CT trying to pass a bill...

Connecticut is trying to pass a bill forcing insurance companies to change their policies on homeowners who have dogs.

Measure Would Leash Home Insurers
Dog Owners Wouldn't Pay Rates Based On Breeds
May 5, 2005
By BILL LEUKHARDT, Courant Staff Writer

Whether your pet dog is a 6-pound toy poodle or a 55-pound pit bull would not matter when buying home insurance under a bill passed after 80 minutes of back-and-forth barking by state lawmakers Wednesday.

"Don't punish responsible dog owners," said bill co-sponsor Rep. Robert Megna, D-New Haven. "Many insurance companies won't even consider you for a policy if you own a breed of dog they consider a danger."

"Some dogs are more dangerous than others," answered opponent Rep. Lawrence Cafero, D-Norwalk. "This bill is contrary to long-established procedure. It says to insurance companies you can no longer differentiate between a pit bull and a Chihuahua or floppy-eared beagle."

The bill seeks to erase the insurance the industry practice of factoring in the danger of certain dog breeds when pricing homeowner insurance. Dog breeds deemed more likely to bite and trigger claims can result in costlier premiums or denial of coverage.

The proposal must be approved by the senate and signed into law by Gov. M. Jodi Rell to become law.

The debate over the proposal was the single-longest of the day in a seven-hour session. At one point, some members of the house made barking noises after an amendment clarifying the bill passed on a close 75-70 vote.

Lawmakers opposed to the bill said it ignores insurance risk assessments and may cause all homeowners to pay higher premiums to cover costs of increased claims of dog bites and injuries caused by dogs.

"It's wrong for us to say insurance companies cannot charge higher premiums for higher risk," said minority leader Rep. Robert Ward, R-North Branford. "If you have a dangerous dog, you should pay for that risk."

An insurance industry group voiced its opposition Wednesday afternoon, calling the bill unfair because it would force non-dog owners to subsidize the cost of dog bites.

"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 4.5 million dog bites per year, which cost more than $1 billion annually," said Laura Kersey, an assistant vice president with the American Insurance Association. "The property-casualty insurance industry alone paid roughly $345.5 million in 2002, which accounted for almost one-quarter of the total number of homeowners insurance liability claims."

Breeds considered dangerous, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies of fatal dog bites, include pit bull, Rottweiler, German shepherd, husky, malamute and Doberman pinscher, Kersey said in her release.

But one oft-bitten legislator said none of his canine attackers are on that list.

"I was bitten seven times on my first campaign in 1994 and they were all small dogs," said Rep. Michael Cardin, D-Tolland. "Small dogs are more territorial than large ones."