Abusers will have a harder time getting information about spouses and others they previously victimized under a new law authored by Senator Michael Balboni.

The law, which goes into effect in January, makes medical information confidential if a person covered by an abusive spouse's or parent's health insurance plan has a standing order of protection against the abusive spouse or parent.

"Chronic abusers go to great lengths to find the people who have escaped their abuse," Senator Balboni said. "The new law takes away an avenue these bullies have used to track down and harass their former victims."

According to Senator Balboni, confidentiality and security are essential for people who escape abusive households. However, some abusers desperate to keep tabs on their former victims have used health insurance information to find their whereabouts if the abused person is covered by their health plan.

The new law prohibits insurers from disclosing to an insurance policyholder the address and phone number of an insured person covered by an order of protection. It's up to the person covered by the order of protection to inform the insurance company the order of protection exists.

Governor Pataki signed the bill into law July 19.

Insurance companies can't refuse to renew homeowner policies simply because the homes are protected by volunteer fire companies, thanks to a new law authored by Senator Michael Balboni.

The law remedies a situation brought to Senator Balboni's attention last fall, after the state Firemen's Association and the Babylon Fire Chiefs Association learned that the Balboa Insurance Company refused to renew a homeowner policy in Coram solely because volunteer firefighters protect the property.

"It was a slap in the face to volunteer fire companies, which protect most of the homes in Nassau and Suffolk and it was a slap in the face to homeowners trying to be responsible," Senator Balboni said.

A subsequent insurance department investigation found that Balboa failed to renew policies for the same reason in Stewart Manor, Farmingdale, Commack and Deer Park. The insurance department found that the insurance company acted improperly and directed it to offer renewals to the Long Island homeowners it rejected.

Senator Balboni's law bans the practice of "non-renewal" of homeowner insurance policies that cover homes protected by volunteer fire companies.

"Volunteer firefighters have time and again proven that they provide first-class fire protection services to their neighbors," Senator Balboni said. "It was obvious to me that the law needed to be clarified and that's what we did."

Governor Pataki signed the law July 19; it goes into effect in November.