sample letter to governor hochul

To show support to Governor Hochul, you’ll need to fill out a contact form, which can be found here: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form.

1. Fill out the form with your name and contact info
2. Under topic select “Legislation” or “Transportation”
3. Under subject put: Urgent! Please direct DFS to allow RRGs to provide auto insurance to nonprofits
4. For the message, you can copy and paste the sample letter below.
   
5. Please don’t forget to personalize the message with your name at the end.

Dear Governor Hochul,

Please direct the Department of Financial Services to immediately allow Risk Retention Groups (RRGs), not domiciled in the State, to write automobile liability insurance for nonprofit organizations. This will provide a much needed fix for a market failure, and bring NYS in line with federal law (the Liability Risk Retention Act).

DFS’s interpretation of the LRRA prohibits Risk Retention Groups (RRGs) from writing auto insurance in NYS unless they are domiciled in the state. This restriction is unique to New York, as federal law explicitly allows RRGs domiciled in one state to write auto insurance in other states.

Our Assembly and Senate representatives strongly support this clarification. In fact, they have introduced A.5718 Kelles/S.5959 Webb-Brouk, which also addresses this issue, by amending the vehicle and traffic law and the insurance law, in relation to automobile liability insurance purchased from a RRG. 

This bill will make it clear that duly registered RRGs in New York that meet certain requirements may provide commercial auto insurance for 501(c)(3) nonprofits in our state. Furthermore, this bill will not relax any of the laws in place, as RRGs are held to the same solvency standards as commercial insurance companies nationwide.

Nonprofits in New York play a critical role in providing transportation services that serve children, the elderly, medically fragile, or others that rely on volunteer drivers, as well as carshare services. 

Many New York State nonprofits have struggled to find auto insurance due to the prohibition of RRGs from writing auto insurance. 

In particular, community nonprofit carsharing programs, which hold great potential to generate significant equity and environmental benefits, are shut out without this insurance. 

Ithaca Carshare, for example, will be forced to close operations on May 19, and new or soon to launch carshares in Albany, Rochester and Buffalo (funded by NYSERDA) will also be unable to move forward.

Ithaca Carshare has been in operation for 15 years, and provides 24/7 access to 30 vehicles for over 1,500 members. 

NYSERDA has invested millions of dollars into carshares across the state, and the opportunity exists to significantly expand these services rapidly as part of the State’s efforts to equitably tackle climate change and make electric vehicles accessible to all New Yorkers.

Please direct DFS to allow RRGs to provide auto insurance to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the state.

Thank you,
[Your Name]