Bill Text: NY A07481 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Grants the superintendent of financial services authority to investigate fraudulent activities, such as motor vehicle operators who drive with no insurance coverage, and those who misrepresent their principal place of residence or where their motor vehicle is principally garaged and operated; authorizes such superintendent to accept reports of suspected fraudulent insurance actions; requires insurance companies and self-insurers to report incidents of insurance fraud to the department of financial services; includes within the class D felony of forgery in the second degree, the forgery of a certificate of insurance or an insurance identification card; includes within the class C felony of forgery in the first degree, the forgery of 10 or more written instruments; includes within the class E felony of insurance fraud in the fourth degree, the operation of a motor vehicle in this state when the vehicle is insured in another state, but it is actually garaged in this state or the owner principally resides in this state; requires applicants for motor vehicle registrations and driver's licenses to provide the department of motor vehicles with the address of their principal place of residence.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - referred to insurance [A07481 Detail]
Download: New_York-2017-A07481-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7481 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY April 26, 2017 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance AN ACT to amend the insurance law, the penal law, and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to insurance fraud; and to repeal subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law relating to applica- tions for licenses The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 401 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new 2 subsection (d) to read as follows: 3 (d) The superintendent shall have broad authority pursuant to this 4 chapter to investigate fraudulent activities with regard to motor vehi- 5 cle drivers that operate automobiles with no insurance coverage, and 6 motor vehicle insureds who misrepresent the principal place where 7 insured motor vehicles are garaged and operated. Operating motor vehi- 8 cles without proper insurance in violation of article six of the vehicle 9 and traffic law is a significant danger to the public because drivers 10 are unable to compensate individuals for personal injuries, death and 11 property damage they inflict upon others. Furthermore, motor vehicle 12 insureds who misrepresent the principal place where such vehicles are 13 garaged and operated improperly shift their high liability exposure 14 costs to other motor vehicle insureds that do not face such high liabil- 15 ity risk and insurance premium costs. 16 § 2. Subsection (a) of section 405 of the insurance law, as amended by 17 section 7 of part A of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended to 18 read as follows: 19 (a) Any person licensed or registered pursuant to the provisions of 20 this chapter, and any person engaged in the business of insurance or 21 life settlement in this state who is exempted from compliance with the 22 licensing requirements of this chapter, including the state insurance 23 fund of this state, who has reason to believe that an insurance trans- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD11025-01-7A. 7481 2 1 action or life settlement act may be fraudulent, or has knowledge that a 2 fraudulent insurance transaction or fraudulent life settlement act is 3 about to take place, or has taken place shall, within thirty days after 4 determination by such person that the transaction appears to be fraudu- 5 lent, send to the superintendent on a form prescribed by the superinten- 6 dent, the information requested by the form and such additional informa- 7 tion relative to the factual circumstances of the transaction and the 8 parties involved as the superintendent may require. The superintendent 9 shall accept reports of suspected fraudulent insurance transactions or 10 fraudulent life settlement acts from any self insurer, including but not 11 limited to self insurers providing health insurance coverage or those 12 defined in section fifty of the workers' compensation law, and shall 13 treat such reports as any other received pursuant to this section. The 14 superintendent shall accept reports of suspected fraudulent insurance 15 transactions from any self insurer including, but not limited to, self 16 insurers providing health insurance coverage, those providing motor 17 vehicle liability insurance or those defined in section fifty of the 18 workers' compensation law, and shall treat such reports as any other 19 received pursuant to this section. 