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(2) In lieu of such provisions, paragraph seven of subsection (a), subparagraph (A) of paragraph one of subsection (j) and paragraph three of this subsection (m) shall apply to such automobile insurance policies which are newly and voluntarily written to have an effective date on after August first, nineteen hundred eighty-five and prior to January first, nineteen hundred eighty-six, and on or after August first, nineteen hundred [ninety-two] ninety-six.

or

On and after August first, nineteen hundred eighty-five and prior to January first, nineteen hundred eighty-six, and on or after August first, nineteen hundred [ninety-two] ninety-six, no notice of nonrenewal or conditional renewal of such covered automobile insurance policies referred to in this subsection shall be issued to become effective during the required policy period unless it is based upon a ground for which the policy could have been cancelled or unless it is based upon one or more of the following grounds which occurred during the thirtysix month period ending on the last day of the fourth month preceding the month of the effective date of such notice of nonrenewal or conditional renewal:

§ 2. The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 337 to read as follows:

§ 337. Annual consumer guide on automobile insurance. (a) No later than October first of each year, beginning in nineteen hundred ninetythree, the superintendent' shall publish and make available, free of charge to the public, a consumer guide on private passenger automobile insurance that shall contain comprehensive and updated information written in plain language in a clear and understandable format, including the following:

(1) an annual ranking of automobile insurers: (A) including an analysis of private passenger insurers in the state which provides, in detail, a ranking of such insurers from best to worst based on each insurer's record of consumer complaints during the preceding calendar year, using criteria available to the department, adjusted for volume of insurance written; and (B) taking into consideration the corresponding total of claims improperly denied in whole or in part, consumer complaints found to be valid in whole or in part, and any other pertinent data which would permit the department to objectively determine an insurer's performance; and (C) the superintendent may note, to the extent relevant, actions taken by the department against an insurer for violating any law or regulation;

(2) a list of makes and models of automobiles that generally do not meet underwriting guidelines of automobile insurers or in regard to which consumers can expect to pay higher premiums as a result of an automobile's style, model type or other distinguishing features, except that specific insurers shall not be identified for purposes of such

list;

(3) an explanation of all types of automobile insurance required by law and available as optional coverage, including policyholders' rights under these types of coverage and when making claims;

(4) an explanation of and information on the automobile insurance plan established pursuant to article fifty-three of this chapter, including how motorists in such plan should proceed in attempting to obtain insurance in the voluntary market;

(5) representative information on the availability and costs of automobile insurance from insurers for rating territories in the state, for classes of drivers, including information on premium credit and surcharge practices;

(6) recommendations as to how best to shop for and compare prices, service and quality of automobile insurance coverage;

(7) an explanation of prohibited discriminatory practices applying to insurance companies, agents and brokers; and

(8) a department toll free consumer hot-line through which consumers may initiate complaints, and request general information, about automobile insurance.

(b) The annual requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this section may be satisfied by separate supplemental publications and

updates.

or

(c) The superintendent shall provide for the adequate distribution and availability of the consumer guide on automobile insurance. Appropriate copies of the guide shall be transmitted to the commissioner of motor vehicles for distribution at every department of motor vehicle local and district office in the state and to the commissioner of education for

distribution to every public library in the state, where copies of the guide shall be made available free of charge to the public.

§ 3. The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 338 to read as follows:

§ 338. Biennial report on the automobile insurance plan. No later than May first, nineteen hundred ninety-four and every two years thereafter, the superintendent shall furnish to the governor and each house of the legislature a report containing:

(a) a comprehensive analysis of the drivers in the automobile insurance plan established pursuant to article fifty-three of this chapter, which shall include the number, experience, classes, age, sex and geographic location of drivers in the plan, by rating territory and postal ZIP code;

(b) a summary assessment of insurer nonrenewals and cancellations in regard to automobile insurance using records as submitted to the department, based on geographic location of the risk or producers which shall also incorporate relevant information on age and sex from reports required by paragraph two of subsection (1) of section three thousand four hundred twenty-five of this chapter;

(c) a summary and assessment of the department's efforts in maintaining or reducing the population of the automobile insurance plan;

(d) a summary and assessment of the department's efforts in regard to automobile insurance subject to section three thousand four hundred twenty-five in enforcing sections three thousand four hundred twentynine, three thousand four hundred thirty and three thousand four hundred thirty-three of this chapter, and regulations promulgated pursuant to such sections; and

(e) recommendations, if appropriate, for further statutory or administrative changes designed to reduce or maintain the population of the automobile insurance plan.

§ 4. Paragraph 2 of subsection (1) of section 3425 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 207 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:

(2) The superintendent shall collect, analyze and compile such reports with regard to the number of new insureds, non-renewed insureds and business written by each insurer in each rating territory of each such insurer and, in each case, the class of insureds (including age and sex) affected so that a statistical analysis of the results obtained pursuant to subsections (f) and (m) of this section shall be provided to each house of the legislature by March fifteenth, nineteen hundred ninety-two and by March fifteenth, nineteen hundred ninety-six.

