Amd §§69-e, 69-f, 69-g & 69-i, ren §69-h to be §69-i, add §§69-h & 69-j, Gen Bus L
 
Prohibits the sale or purchase of certain items as scrap: any metal items bearing markings of any government entity, utility company, cemetery or railroad items; preempts local laws.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6698
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 15, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PEOPLES-STOKES, COOK, D'URSO -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to licensing of
scrap producers in the state and certain cities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 69-e of the general business law, as added by chap-
2 ter 431 of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 69-e. Definitions. 1. "Scrap metal processing facility" shall mean
4 an establishment engaged primarily in the purchase, processing and ship-
5 ment of ferrous and/or non-ferrous scrap metal, the end product of which
6 is the production of raw material [for remelting purposes] for steel
7 mills, [foundaries] foundries, smelters, refiners, and similar users,
8 but shall not include a redemption center, dealer or distributor as
9 defined in section 27-1003 of the environmental conservation law or an
10 electronic waste collection, consolidation or recycling facility as
11 defined in section 27-2601 of the environmental conservation law.
12 2. "Scrap processor" shall mean any person, association, partnership
13 or corporation operating and maintaining a "scrap metal processing
14 facility".
15 3. "Government issued photographic identification" shall mean any
16 current and valid official form of identification issued by the govern-
17 ment of the United States of America, a state, territory, protectorate,
18 or dependency of the United States of America, a county, municipality or
19 subdivision thereof, any public agency or department thereof, or any
20 public employer, which requires and bears the signature and photograph
21 of the person to whom it is issued.
22 4. "Department" shall mean the New York state department of state.
23 § 2. Section 69-f of the general business law, as added by chapter
24 431 of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02375-01-9
A. 6698 2
1 § 69-f. License. 1. It shall be unlawful for any person, association,
2 partnership or corporation to engage in business as a scrap processor
3 unless such scrap processor shall have complied with the provisions of
4 this article and obtained a license to do so from [the mayor of the
5 city, if the place of business of such scrap processor is in a city, or
6 the mayor of the village if the place of business is in an incorporated
7 village, otherwise from the supervisor of the town in which such place
8 of business is located, or from] the licensing authority as designated
9 by a duly adopted local law of [any such] the municipality in which such
10 scrap processor is located; for which license shall be paid [such mayor
11 or supervisor or licensing authority for the use of such city, village,
12 or town the sum of seventy-five dollars if such place of business is the
13 principal place of business of such scrap processor in this state,
14 otherwise the sum of fifty dollars, which license shall expire on June
15 thirtieth of each year] an annual license fee not to exceed two hundred
16 fifty dollars.
17 2. On or after September first, two thousand twenty, no person, asso-
18 ciation, partnership or corporation shall hold himself, herself or
19 itself out to be a scrap processor in New York state without first
20 obtaining a license from the department as provided in this section.
21 3. Any person, association, partnership or corporation seeking a
22 license as a scrap processor shall file with the department a license
23 application which shall include the following information:
24 (a) the business name and address of the applicant;
25 (b) the names of the applicant's officers, directors, and high manage-
26 rial agents as such term is defined in section 20.20 of the penal law;
27 (c) the business telephone number of the applicant;
28 (d) the address of the scrap processing facility for which a license
29 is sought;
30 (e) a statement indicating whether the applicant or any person identi-
31 fied pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision has:
32 (i) been convicted of any crime relating to conduct as a scrap proces-
33 sor; and
34 (ii) at any time in the past been issued a license pursuant to this
35 section, and if so, whether such license was ever revoked or suspended;
36 (f) a certification attesting that the scrap processor is in compli-
37 ance with the applicable regulations of the department of environmental
38 conservation;
39 (g) a copy of (i) the applicant's EPA refrigerant recovery equipment
40 acquisition certification form certifying that the prospective licensee
41 owns approved refrigerant removal equipment, or (ii) a copy of a valid
42 contract between the applicant and a certified refrigerant removal
43 contractor;
44 (h) a certification attesting that the scrap processor is in compli-
45 ance with requirements of section sixty-nine-g of this article;
46 (i) a sworn statement by the applicant that the information set forth
47 in the application is current and accurate; and
48 (j) a complete set of two fingerprint cards for each officer and high
49 managerial agent of the applicant on a standard fingerprint card
50 approved by the division of criminal justice services. Such cards shall
51 be retained by the department and used solely for the purpose of
52 conducting an investigation pursuant to subdivision ten of this section.
53 If additional copies of fingerprints are required the applicant shall
54 furnish them upon request.
55 4. (a) A license issued or renewed under the provisions of this
56 section shall entitle a person, association, partnership or corporation
A. 6698 3
1 to act as a scrap processor in the state of New York for a period of two
2 years from the effective date of the license. Any license granted under
3 this section may be renewed by the department upon application for such
4 renewal by the holder thereof, in such form as the department may
5 prescribe.
