Brooklyn's Progress
August 2003

By The New York State Insurance Department

New York State Insurance Superintendent Gregory V. Serio  rejected this years’ filing by the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board (NYCIRB) for a workers’ compensation insurance overall rate increase of 11 percent. In a news release issued on July 15, The Department has determined that the increase requested is not supported by the information submitted to the Department in the filing and at the public hearing held almost two weeks ago.

In the Opinion and Decision, the Department also rejected the methodologies utilized by NYCIRB and detailed failures to provide information requested by the Department. The Department has concluded that NYCIRB has failed to follow through on the letter and the spirit of the sweeping 1996 workers’ compensation reforms. NYCIRB has also failed to recognize the efforts by Governor Pataki, the New York State Legislature and the business community to control what were once outrageous workers’ compensation insurance costs for the millions of working New Yorkers who depend on the workers compensation system.
The Brooklyn Chamber of  Commerce has pushed for lower workers’ compensation rates for the past six years.

Therefore, the filing has been disapproved and the rates set for 2002-2003 will remain in place.