HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 746        FILED ON: 1/14/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 918

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Anne M. Gobi

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act concerning the use of certain insurance underwriting guidelines pertaining to dogs harbored upon the insured property.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Anne M. Gobi

5th Worcester

1/14/2013

Christine E. Canavan

10th Plymouth

 

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

 

Cleon H. Turner

1st Barnstable

 

Tom Sannicandro

7th Middlesex

 

Kathi-Anne Reinstein

16th Suffolk

 

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

 

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

 

Jonathan D. Zlotnik

2nd Worcester

 

Brian R. Mannal

2nd Barnstable

 

Kevin J. Kuros

8th Worcester

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 746        FILED ON: 1/14/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 918

By Ms. Gobi of Spencer, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 918) of Anne M. Gobi and others relative to the use of certain insurance underwriting guidelines for homeowners with dogs living on such insured property.  Financial Services.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2054 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act concerning the use of certain insurance underwriting guidelines pertaining to dogs harbored upon the insured property.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1. As used in this act:

“Insurer” means any insurer engaged in the business of homeowners.

Section 2. No insurance company offering homeowners insurance coverage in Massachusetts issuing a policy or contract insuring against liability for injury to any person or injury to or destruction of property arising out of ownership or lease of residential property shall refuse to issue or renew, cancel or charge or impose an increased premium or rate of such a policy or contract based in whole or in part, upon the harboring of any specific breed or breeds of dog upon such real property.

Section 3. If any such dog has been designated as a dangerous dog pursuant to current statutes, the provisions in this section shall in no manner prohibit an insurer from refusing to issue or renew or from canceling any such contact or policy, nor from imposing an increased premium or rate for such a policy or contract.

Section 4. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after enactment.

Section 5. All dog bites/attacks that result in medical attention must be reported to: the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) within 60 days of the incident, using a standardized format.

The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

•Time, date and location of incident

•Name, address, phone number of the dogs owner(s) and the same for the victim(s) of the attack

•The breed of dog: Actual breed, mixed breed including two breeds, beyond two breeds the breed should be listed as unknown mixed breed.

•A narrative description of the circumstances of the act, detailing the events involved in the incident.

Section 6. DPH shall compile statistics regarding the nature of each dog incident, which shall be made available to all insurers and the general public upon request.

Section 7. Failure to report such dog bite/attack within the required time shall release the insurer from the liability of paying for damages incurred.