Establishes standards for glass repair and calibration of advanced driver assistance systems for motor vehicle glass repair facilities.
Summary
A06943 would add a new section to the General Business Law regulating motor vehicle glass repair and replacement when a vehicle is equipped with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). The bill defines ADAS-related terms, requires repair facilities to tell consumers whether recalibration is needed, whether the facility can perform it to manufacturer specifications, and whether the vehicle should instead be taken to a dealer or qualified specialist. It also requires itemized work descriptions and notice when recalibration is unsuccessful or not performed.
The bill further restricts billing and contracting practices in the auto glass industry. Repair shops could not promise that a repair will be fully paid by insurance unless it is actually covered, could not begin work without a claim or referral number for insurance-covered damage, could not require assignment-of-benefits agreements, and could not offer inducements such as rebates or gift cards to steer consumers into filing claims. Shops that perform ADAS-related work must recalibrate systems to manufacturer specifications and may not bill for work not performed in accordance with those specifications. Violations would carry a civil penalty of $2,500 per occurrence, and the act would take effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would create new consumer-protection and disclosure requirements for motor vehicle glass repair facilities under the General Business Law, specifically targeting repairs involving ADAS-equipped vehicles. It would affect auto glass shops, insurers, consumers, and potentially franchised dealers or qualified calibration specialists by clarifying when recalibration is required and when a vehicle must be referred elsewhere. It also would impose new limits on insurance-related contracting and billing practices and establish a penalty structure for noncompliance.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill. It passed the Assembly committees unanimously, then passed the Assembly floor unanimously, and later passed the Senate floor with only one dissenting vote. That pattern suggests broad bipartisan agreement that the measure addresses a consumer-safety and transparency issue in a growing area of vehicle repair.
Contention
There is little evidence of major controversy in the available record, but the bill’s restrictions on assignment-of-benefits agreements, insurer-related billing, and inducements could be points of concern for some repair facilities and industry participants. The requirement that recalibration meet manufacturer specifications, and the instruction to refer vehicles to dealers or qualified specialists when a shop cannot do so, may also raise operational and cost concerns for smaller repair shops. The near-unanimous votes indicate that any such objections were limited or did not significantly affect passage.