20 § 3. Section 2133 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 77 of 21 the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows: 22 § 2133. [Forged] False insurance documents and forged insurance iden- 23 tification cards. Any insurance company, insurance agent, insurance 24 broker or other person who or which, personally or by the action of an 25 employee or agent, knowingly possesses, transfers or uses: (a) any docu- 26 ment which purports to evince insurance coverage when such coverage is 27 not in effect or is in effect at limits less than those stated in the 28 document; or (b) a forged insurance identification card for a motor 29 vehicle, having knowledge, personally or through such employee or agent, 30 of the fact that such insurance identification card, when issued, did 31 not actually represent an owner's policy of liability insurance or a 32 financial security bond issued by an insurance company licensed to do 33 business in this state covering the motor vehicle identified on such 34 card, shall be liable for payment to the people of this state of a civil 35 penalty in a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars for the first such 36 violation and a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars for each subse- 37 quent violation. For the purposes of this section the term "forged 38 insurance identification card" means a written insurance identification 39 card which has been falsely made, completed or altered, and the term 40 "falsely made, completed or altered" shall have the same meaning as set 41 forth in section 170.00 of the penal law. 42 § 4. Subdivision 5 of section 170.10 of the penal law is amended and 43 a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows: 44 5. A prescription of a duly licensed physician or other person author- 45 ized to issue the same for any drug or any instrument or device used in 46 the taking or administering of drugs for which a prescription is 47 required by law[.]; or 48 6. A certificate of insurance or an insurance identification card, as 49 defined in section three hundred eleven of the vehicle and traffic law. 50 § 5. Section 170.15 of the penal law is amended to read as follows: 51 § 170.15 Forgery in the first degree. 52 A person is guilty of forgery in the first degree when, with intent to 53 defraud, deceive or injure another, he or she falsely makes, completes 54 or alters [a]: 55 1. Ten or more written instruments; orA. 7481 3 1 2. A written instrument which is or purports to be, or which is calcu- 2 lated to become or to represent if completed: 3 [1.] (a) Part of an issue of money, stamps, securities or other valu- 4 able instruments issued by a government or governmental instrumentality; 5 or 6 [2.] (b) Part of an issue of stock, bonds or other instruments repres- 7 enting interests in or claims against a corporate or other organization 8 or its property. 9 Forgery in the first degree is a class C felony. 10 § 6. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 170.48 to read 11 as follows: 12 § 170.48 Offering a false application for motor vehicle insurance or 13 registration. 14 A person is guilty of offering a false application for motor vehicle 15 insurance or registration when knowing that any document he or she files 16 with the department of motor vehicles or an insurer providing liability 17 insurance for a motor vehicle contains a false statement or false infor- 18 mation with regard to where he or she resides or where his or her motor 19 vehicle is garaged and operated. 20 Offering a false application for motor vehicle insurance or registra- 21 tion is a class E felony. 22 § 7. Subdivision 1 of section 176.05 of the penal law, as amended by 23 chapter 211 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows: 24 1. any written statement as part of, or in support of, an application 25 for the issuance of, or the rating of a commercial insurance policy, or 26 certificate or evidence of self insurance for commercial or personal 27 insurance or commercial or personal self insurance, or a claim for 28 payment or other benefit pursuant to an insurance policy or self insur- 29 ance program for commercial or personal insurance that he or she knows 30 to: 31 (a) contain materially false information concerning any fact material 32 thereto; or 33 (b) conceal, for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any 34 fact material thereto; or 35 § 8. Section 176.15 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 515 of the 36 laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows: 37 § 176.15 Insurance fraud in the fourth degree. 38 A person is guilty of insurance fraud in the fourth degree when he 39 [commits] or she: 40 1. commits a fraudulent insurance act and thereby wrongfully takes, 41 obtains or withholds, or attempts to wrongfully take, obtain or withhold 42 property with a value in excess of one thousand dollars; or 43 2. operates a motor vehicle on a public highway, when such motor vehi- 44 cle is insured by a policy issued under the laws of another state, when 45 such person maintains his or her principal residence in this state or 46 such motor vehicle is principally garaged in this state, and such insur- 47 ance policy was issued upon any written or oral statement by such person 48 that he or she principally resides in such other state or that such 49 motor vehicle is principally garaged in such other state. 50 Insurance fraud in the fourth degree is a class E felony. 51 § 9. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 52 201-a to read as follows: 53 § 201-a. Access to information. The department shall allow law 54 enforcement personnel access to any individual's street address provided 55 pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision one of section four hundred one 56 and subdivision one of section five hundred two of this chapter.A. 7481 4 1 § 10. Paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 401 of the vehicle and 2 traffic law, as amended by chapter 222 of the laws of 1996, is amended 3 to read as follows: 4 b. Every owner of a motor vehicle which shall be operated or driven 5 upon the public highways of this state shall, except as otherwise 6 expressly provided, cause to be presented, by mail or otherwise, to the 7 office or a branch office of the commissioner, or to any agent of the 8 commissioner, constituted as provided in this chapter, an application 9 for registration addressed to the commissioner, and on a blank to be 10 prepared under the direction of and furnished