AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF BREED OF DOG AS AN UNDERWRITING FACTOR FOR HOMEOWNERS AND TENANTS INSURANCE POLICIES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2016) No insurer that delivers, issues for delivery, renews, amends or endorses a homeowners or tenants insurance policy in this state on or after October 1, 2016, shall establish rates or minimum premiums for such policy or cancel, refuse to renew or refuse to issue such policy on the basis of the breed of dog owned by the insured or the applicant, with respect to (1) any dog that is (A) an active or retired member of a volunteer canine search and rescue team, as defined in section 5-249 of the general statutes, or (B) a guide dog trained or being trained to assist blind, deaf or mobility impaired persons, or (2) any dog that is not described in subdivision (1) of this section unless additional criteria other than breed is used with respect to the dog that is covered by this subdivision.

Statement of Purpose:

To limit the use of breed of dog as an underwriting factor for homeowners and tenants insurance policies.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]