MA Bill to Eliminate BSL Insurance Co restrictions

[trinitydobes]

Permission to cross post!!! This is legislation that we should all get behind and SUPPORT!!!

From: AKC's Government Relations Department
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 11:06 AM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: SUPPORT MASSACHUSETTS BILL TO ELIMINATE BREED-SPECIFIC BANS IN INSURANCE POLICIES!

Thursday September 8, 2011

www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=4477

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has learned that Massachusetts House Bill 2054 will be heard by the Joint Committee on Financial Services on Tuesday, September 13. The bill seeks to prohibit insurance companies from refusing to issue or renew, cancel, or charge an increased rate for homeowners’ insurance based on the breed of dog owned by the policy holder. Both the American Kennel Club and the Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners support HB 2054.

Summary:

As introduced, House Bill 2054 prohibits insurance companies from refusing to issue or renew, cancelling, or charging an increased rate for homeowners’ insurance policies based on the breed owned. The bill does allow for insurance companies to take these actions if the dog has been declared dangerous based on current law. Additionally, all dog bite/attack cases that result in medical treatment must be reported within 60 days of the incident to the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH), which will compile statistics on the issue. Insurers will be released from liability for paying for damages if owners fail to report a qualifying incident within 60 days.


Position:

The American Kennel Club believes that insurance companies should determine coverage of a dog-owning household based on the dog’s deeds, not the dog’s breed. If a dog is a well-behaved member of the household and the community, there is no reason to deny or cancel coverage. In fact, insurance companies should consider a dog an asset, a natural alarm system whose bark may deter intruders and prevent potential theft.

The American Kennel Club supports House Bill 2054 as introduced.

What You Can Do:

Contact the members of the Joint Committee on Financial Services and express your strong support of HB 2054. (For talking points against breed-specific legislation and practices, click here.)

Senate Members:
Senator Anthony Petruccelli, Senate Chair
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Email: [e-mail]

Senator Brian A. Joyce, Senate Vice Chair
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Senator Michael J. Rodrigues
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Senator John F. Keenan
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Senator Gale D. Candaras
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Senator Michael R. Knapik
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House Members:



Representative Michael A. Costello, House Chair
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Representative Carlo P. Basile, House Vice Chair
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Representative Christopher G. Fallon
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Representative Lori A. Ehrlich
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Representative James J. Dwyer
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Representative Russell E. Holmes
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Representative Marc T. Lombardo
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Representative Kevin J. Murphy
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Representative James M. Cantwell
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Representative Timothy R. Madden
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Representative Nicholas A. Boldyga
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