The New York Legislature has passed a bill that should be of great concern to New York auto glass shops. While the bill purports to provide “consumer protection” for replacing and recalibrating automotive safety glass, it contains provisions that would hurt many auto glass companies doing business there.
The bill A 6943B requires glass shops working on an ADAS-equipped vehicle to inform the consumer if calibration is required. It also requires that the ADAS calibration meets the manufacturer’s specifications. If the calibration is not performed or performed unsuccessfully, the vehicle must be taken to an entity that can successfully calibrate the vehicle. The customer must also be notified in writing if the calibration is not performed successfully. The glass company cannot represent that the insurer will pay the entire cost unless the insurance policy fully covers it.
It Will Be Illegal to Do Any Insurance Work
without a Claim Number Under This New Law
Section 3(c) of the bill says that “A motor vehicle glass facility shall not contract with a person for a repair or replacement of damaged safety glass or motor vehicle glass until the motor vehicle glass repair shop has received a claim or referral number for insurance-covered damage”.
This provision could be a massive obstacle for independent and small glass shops, as those claim numbers often cannot be obtained promptly and without going through a company owned or associated with a competitor company.
And the bill carries a $2,500 per-occurrence penalty.
A 6943B has passed the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate and will soon be sent to the Governor for approval. The Governor has up to 30 days to sign or veto the new law. Without a veto, it becomes law after 30 days.
Time is of the essence. New York State Governor Kathy Hockul could sign it any time. Next year is an election year for Governor Hockul, who has made economic advancement for small businesses a cornerstone of her administration.
If you wish to take action, contact New York Governor Hochul.
The Assembly and Senate have passed A 6943B, and the bill will be on Governor Hochul’s desk in the next few days! If you want to try to stop it:
Here is what YOU can do:
- Act now
Call and write to Governor Kathy Hochul and urge her to veto the anti-competition and anti-small business bill that will harm the auto glass industry and its customers. - Tell Governor Hochul to veto the bill
Tell her that forcing auto glass companies to get an insurance claim number before contracting with a customer is a huge obstacle to small and independent glass shops, forcing them to wait for a process they do not control. Let her know that the process often involves a company owned or associated with a competitor. Let her see how this new law will hurt you. - Call Governor Hochul at 518/474-8390 (Office hours 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) and send a message to Governor Hochul at https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-forIm. Tell her to veto the anti-competition, anti-small business auto glass bill, A 6943B, and protect independent glass shops over big corporations!