S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2274
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 22, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities
and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
a home equity protection insurance program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 31 of section 2404 of the public authorities
law, as renumbered by chapter 151 of the laws of 2013, is renumbered
subdivision 32 and a new subdivision 31 is added to read as follows:
(31) TO ESTABLISH AND ADMINISTER A HOME EQUITY PROTECTION INSURANCE
PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION TWENTY-FOUR HUNDRED FIVE-F OF THIS
PART.
S 2. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section
2405-f to read as follows:
S 2405-F. HOME EQUITY PROTECTION INSURANCE PROGRAM. (1) THE AGENCY IS
HEREBY DIRECTED, TO THE EXTENT IT FINDS PRACTICABLE, TO ESTABLISH A HOME
EQUITY PROTECTION INSURANCE PROGRAM WHEREBY IT WILL ISSUE A COMMITMENT
TO INSURE AND INSURE THE FULL VALUE OF A ONE-TO-FOUR FAMILY RESIDENCE,
INCLUDING A CONDOMINIUM AND A COOPERATIVE, THAT IS OWNER-OCCUPIED BY ANY
PERSON OR PERSONS WHO MEET THE INCOME QUALIFICATIONS FOR A FORWARD
COMMITMENT MORTGAGE PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-FOUR HUNDRED FIVE-B OF
THIS PART. THE FULL VALUE OF THE RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY SHALL BE
DETERMINED BY EITHER ITS PURCHASE PRICE, THE PURCHASE PRICE PLUS THE
COST OF ANY REHABILITATION TO THE RESIDENCE, OR AN APPRAISAL. THE INSUR-
ANCE SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE AGENCY AFTER THE PURCHASE OR THE REHABILI-
TATION OF THE REAL PROPERTY UPON PAYMENT OF A PREMIUM THAT THE AGENCY
SHALL DETERMINE.
(2) UPON THE SALE OF THE RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY THAT IS INSURED BY
THE AGENCY THROUGH ITS HOME EQUITY INSURANCE PROGRAM, THE AGENCY SHALL
PAY THE POLICY HOLDER/OWNER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FACE VALUE OF THE
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05797-01-5
S. 2274 2
INSURANCE POLICY AND THE SALES PRICE OF THE INSURED PREMISES IF SUCH
SALES PRICE IS LESS THAN THE INSURED AMOUNT AND IF THE POLICY
HOLDER/OWNER HAS LIVED IN THE PREMISES FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN
THREE YEARS. THE AGENCY SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY A
POLICY HOLDER/OWNER IN THE EVENT OF A PAYMENT UNDER THE TERMS OF ANY
HOME EQUITY PROTECTION INSURANCE POLICY. THE AGENCY SHALL NOT BE
REQUIRED TO PAY ON A CLAIM FOR A LOSS OF EQUITY IF IT DETERMINES THAT
SUCH LOSS OCCURRED PREDOMINANTLY FROM THE POLICY HOLDER/OWNER'S NEGLECT
OF THE REAL PROPERTY'S PHYSICAL CONDITION.
(3)(A) THE AGENCY SHALL CREATE A HOME EQUITY PROTECTION INSURANCE FUND
TO BE USED AS A REVOLVING FUND FOR CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION WITH RESPECT TO RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY INSURED THEREUNDER.
THE AGENCY SHALL PAY INTO SUCH FUND ALL MONEYS WHICH MAY BE AVAILABLE TO
THE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH FUND FROM ANY SOURCE, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO THE MONEYS RECEIVED FROM PREMIUMS DERIVED FROM THE ISSU-
ANCE OF HOME EQUITY PROTECTION INSURANCE POLICIES.
(B) THE AGENCY SHALL MAINTAIN IN THE EQUITY INSURANCE FUND AS A
RESERVE AN AMOUNT OF MONEY OR CASH EQUIVALENTS EQUAL TO NO LESS THAN
TWENTY PERCENT OF THE AMOUNTS INSURED UNDER THE AGENCY'S HOME EQUITY
PROTECTION INSURANCE CONTRACTS.
(4) MONEYS IN SUCH FUND MAY BE INVESTED (A) IN SPECIAL TIME DEPOSIT
ACCOUNTS IN, OR CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT ISSUED BY, A BANK, TRUST COMPA-
NY, SAVINGS BANK OR SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION LOCATED AND AUTHORIZED
TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH TIME DEPOSIT
ACCOUNT OR CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT SHALL BE PAYABLE WITHIN SUCH TIME AS
THE PROCEEDS MAY BE NEEDED TO MEET EXPENDITURES ESTIMATED TO BE INCURRED
BY THE AGENCY AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT SUCH TIME DEPOSIT ACCOUNT OR
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT BE SECURED BY A PLEDGE OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR OBLIGATIONS OF THE STATE, ANY CITY OF THE
STATE, OR OTHER MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DISTRICT
CORPORATION OF THE STATE OR OBLIGATIONS OF AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT; OR (B) IN OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE
STATE WHICH MAY FROM TIME TO TIME BE LEGALLY PURCHASED BY SAVINGS BANKS
WITHIN THE STATE AS AN INVESTMENT OF FUNDS BELONGING TO THEM OR IN THEIR
CONTROL, OR IN OBLIGATIONS OF THE FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION
PROVIDED SUCH OBLIGATIONS SHALL BE PAYABLE OR REDEEMABLE AT THE OPTION
OF THE OWNER WITHIN SUCH TIMES AS THE PROCEEDS MAY BE NEEDED TO MEET
EXPENDITURES ESTIMATED TO BE INCURRED BY THE AGENCY.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.