Both New York and West Virginia have pieces of legislation, that if passed could impact the auto glass industry. Both legislatures will consider making changes to their current laws in this year’s session.
New York
New York’s legislation was introduced in the Assembly (A9081) and the Senate (S6953) and looks to retract certain regular “wear and tear” items such as windshield cracks and chips from the newly enacted definition of service contracts for consumer leased vehicles. The bills, which were negotiated by the Department of Financial Services with the Governor’s Office and the legislative sponsors, seeks to maintain the intention of law enacted last month to protect consumers from surprise lease end costs but remove paint chips, glass cracks and exterior dents and scratches from the newly allowed leased car service contracts.
The legislation has been referred to the Insurance Committee.
To read the full text of A9081 and S6953, click here.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s House introduced legislation that if passed, would add the repair or replacement of auto glass to the definition of a service contract that is exempt from West Virginia insurance law. The following is to be added to the current law:
“In conjunction with a motor vehicle leased for use, the repair, replacement or maintenance of property, or indemnification for repair, replacement or maintenance, due to excess wear and use, damage for items such as tires, paint cracks or chips, interior stains, rips or scratches, exterior dents or scratches, windshield cracks or chips, missing interior or exterior parts or excess mileage that result in a lease-end charge, or any other charge for damage that is deemed as excess wear and use by a lessor under a motor vehicle lease, provided any such payment shall not exceed the purchase price of the vehicle.”
The West Virginia Legislature meets for a 60-day session and adjourns on March 7. The bill, also known as HB4149, has been referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
To view the bill’s full text, click here.
