PIANY Meets with State Lawmakers

ALBANY, N.Y.—The Professional Insurance Agents of New York State met with lawmakers at their Albany offices during the association’s Albany Lobby Day, May 15, 2018. PIANY President Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS, of Williamsville; President-elect Jamie Ferris, CIC, AAI, CPIA, of Lansing; Vice President John Tomassi, CPCU, of Clifton Park; and PIA National Director Richard A. Savino, CIC, CPIA, of Warwick, N.Y., were accompanied by PIANY Legislative Representative Patrick Zlogar; and PIANY Director of Government & Industry Affairs Bradford J. Lachut, Esq. They discussed the association’s 2018 legislative priorities, which include: reforms to the New York State Insurance Fund; recognizing the value of participation in professional associations as worthwhile toward continuing education credit requirements for insurance producers and repeal of outdated anti-arson requisites that force insurance carriers to cancel policies when a simple form is not returned.

The PIANY members met with six legislators throughout the day: Senators Neil D. Breslin, D-44, James L. Seward, R-51; and Assemblymen Kevin A. Cahill, D-103, Sean M. Ryan, D-149, Will Barclay, R-120, and Kenneth P. Zebrowski, D-96.

“Meeting with state lawmakers and informing them of our legislative priorities helps PIANY advocate on behalf of our members and the insurance-buying public,” said Holender. “PIANY appreciates the senators and assemblymen who took the time to discuss these issues that are important to professional, independent insurance agents and all of their constituents.”

In addition to the issues cited above, PIANY’s 2018 legislative agenda includes reform to the state’s unique scaffold laws and the necessity of standardizing windstorm deductibles across carrier policies, which would ease cost and reduce confusion for the state’s businesses and homeowners, respectively, as well as ensuring customers receive accurate personal insurance quotes prior to binding.