by the commissioner for 11 that purpose, containing: (a) a brief description of the motor vehicle 12 to be registered, including the name and factory number of such vehicle, 13 and such other facts as the commissioner shall require; (b) the weight 14 of the vehicle upon which the registration fee is based if the fee is 15 based on weight; (c) the name and residence, including county of the 16 owner of such motor vehicle, provided that if the applicant uses a post 17 office box when providing a residence address, such applicant shall also 18 provide the street address at which he or she resides; (d) provided 19 that, if such motor vehicle is used or to be used as an omnibus, the 20 applicant also shall so certify, and in the case of an omnibus also 21 certify as to the seating capacity, and if the omnibus is to be operated 22 wholly within a municipality pursuant to a franchise other than a fran- 23 chise express or implied in articles of incorporation upon certain 24 streets designated in such franchise, those facts shall also be certi- 25 fied, and a certified copy of such franchise furnished to the commis- 26 sioner; (e) provided, that, if such motor vehicle is an altered livery, 27 the applicant shall so furnish a certified copy of the length of the 28 center panel of such vehicle, provided, however, that the commissioner 29 shall require such proof, as he or she may determine is necessary, in 30 the application for registration and provided further, if the center 31 panel of such vehicle exceeds one hundred inches, the commissioner shall 32 require proof that such vehicle is in compliance with all applicable 33 federal and state motor vehicle safety standards; and (f) such addi- 34 tional facts or evidence as the commissioner may require in connection 35 with the application for registration. Every owner of a trailer shall 36 also make application for the registration thereof in the manner herein 37 provided for an application to register a motor vehicle, but shall 38 contain a statement showing the manufacturer's number or other identifi- 39 cation satisfactory to the commissioner and no number plate for a trail- 40 er issued under the provisions of subdivision three of section four 41 hundred two of this [chapter] article shall be transferred to or used 42 upon any other trailer than the one for which number plate is issued. 43 The commissioner shall require proof, in the application for registra- 44 tion, or otherwise, as such commissioner may determine, that the motor 45 vehicle for which registration is applied for is equipped with lights 46 conforming in all respects to the requirements of this chapter, and no 47 motor vehicle shall be registered unless it shall appear by such proofs 48 that such motor vehicle is equipped with proper lights as aforesaid. The 49 said application shall contain or be accompanied by such evidence of the 50 ownership of the motor vehicle described in the application as may be 51 required by the commissioner or his or her agent and which, with respect 52 to new vehicles, shall include, unless otherwise specifically provided 53 by the commissioner, the manufacturer's statement of origin. Applica- 54 tions received by an agent of the commissioner shall be forwarded to the 55 commissioner as he or she shall direct for filing. No application for 56 registration shall be accepted unless the applicant is at least sixteenA. 7481 5 1 years of age and has signed such application attesting to the truth and 2 veracity of the facts stated therein. 3 § 11. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as 4 separately amended by chapters 465 and 487 of the laws of 2012, is 5 REPEALED and a new subdivision 1 is added to read as follows: 6 1. Application for license. Application for a driver's license shall 7 be made to the commissioner. The fee prescribed by law may be submitted 8 with such application. The applicant shall furnish such proof of identi- 9 ty, age, address of his or her residence and fitness as may be required 10 by the commissioner. When providing his or her address of residence, 11 the applicant shall provide the street address at which he or she 12 resides. Each applicant shall sign his or her application attesting to 13 the truth and veracity of the facts stated therein. The commissioner may 14 also provide that the application procedure shall include the taking of 15 a photo image or images of the applicant in accordance with rules and 16 regulations prescribed by the commissioner. In addition, the commission- 17 er also shall require that the applicant provide his or her social secu- 18 rity number and shall provide space on the application so that the 19 applicant may register in the New York state organ and tissue donor 20 registry under section forty-three hundred ten of the public health law 21 with the following stated on the application in clear and conspicuous 22 type: 23 "You must fill out the following section: Would you like to be added 24 to the Donate Life Registry? Check box for 'yes' or 'skip this ques- 25 tion'." 26 The commissioner of the department of health shall not maintain 27 records of any person who checks "skip this question". Failure to check 28 a box shall not impair the validity of an application, and failure to 29 check "yes" or checking "skip this question" shall not be construed to 30 imply a wish not to donate. In the case of an applicant under eighteen 31 years of age, checking "yes" shall not constitute consent to make an 32 anatomical gift or registration in the donate life registry. Where an 33 applicant has previously consented to make an anatomical gift or regis- 34 tered in the donate life registry, checking "skip this question" or 35 failing to check a box shall not impair that consent or registration. 