PIANY Hires New Lobbyist, Sets Agenda

By Daniel Hays

NU Online News Service, Dec. 21, 1:08 p.m.EST?The Professional Insurance Agents of New York StateInc. has retained a powerful lobbying firm to push its agenda atthe state capitol.[@@]

PIANY said it has hired Albany, N.Y.-based Patricia LynchAssociates. Ms Lynch is a former spokesperson for Assembly SpeakerSheldon Silver, D-Manhattan.

The PIANY said in 2005 it hopes to push through changes thatwill improve the chances of passage for a bill that requires thatloss and premium histories be provided to policyholders at the sametime they are given termination notices.

A spokesman for the group said this should help consumers insearching for new insurance coverage.

PIANY said it also will pursue raising the threshold amount forproperty damage accident surcharges. The group said it will seekmore clarity in the definition of timely premium payments bybank-administered escrow accounts.

The PIANY said it also plans to "ratchet up pressure" to havethe New York FAIR plan operation, called the New York PropertyInsurance Underwriting Association, made permanent.

NYPIUA is a pool that provides coverage for homeowners andbusinesses which have difficulty securing coverage. Enablinglegislation for NYPIUA has frequently been allowed to expire, heldhostage while the Republican-led Senate and Democrat-controlledAssembly bicker over insurance legislation and other items.

PIANY said it will be working for auto insurance reforms, laborlaw changes and workers' compensation reforms.

In the area of comp reform, the group said that it wants toavoid any scenario where rate decisions, benefit changes, or both,cause comp costs to exceed revenues, which increases the growth ofthe State Insurance Fund.