issue since its announcement in New York. 

Advocating for mandatory liquor-liability insurance for all establishments that serve liquor on their premises was ranked as the third priority, according to survey participants. During the 2016 session, PIACT introduced, advocated for and testified on legislation creating this insurance requirement. Ultimately, the bill died in committee during that session. Under current state law, an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages is not required to carry liquor-liability insurance. While there is a dram-shop law in effect, which imposes liability on the seller of alcohol and allows for an injured party to sue that seller, it does not provide any guarantee that the party will be able to recover damages. A mandatory liquor-liability policy required prior to the granting of a liquor permit would provide the consumer with a guarantee that financial recourse is available.

The PIACT Legislative Committee will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 29, to discuss the results of this survey and finalize the legislative priorities for the upcoming 2018 legislative session set to begin in February.