36 The commissioner shall provide space on the application so that the 37 applicant may request notation upon such license that he or she is a 38 veteran of the United States armed forces. In addition, an applicant 39 for a commercial driver's license who will operate a commercial motor 40 vehicle in interstate commerce shall certify that such applicant meets 41 the requirements to operate a commercial motor vehicle, as set forth in 42 public law 99-570, title XII, and title 49 of the code of federal regu- 43 lations, and all regulations promulgated by the United States secretary 44 of transportation under the hazardous materials transportation act. In 45 addition, an applicant for a commercial driver's license shall submit a 46 medical certificate at such intervals as required by the federal motor 47 carrier safety improvement act of 1999 and Part 383.71(h) of title 49 of 48 the code of federal regulations relating to medical certification and in 49 a manner prescribed by the commissioner. For purposes of this section 50 and sections five hundred three, five hundred ten-a, and five hundred 51 ten-aa of this title, the terms "medical certificate" and "medical 52 certification" shall mean a form substantially in compliance with the 53 form set forth in Part 391.43(h) of title 49 of the code of federal 54 regulations. Upon a determination that the holder of a commercial driv- 55 er's license has made any false statement, with respect to the applica- 56 tion for such license, the commissioner shall revoke such license.A. 7481 6 1 § 12. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as 2 added by section eleven of this act, is amended to read as follows: 3 1. Application for license. Application for a driver's license shall 4 be made to the commissioner. The fee prescribed by law may be submitted 5 with such application. The applicant shall furnish such proof of identi- 6 ty, age, address of his or her residence and fitness as may be required 7 by the commissioner. When providing his or her address of residence, 8 the applicant shall provide the street address at which he or she 9 resides. Each applicant shall sign his or her application attesting to 10 the truth and veracity of the facts stated therein. The commissioner may 11 also provide that the application procedure shall include the taking of 12 a photo image or images of the applicant in accordance with rules and 13 regulations prescribed by the commissioner. In addition, the commission- 14 er also shall require that the applicant provide his or her social secu- 15 rity number and [shall] provide space on the application so that the 16 applicant may register in the New York state organ and tissue donor 17 registry under section forty-three hundred ten of the public health law 18 [with the following stated on the application in clear and conspicuous19type:20"You must fill out the following section: Would you like to be added21to the Donate Life Registry? Check box for 'yes' or 'skip this ques-22tion'."23The commissioner of the department of health shall not maintain24records of any person who checks "skip this question". Failure to check25a box shall not impair the validity of an application, and failure to26check "yes" or checking "skip this question" shall not be construed to27imply a wish not to donate. In the case of an applicant under eighteen28years of age, checking "yes" shall not constitute consent to make an29anatomical gift or registration in the donate life registry. Where an30applicant has previously consented to make an anatomical gift or regis-31tered in the donate life registry, checking "skip this question" or32failing to check a box shall not impair that consent or registration.33The commissioner shall provide]; and space on the application so that 34 the applicant may request notation upon such license that he or she is a 35 veteran of the United States armed forces. In addition, an applicant 36 for a commercial driver's license who will operate a commercial motor 37 vehicle in interstate commerce shall certify that such applicant meets 38 the requirements to operate a commercial motor vehicle, as set forth in 39 public law 99-570, title XII, and title 49 of the code of federal regu- 40 lations, and all regulations promulgated by the United States secretary 41 of transportation under the hazardous materials transportation act. In 42 addition, an applicant for a commercial driver's license shall submit a 43 medical certificate at such intervals as required by the federal motor 44 carrier safety improvement act of 1999 and Part 383.71(h) of title 49 of 45 the code of federal regulations relating to medical certification and in 46 a manner prescribed by the commissioner. For purposes of this section 47 and sections five hundred three, five hundred ten-a, and five hundred 48 ten-aa of this title, the terms "medical certificate" and "medical 49 certification" shall mean a form substantially in compliance with the 50 form set forth in Part 391.43(h) of title 49 of the code of federal 51 regulations. Upon a determination that the holder of a commercial driv- 52 er's license has made any false statement, with respect to the applica- 53 tion for such license, the commissioner shall revoke such license. 54 § 13. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day 55 after it shall have become a law, provided however, that: 56 (a) section eleven of this act shall take effect October 3, 2018;A. 7481 7 1 (b) sections four, five, six, seven and eight of this act shall take 2 effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it 3 shall have become a law.