§ 5. Subsection (c) of section 2112 of the insurance law, as added by chapter 769 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:

(c) Certificates of appointment shall be valid until (i) terminated by the appointing insurer after a termination in accordance with the provisions of the agency contract; (ii) the license is suspended or revoked by the superintendent; or (iii) the license expires and is not renewed. § 6. Section 3425 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (n) to read as follows:

(n) In the event of a determination by the superintendent that an insurer's elimination of premium installment plans, reduction in commission, or any other marketing action was implemented to effectuate a withdrawal or substantial withdrawal from writing automobile insurance: (1) an agent shall be permitted to terminate its contract with the insurer, or that portion of the contract authorizing the agent to accept automobile insurance, and the insurer shall be required to accept new business and issue renewals in accordance with paragraph one of subsection (j) of this section;

(2) notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (D) of paragraph one of subsection (j) of this section, where an agent's contract is terminated or a portion thereof is terminated pursuant to this subsection, commissions for automobile insurance shall be paid at the rate in effect applicable to the agent for the longest duration during the twelve-month period immediately preceding the action which is determined by the superintendent to have been implemented to effectuate a withdrawal or substantial withdrawal from writing automobile insurance;

(3) premium payment installment options shall be maintained in a manner substantially similar to options offered by the automobile insurance plan established pursuant to article fifty-three of this chapter; and EXPLANATION-Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law

(4) paragraphs agent who agrees to insurers.

one

and two of this subsection shall not apply to an represent exclusively one insurer or group of

§ 7. Section 3425 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (o) to read as follows:

(0) An insurer that intends to materially reduce its volume of policies written, covered by this section, shall submit to the superintendent, at least thirty days in advance of implementing such actions, a plan for orderly reduction that: (1) describes the contemplated actions; (2) sets forth the reasons for such actions; (3) describes the measures such insurer intends to take in order to minimize market disruption; and (4) such other information as the superintendent may require.

§ 8. This act shall take effect immediately, except that sections six and seven of this act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.

CHAPTER 648

AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to prompt contracting and interest payments for not-for-profit organizations

Became a law July 24, 1992, with the approval of the Governor. Passed on message of necessity pursuant to Article III, section 14 of the Constitution by a majority vote, three-fifths being present.

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Section 179-v of the state finance law is amended by adda new subdivision 7 to read as follows:

ing. If the timeframes for processing a contract are met and the state

agency is liable for interest due to a retroactive contract start date, the state agency and the not-for-profit organization may mutually agree to waive any interest owed to the not-for-profit organization under the provisions of this article. If interest is so waived, the state agency shall immediately provide the office of the state comptroller with the written agreement signed by the not-for-profit organization and such other data as the comptroller shall request.

§ 2. Subdivision 2 of section 179-w of the state finance law, as added by chapter 166 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:

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2. In the event that a state agency, including the comptroller, division of budget, or the attorney general shall determine that extenuating circumstances exist which prevent such agency from complying with the time frames required by this article, such agency shall immediately provide written notification of such determination to any directly affected not-for-profit organization, the office of the state comptroller, the chairman of the senate finance committee and the chairman of the assembly ways and means committee. Such written notification shall include explanation of the circumstances and shall state the specific amount of the time for which the specified provisions of this article relating to time frames shall be suspended. Except as provided in subdivision three of this section, no suspension shall be valid unless it shall state such specific amount of time, provided that the cumulative length of suspensions declared by any state agency pursuant to this section, except such subdivision three, when added together shall not be valid if declared for a period greater than four and one-half months in any fiscal year.

§ 3. Section 179-x of the state finance law, as added by chapter 166 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:

§ 179-x. Federal funds. The provisions of this article as they relate to federal funds shall only be applicable to the extent a state agency is in receipt of federal funds for a particular program; provided however, the provisions of this article shall be applicable to federal funds, including but not limited to funds such as petroleum overcharge moneys, only to the extent that any required federal or court review or approval process concerning the use of such funds has been completed, and no notification of disapproval has been received by a state agency. Any time frame contained within the provisions of this article shall run

not

from the date of the notification to a state agency of receipt of federal funds, or the completion of any required federal or court review or approval process, whichever is applicable, provided however that a for-profit organization receiving federal funds to which such timeframes are applicable shall be entitled to interest payments pursuant to section one hundred seventy-nine-v of this article or after one hundred twenty days following the state's receipt of federal funds for the program, whichever is later. 5 4. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 179-ee to read as follows:

§ 179-ee. Other provisions for contracts and appropriations. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, for the purposes of calculating timeframes as provided in section one hundred seventy-nine-s of this article, the enactment date of an appropriation which finances a contract with a not-for-profit organization which has been identified for a state agency without the use of a request proposals shall be deemed to be the date on which such not-for-profit organization is identified.

