Bill Text: NJ S1598 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concerns homeowners insurance coverage with respect to dogs harbored on insured property.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-16 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee [S1598 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S1598-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns homeowners insurance coverage with respect to dogs harbored on insured property.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning insurance underwriting pertaining to dogs harbored upon insured property and supplementing Title 17 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
"Dog" has the same meaning as defined in section 2 of P.L.1989, c.307 (C.4:19-18).
"Insurer" means any insurer engaged in the business of property and casualty insurance in this State, including commercial lines insurance, pursuant to Subtitle 3 of Title 17 of the Revised Statutes.
2. a. An insurer shall not (1) refuse to issue, (2) cancel, or (3) non-renew a homeowners insurance policy solely on the basis of a dog harbored upon the insured property.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section, an insurer may offer or issue a homeowners insurance policy which contains an exclusion against covering any liability for a dog harbored upon the insured property.
c. Whenever an insurer offers or issues a homeowners insurance policy, or a rider, endorsement, or other amendment to the policy, which includes liability or other coverage for a dog, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an insurer's use of underwriting guidelines, risk classifications, or other rules of any rating-system, as defined by section 1 of P.L.1944, c.27 (C.17:29A-1), which establish rates and premiums for that coverage on the basis of a dog harbored upon the insured property.
3. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that: 1) an insurer shall not refuse to issue, cancel, or non-renew a homeowners insurance policy solely on the basis of a dog harbored upon the insured property; 2) notwithstanding this prohibition, an insurer may offer or issue a policy which contains an exclusion against covering any liability for a dog harbored upon the insured property; and 3) whenever an insurer offers or issues a policy, or rider, endorsement, or other amendment to the policy, which includes liability or other coverage for a dog, nothing within the bill shall prohibit the use of underwriting guidelines, risk classifications, or other rules of any rating-system which establish rates and premiums for that coverage on the basis of a dog harbored upon the insured property.
