Neil Breslin to chair national committee studying racism in insurance

October 2, 2020

Originally published in Times Union

State Sen. Neil Breslin will chair a special committee examining the influence of race on insurance policies for a national legislative group, the group announced Friday.

Breslin, a Bethlehem Democrat, will chair the Special Committee on Race in Insurance Underwriting for the National Council of Insurance Legislators, a group made up of lawmakers from around the country dedicated to examining public policy issues relating to insurance. Breslin is the chair of the state Senate's Committee on Insurance.

“The insurance industry has been among those industries that has taken steps to review and, in some instances, change, certain established ways of doing business in an effort to address systemic bias and racism,” Breslin wrote in the statement announcing his chairmanship. “The thoughts and views of state insurance legislators are extremely valuable as these important decisions occur which is why forming this committee is so vital.”