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INSURANCE LAW JULY 20, 2020 ¦ S-25

New York State Bill Would Require Police
Officers to Carry Liability Insurance

By Ryan Tarinelli

In an effort to deter police misconduct,
a New York state bill would require of-
ficers statewide to have personal liability
insurance.
State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Bronx,
who is sponsoring the legislation, says
the measure aims to establish a financial
disincentive for police misconduct and
create accountability. The bill was intro-
duced on July 6.
Officers who have misconduct claims
brought against them might see their
premiums go up and be required to pay
those costs, said Biaggi, who’s district New York Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Bronx.

covers parts of the Bronx and Westches- Photo: Hans Pennink/AP

ter County.
The proposal would require officers to get liability Biaggi said she guesses the state Legislature will
insurance that covers claims against them for acts return toward the end of the month.
“during any period of time that Her legislation comes weeks after
such officer is performing duties protests against police brutality and
within the scope of employment.” racial injustice seized the nation’s
The legislation stipulates that State Sen. Alessandra attention, prompting a national

the base rate of the policy will be Biaggi, D-Bronx, who is reckoning on the intersection be-

covered by a local government or sponsoring the legislation, tween race and law enforcement.
agency. The large-scale protests fol-
A report from the New York says the measure aims lowed the death of George Floyd
City Comptroller’s Office says in Minnesota.
there was about $230 million in to establish a financial
NYPD tort claim settlements for disincentive for police The outrage and groundswell of
fiscal year 2018. misconduct and create attention pushed state lawmakers
to pass a package of police reforms,
accountability.

“And so taxpayers are basically including measures to mandate
bailing out law enforcement who body cameras for state police and
engage in [this] misconduct,” Bi- ban police choke holds.
aggi said. “And the officers that are engaging in the ¦

misconduct are often evading meaningful account- Ryan Tarinelli is a reporter at the New York Law
ability.” Journal. He is based at the New York State Capitol
Biaggi said the liability insurance approach isn’t a in Albany, New York. He can be reached through
new idea. Nurses and hairdressers have some form email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twit-
of personal liability insurance, she said. ter: @ryantarinelli.

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