Sep 13, 2017

Gov. Cuomo signs PIANY top-priority CE law

GLENMONT, N.Y.—The Professional Insurance Agents of New York State commends Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for signing its top priority continuing-education bill (S.1314-A/A.117-A) into law today. The new law eliminates the need for insurance agents and brokers to take duplicative continuing-education courses for both their individual and agency insurance licenses.

The law, which was sponsored by Sen. James L. Seward, R-51, and Assemblyman Kevin A. Cahill, D-103, was the leading piece of legislation for the association this past legislative session.

"PIANY congratulates Gov. Cuomo for recognizing how this new law resolves the conflicts that arise when insurance producers must maintain CE credits for their agencies and themselves," said PIANY immediate past President John C. Parsons II, CIC, CPIA, AAI. "And, we thank Senator Seward and Assemblyman Cahill, the bill’s sponsors, who consistently have championed a business-friendly atmosphere that will benefit New York state’s insurance-buying public.

Now insurance producers will have more time to advise New Yorkers about their insurance needs, while they still earn the valuable CE credits that keep them updated on the changing insurance market."

The law exempts business-entity licenses from CE requirements when all sublicenses can demonstrate they have adequate CE credits to support their individual licenses in effect at the date of renewal.

Streamlining CE requirements for insurance producers was one of the items on PIANY’s 2017 legislative agenda, which included scaffold law/tort reform; cybersecurity regulations; reducing unfair competitive marketing advantages of the New York State Insurance Fund; and standardizing hurricane deductible triggers for coastal home insurance policies.

PIANY is a trade association representing professional, independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees throughout the state.

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