Bill Text: NY S02802 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes insurers to allow the insured to take and submit photographs of their automobile for purposes of the issuance or renewal of a policy of automobile physical damage insurance.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - REFERRED TO INSURANCE [S02802 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-S02802-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2802 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 24, 2023 ___________ Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to submission by an insured of vehicle photographs for purposes of the issuance or renewal of a policy of automobile physical damage insurance The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subsections (e), (f) and (h) of section 3411 of the insur- 2 ance law, subsections (e) and (f) as added by chapter 805 of the laws of 3 1984, are amended and a new subsection (o) is added to read as follows: 4 (e) For a renewal of a policy referred to in subsection (d) of this 5 section, an insurer may require, as a condition of such renewal, that 6 the automobile be made available for inspection by the insurer or the 7 insurer's authorized representative, or by the insured pursuant to 8 subsection (o) of this section. 9 (f) If an insurer requests an inspection pursuant to subsection (e) of 10 this section, the insured shall make the automobile available for 11 inspection by the insurer or the insurer's authorized representative, 12 upon reasonable notice. The insurer may also, upon reasonable notice, 13 allow the insured to complete the automobile inspection pursuant to 14 subsection (o) of this section. If the insured, upon reasonable notice, 15 fails to make the automobile available for inspection by the insurer or 16 the insurer's authorized representative, or by completing the inspection 17 pursuant to subsection (o) of this section, the insurer may refuse to 18 continue such physical damage coverage. 19 (h) Where an inspection is made pursuant to this section, it shall be 20 conducted by the insurer or [its] the insurer's authorized represen- 21 tative, or by the insured pursuant to subsection (o) of this section, 22 and shall be recorded on a form prescribed by the superintendent. Such 23 form shall be retained by the insurer with its policy records for such EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD02315-01-3S. 2802 2 1 insured, and a copy of such form shall be made available to the insured 2 upon request. 3 (o) (1) An insurer may, at its option, comply with subsections (d) and 4 (e) of this section by allowing the insured to self-inspect the insured 5 vehicle and self-submit documentation establishing the inspection, 6 consistent with the requirements of this subsection. An insurer is not 7 required to comply with subsections (d) and (e) of this section by 8 allowing the insured to self-inspect the insured vehicle. 9 (2) The self-inspection option available pursuant to this subsection 10 shall only apply to vehicles insured by personal lines insurance. 11 (3) The self-inspection option available pursuant to this subsection 12 shall not apply to vehicles insured by the New York Automobile Insurance 13 Plan. 14 (4) To perform an automobile inspection pursuant to this subsection, 15 the insured shall, at minimum, submit the following documents to the 16 insurer or the insurer's authorized representative: 17 (i) digital photographs of the insured vehicle; and 18 (ii) the signed, completed inspection form referenced in subsection 19 (h) of this section. 20 (5) An automobile inspection performed pursuant to this subsection is 21 deemed complete only when the insurer or its authorized representative 22 has received both the signed, completed inspection form and the required 23 digital photographs. 24 (6) Each digital photograph submitted by the insured shall be in 25 color, clear, and must include metadata that indicates the date and time 26 that the photograph was taken. 27 (7) Each digital photograph submitted by the insured shall be in .jpeg 28 format, the resolution must he no less than 2048 x 1536 pixels, and the 29 file size per photo must be no less than two hundred kilobytes nor 30 greater than five gigabytes. 31 (8) Each digital photograph submitted by the insured shall be taken no 32 more than ten calendar days prior to the date written on the inspection 33 form, and no more than fourteen calendar days after the date written on 34 the inspection form. The included metadata shall confirm that each 35 digital photograph was taken no more than ten calendar days prior to the 36 date written on the inspection form, and no more than fourteen calendar 37 days after the date written on the inspection form. 38 (9) The insured must certify the accuracy and completeness of the 39 information recorded on the inspection form prescribed by the super- 40 intendent, under penalty of perjury. Any knowing misrepresentation shall 41 constitute a "fraudulent insurance act" as defined in section four 42 hundred three of this chapter. 43 (10) The insured must certify the authenticity of the signature on the 44 inspection report prescribed by the superintendent, under penalty of 45 perjury. In accordance with section three hundred four of the state 46 technology law, an electronic signature is permissible. 47 (11) The insurer and/or its authorized representative shall take 48 reasonable, appropriate steps necessary to ensure the security and 49 integrity of data that the insured submits pursuant to this subsection. 50 (12) If the insured chooses to sign the inspection form with an elec- 51 tronic signature, the insurer and/or its authorized representative shall 52 take reasonable, appropriate steps necessary to ensure the security of 53 the electronic signature and verify its authenticity. 54 (13) The insurer and/or its authorized representative shall establish 55 reasonable, appropriate procedures necessary to ensure that once 56 inspection forms are signed and submitted, they are, at minimum, storedS. 2802 3 1 electronically, in a secure fashion, and are retained by the insurer 2 and/or its authorized representative for a minimum period of time to be 3 determined by the superintendent. 4 (14) If, upon inspection of the insured's digital photographs, the 5 insurer finds that the insured has failed to comply with the photograph 6 submission requirements provided in this subsection or in the applicable 7 regulations, the insurer shall request further inspection of the vehicle 8 by the insurer or its authorized representative. Further self-inspection 9 of the vehicle pursuant to this subsection is not permitted, and any 10 subsequent inspection still must be completed no more than fourteen 11 calendar days after the effective date of coverage. The insurer shall 12 have the right to refuse to continue physical damage coverage until the 13 insured completes the subsequent inspection. 14 (15) If, upon inspection of the insured's digital photographs, the 15 insurer identifies inaccuracies or errors in the information recorded on 16 the inspection form, the insurer shall request further inspection of the 17 automobile by the insurer or its authorized representative. Further 18 self-inspection of the vehicle pursuant to this subsection is not 19 permitted. The insurer shall have the right to refuse to continue phys- 20 ical damage coverage until the insured completes the subsequent 21 inspection or inspections. 22 (16) If, upon inspection of the insured's digital photographs and/or 23 review of the inspection form prescribed by the superintendent, the 24 insurer identifies evidence of a fraudulent insurance act, the insurer 25 may cancel or rescind the insured's physical damage coverage, and may 26 report such evidence of a fraudulent insurance act to law enforcement 27 authorities. In connection with providing the inspection form, the 28 insurer shall also issue a notice to the insured containing the language 29 prescribed in subsection (d) of section four hundred three of this chap- 30 ter. 31 (17) The superintendent may promulgate additional regulations specific 32 to this subsection. 33 (18) Unless the superintendent promulgates additional regulations 34 specific to this subsection, in addition to satisfying the requirements 35 of this subsection, the insurer and the insured shall also comply with 36 the applicable inspection standards prescribed pursuant to part sixty- 37 seven of title eleven of the New York codes, rules and regulations 38 except that 39 (i) the insured must only submit photographs to the insurer or its 40 authorized representative electronically using digital media; and 41 (ii) if the insured electronically transmits the signed, completed 42 inspection report to the insurer or its authorized representative, the 43 insured must use an electronic signature. 44 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall 45 have become a law.
