New York State Assembly

 
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A05718 Summary:

A05718 Actions:

A05718 Committee Votes:

Committee:CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION   Chair:Kavanagh      
DATE:06/05/2017AYE/NAY:16/0  Action: Favorable refer to committee Codes        
Kavanagh
Aye
Palumbo
Aye
Abbate
Aye
McDonough
Aye
Quart
Aye
McKevitt
Aye
Buchwald
Aye
Stec
Aye
Solages
Aye
Simon
Aye
Dilan
Aye
Seawright
Aye
Rozic
Aye
Niou
Aye
Pheffer Amato
Aye
Williams
Aye

Committee:CODES   Chair:Lentol      
DATE:06/19/2017AYE/NAY:20/0  Action: Favorable refer to committee Rules        
Lentol
Aye
Graf
Aye
Schimminger
Aye
Giglio
Aye
Weinstein
Aye
McKevitt
Aye
Pretlow
Aye
Montesano
Aye
Cook
Aye
Ra
Aye
Cymbrowitz
Aye
Morinello
Aye
Titus
Aye
O'Donnell
Excused
Lavine
Aye
Perry
Aye
Zebrowski
Aye
Abinanti
Aye
Weprin
Aye
Mosley
Aye
Hevesi
Excused
Fahy
Aye

Committee:RULES   Chair:Heastie      
DATE:06/21/2017AYE/NAY:26/0  Action: Favorable         
Heastie
Excused
Kolb
Aye
Gottfried
Aye
Oaks
Aye
Lentol
Aye
Butler
Aye
Farrell
Aye
Crouch
Aye
Gantt
Excused
Finch
Aye
Nolan
Excused
Barclay
Aye
Weinstein
Aye
Raia
Aye
Hooper
Aye
Hawley
Aye
Ortiz
Aye
Pretlow
Aye
Cook
Aye
Glick
Aye
Morelle
Aye
Aubry
Aye
Englebright
Aye
Dinowitz
Aye
Colton
Aye
Magnarelli
Aye
Perry
Excused
Galef
Aye
Paulin
Aye
Titus
Excused
Peoples-Stokes
Aye

A05718 Floor Votes:

A05718 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         5718--B
 
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 14, 2017
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of A. SKOUFIS, HOOPER, MONTESANO, STECK -- read once
          and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs  and  Protection  --
          reported   and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Codes  --  committee
          discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
          to said committee -- again reported from said  committee  with  amend-
          ments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
        AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the prohibition
          of the use of non-disparagement clauses in consumer contracts
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
     2  399-cccc to read as follows:
     3    §  399-cccc.  Non-disparagement  clauses  in  consumer  contracts   or
     4  services prohibited. 1.  Definitions.
     5    a.  The  term  "consumer" shall mean a natural person residing in this
     6  state.
     7    b. The term "consumer goods" shall mean goods, wares, paid merchandise
     8  or services purchased or paid for by a consumer,  the  intended  use  or
     9  benefit  of  which  is  intended  for  the personal, family or household
    10  purposes of such consumer.
    11    c. The term  "consumer  services"  shall  mean  services  provided  to
    12  consumers  including,  but  not  limited  to,  legal  services,  medical
    13  services or cleaning services.
    14    d. The term "non-disparagement clause" shall mean a provision  waiving
    15  the  consumer's right to make any statement regarding a seller or lessor
    16  or its employees or agents, or concerning the goods or services.
    17    2. Prohibition. a. A contract or proposed contract  for  the  sale  or
    18  lease  of consumer goods or services may not include a non-disparagement
    19  clause. The inclusion of such clause in a contract or proposed  contract
    20  for  the  sale or lease of consumer goods or services shall not serve to
    21  impair the enforceability of any other provision of such contract.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07502-04-7
        A. 5718--B                          2
 
     1    b. It shall be unlawful to threaten or to seek to enforce  a  non-dis-
     2  paragement  clause  made  unlawful  under  this section, or to otherwise
     3  penalize a consumer  for  making  any  statement  protected  under  this
     4  section. The inclusion of such clause in a written contract for the sale
     5  or purchase of consumer goods shall not serve to impair the enforceabil-
     6  ity of any other provision of such contract.
     7    c.  Any waiver of the provisions of this section is contrary to public
     8  policy, and is void and unenforceable.
     9    3. Penalty. a. Any person who violates this section shall  be  subject
    10  to  a  civil  penalty  not  to exceed five hundred dollars for the first
    11  violation, and one thousand dollars for the second and for  each  subse-
    12  quent  violation, to be assessed and collected in a civil action brought
    13  by the attorney general.
    14    b. Any person who seeks to enforce  a  non-disparagement  clause  made
    15  unlawful  under this section or otherwise penalize a consumer for making
    16  any statement protected under this section shall be subject to  a  civil
    17  penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars to be assessed and collected
    18  in a civil action by the attorney general.
    19    c.  Any  consumer  damaged by a violation of this section may bring an
    20  action for recovery of damages. Judgment may be entered in an amount not
    21  to exceed three times the  actual  damages  plus  reasonable  attorney's
    22  fees.  The  penalty provided by this section is not an exclusive remedy,
    23  and does not affect any other relief or remedy  provided  by  law.  This
    24  section shall not be construed to prohibit or limit a person or business
    25  that hosts online consumer reviews or comments from removing a statement
    26  that is otherwise lawful to remove.
    27    §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
    28  have become a law.