NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8057
SPONSOR: Forrest TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to
coverage for car seats
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: Requires insurance to cover a car
seat to be provided upon discharge of a newborn from a hospital.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends item (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph 10 of
subsection 2 (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law to include a car
seat under maternity care coverage.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Car seats are essential for the safety of infants and young children
during car travel. They significantly reduce the risk of injury or
fatality in the event of a collision. New York State has recognized this
by requiring car seats for children under a certain age. However, car
seats can be expensive and many families, particularly those with limit-
ed financial resources, may struggle to afford a new car seat. By
requiring insurance to provide car seats, the state can help alleviate
this financial burden and ensure that all children have access to safe
and appropriate car seats without incurring significant financial
burden.
Lastly, covering car seats for newborns aligns with the larger goal of
prioritizing child safety on the roads. Children are vulnerable road
users, and providing insurance coverage for car seats reflects a commit-
ment to their well-being. It facilitates access and usage for parents in
maintaining a safe traveling environment for their children. Overall,
including car seats in insurance coverage makes sense as it prioritizes
child safety, reduces financial barriers, and promotes responsible car
seat usage.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8057
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
September 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FORREST -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage for car seats
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Item (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph 10 of subsection
2 (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law, as added by chapter 56 of
3 the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
4 (ii) Maternity care coverage shall also include, at minimum, parent
5 education, assistance and training in breast or bottle feeding, [and]
6 the performance of any necessary maternal and newborn clinical assess-
7 ments, and an initial appropriate child restraint system as defined in
8 subdivision four of section twelve hundred twenty-nine-c of the vehicle
9 and traffic law to be provided upon discharge.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13262-01-3