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2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, no state agency shall be liable for interest payments on contracts executed pursuant to appropriations made in whole or in part for liabilities incurred in a prior fiscal year.

§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all appropriations or reappropriations made, enacted or authorized for the state fiscal year commencing on April 1, 1992.

CHAPTER 649

AN ACT authorizing the creation of a state debt to the amount of eight hundred million dollars, in relation to creating the jobs for the new, New York bond act and providing for the submission to the people of a proposition or question there for to be voted upon at the general election to be held in November 1992

Became a law July 31, 1992, with the approval of the Governor. Passed on message of necessity pursuant to Article III, section 14 of the Constitution by a majority vote, three-fifths being present.

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. The jobs for the new, New York bond act is enacted to read as follows: JOBS FOR THE NEW, NEW YORK BOND ACT

Section 1. Short title.

2. Creation of a state debt.

3. Bonds of the state.

4. Consistency with federal tax law.

Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "jobs for the new, New York bond act.

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§ 2. Creation of a state debt. The creation of a state debt to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate eight hundred million dollars ($800,000,000) is hereby authorized to provide moneys for the single purpose of funding infrastructure projects to promote the creation or retention of permanent private sector jobs.

A well-developed and maintained infrastructure is necessary to the creation, preservation and enhancement of an environment to which businesses can be attracted, and in which they can be retained and nurtured, thereby creating or retaining private sector employment and reducing the state's unemployment, both of which are critical to the economic and social well-being of the state.

The legislature may, by appropriate legislation and subject to such conditions as it may impose, make available out of the proceeds of the EXPLANATION-Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law

sale of bonds authorized in this act, moneys for state programs or for payments of the state share of the cost of programs undertaken by or through a state agency or state or local public benefit corporation, industrial development agency, county, city, town, village, Indian nation or government or any combination thereof, for the purpose of funding infrastructure projects undertaken by or through such entities and to match federal or other funds which may from time to time be made available by congress or from other sources to such entities for such purpose.

or

§ 3. Bonds of the state. The state comptroller is hereby authorized and empowered to issue and sell bonds of the state to the amount of eight hundred million dollars ($800,000,000) for the purpose of this act, subject to the provisions of article 5 of the state finance law. The aggregate principal amount of such bonds shall not exceed eight hundred million dollars ($800,000,000) excluding bonds issued to refund otherwise repay bonds theretofore issued for such purpose; provided, however, that upon any such refunding or repayment the total aggregate principal amount of outstanding bonds may be greater than eight hundred million dollars ($800,000,000) only if the present value of the aggregate debt service of the refunding or repayment bonds to be issued shall not exceed the present value of the aggregate debt service of the bonds to be refunded or repaid.

§ 4. Consistency with federal tax law. Bonds issued pursuant to this act may be issued as taxable or tax-exempt bonds for purposes of the federal internal revenue code and regulations thereunder. All actions taken pursuant to this act shall be reviewed for consistency with provisions of the federal internal revenue code and regulations thereunder, in accordance with procedures established in connection with the issuance of any bonds pursuant to this act which are intended to be federally tax exempt to preserve the federal tax exempt status of such bonds. Any bonds issued pursuant to this act together with the income therefrom shall be exempt from state and local taxation except for transfer and estate taxes. The state covenants with the purchasers and with all subsequent holders and transferees of bonds issued pursuant to this act, in consideration of the acceptance of and payment for the bonds, that the bonds issued pursuant to this act and the income therefrom shall be free from such taxation, as aforestated herein.

§ 2. This act shall not take effect unless and until it shall have been submitted to the people at the general election to be held in November 1992, and shall have received a majority of all votes cast for and against it at such election. Upon approval by the people this act shall take effect immediately. The ballots to be furnished for the use of the voters upon the submission of this act shall be in the form prescribed by the election law, and the proposition or question to be submitted shall be printed thereon in substantially the following form, namely, "Shall chapter (here insert the number of the chapter) of the laws of 1992 known as the jobs for the new, New York bond act which promotes the creation or retention of permanent private sector jobs, by authorizing the creation of state debt to provide moneys for infrastructure projects in the amount of eight hundred million dollars ($800,000,000), be approved?"

AN

CHAPTER 650

ACT to amend the economic development law, the New York state urban development corporation act, the state finance law and the executive law, in relation to the implementation of the jobs for the new, New York bond act and making an appropriation therefor

The

Became a law July 31, 1992, with the approval of the Governor.
Passed by a majority vote, three-fifths being present.

People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

The

Section 1. Statement of legislative findings and declaration. legislature hereby finds and declares that over the past two years New York state's economy has undergone significant retrenchment, which re

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