Senator Charles J. Fuschillo announced that the law he authored, which provides personal property-casualty line insurance holders extra protection from cancellation, is now in effect. The new law requires insurance companies to send written notice to both the policyholder and authorized agent or broker that the policy will be terminated.

For a variety of reasons, some companies have recently ceased supplying this information to agents and have thereby denied many people the ability to maintain their policy coverage. The law requires the information to be passed on to the agent and the consumer. The cancellation notice must include the amount of premium owed to bring the account up to date. This gives personal lines insurance holders an additional opportunity to maintain their good financial standing and avoid a lapse in coverage.

"The intent of this legislation is to protect drivers from the numerous problems caused by a lapse in insurance coverage," stated Fuschillo. "This will promote coordination among the insurance companies, personal lines insurance agents and policyholders and ensure the continuation of coverage."

The new law will bring notification requirements for personal lines insurance policies in line with commercial lines policies, which already have this protection.

Senator Fuschillo has introduced legislation to increase the maximum fine for a violation of the New York State "Do Not Call" registry. The legislation would raise the maximum penalty from a $5,000 fine to $11,000.

The state registry, which began in 2000, was authored by Senator Fuschillo and recently incorporated into the national program. Prior to merging with the national program, the state "Do Not Call" Registry had almost 2.3 million phone numbers listed.

"The legislation would make New York State fines the same as those of the national registry for telemarketing companies who violate the law," stated Fuschillo. "Not only would this afford greater protection to New York consumers but also help to create a uniform national system for consumers and businesses."

The New York State "Do Not Call" Registry has collected approximately $1 million from companies that have violated the law. If you would like to register on the national "Do Not Call" registry, visit www.senatorfuschilo.com and click the link in the Senate Update section of Senator Fuschillo's website. For further information, call Senator Fuschillo's office at 546-4100.

Senator Fuschillo announced that his office has 2004-5 financial aid information available for students who plan to attend college in the fall of 2004. The materials are available free of charge.

The New York State Department of Education estimates that 169,000 students will graduate from New York State High Schools in 2004. As these students prepare to embark on their journey through higher education, they face a variety of choices and questions regarding financial aid that are often confusing and overwhelming. These materials inform prospective students and their families of the financial aid options that are available.

One of the available informational pieces is the "2004-05 Financial Aid Chart." This chart, prepared by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), provides information about the various types of financial assistance offered by New York State, the Federal Government, and individual colleges or universities. The criteria for each type of assistance is explained as well.

"A college degree is an invaluable resource that should be available to anyone who seeks it," said Fuschillo. "New York State is a leader in providing quality higher education, and I remain committed to ensuring that this opportunity exists for everyone.

You can obtain the "2004-05 Financial Aid Chart" or other free information by contacting Senator Fuschillo at 546-4100 or by e-mail at fuschillo@senate.state.ny.us. For additional information about financial aid, please visit Senator Fuschillo's website at www.senatorfuschillo.com and click on the "financial aid" link in "Senate Update" section.