6 (b) Upon original application for a license to operate as a scrap
7 processor, the applicant shall pay an application fee of one thousand
8 dollars. Upon application for a license renewal, the licensee shall pay
9 a renewal processing fee of one thousand dollars.
10 (c) The secretary of state shall have the authority to assign stag-
11 gered expiration dates for licenses at the time of renewal. If the
12 assigned date results in a term that exceeds twenty-four months, the
13 applicant shall pay an additional prorated adjustment together with the
14 regular renewal fee.
15 (d) The secretary of state shall issue each scrap processor a unique
16 license number.
17 5. (a) Notice in writing in the manner and form prescribed by the
18 department shall be given to the department at its offices in Albany
19 within ten days of changes of name or address by a registered scrap
20 processor.
21 (b) In the case of loss, destruction or damage, the department may,
22 upon submission of a request in such form and manner as the department
23 may prescribe, issue a duplicate license upon payment of a fee of one
24 hundred dollars.
25 6. The fees established by this section shall not be refundable.
26 7. Each scrap processor shall exhibit the license prescribed by this
27 article at the place of business.
28 8. No person, association, partnership or corporation shall:
29 (a) present, or attempt to present, the license of another;
30 (b) knowingly give false evidence of a material nature to the depart-
31 ment for the purpose of procuring a license; or
32 (c) falsely represent themselves to be a registered scrap processor.
33 9. Licenses issued to scrap processors shall not be transferable or
34 assignable.
35 10. (a) The secretary of state shall promulgate such rules and regu-
36 lations as are deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of this arti-
37 cle.
38 (b) The secretary of state shall have the power to enforce the
39 provisions of this article and upon complaint of any person, or upon the
40 department's initiative, to investigate any violation thereof or to
41 investigate the business practices and business methods of any person,
42 association, partnership or corporation applying for or holding a
43 license as a scrap processor. Each such applicant or registrant shall be
44 obliged on request of the department, to supply such information, books,
45 papers or records as may be required concerning business practices or
46 business methods. Failure to comply with such lawful request shall be a
47 ground for denying an application for a license, or for revoking,
48 suspending, or not renewing a license issued under this article.
49 11. In order to assure that scrap processor licenses are not issued to
50 or held by unqualified or unsuitable persons, the secretary of state
51 may, consistent with articles twenty-three and twenty-three-A of the
52 correction law, deny, suspend or revoke any such license upon a written
53 determination that such action is required to protect the public health
54 and safety and that:
55 (a) the license holder or applicant has been finally determined in an
56 administrative, civil or criminal proceeding to have violated a substan-
A. 6698 4
1 tive provision of this article, any substantive regulation promulgated
2 pursuant to this article, a material condition of any license issued
3 thereunder, or of any substantially similar statute, regulation, order
4 or license condition of the federal or other state government relating
5 to operation as a scrap processor; or
6 (b) such licensee or applicant has been previously denied a license
7 for the same or substantially similar activity based upon one or more of
8 the provisions of this subdivision; or
9 (c) such license holder or applicant has been found in a civil
10 proceeding to have committed an intentionally tortious act in relation
11 to operations as a scrap processor or has been convicted in a criminal
12 proceeding of a crime involving operation as a scrap processor; or
13 (d) such licensee has been convicted of a felony under the laws of
14 this state involving fraud, bribery, perjury, or theft, or has been
15 convicted under the laws of any other state or of the United States of a
16 criminal offense which, if committed and prosecuted in this state, would
17 constitute a similar felony under such laws of this state; or
18 (e) such licensee in any matter within the jurisdiction of the depart-
19 ment has been determined to have knowingly falsified a material fact, or
20 knowingly submitted a false statement, or knowingly made use of a false
21 statement in connection with any document or application submitted to
22 the department or said agency; or
23 (f) such licensee or applicant is either:
24 (i) an individual who had a substantial interest in or acted as a high
25 managerial agent or director for any corporation, partnership, associ-
26 ation or organization which committed an act or failed to act, and such
27 act or failure to act could be the basis for the denial of a license
28 pursuant to this section or regulations promulgated thereunder if such
29 corporation, partnership, association or organization applied for a
30 license under this title; or
31 (ii) a corporation, partnership, association, or organization, or any
32 principal thereof, or any person holding a substantial interest therein,
33 which committed an act or failed to act, and such act or failure to act
34 could be the basis for the denial of a license pursuant to this section
35 or regulations promulgated thereunder if such corporation, partnership,
36 association or organization applied for a license under this title; or
37 (iii) a corporation, partnership, association or organization or any
38 high managerial agent or director thereof, or any person holding a
39 substantial interest therein, acting as high managerial agent or direc-
40 tor for or holding a substantial interest in another corporation, part-
41 nership, association or organization which committed an act or failed to
42 act, and such act or failure to act could be the basis for the denial of
43 a license pursuant to this section or regulations promulgated thereunder
44 had such other corporation, partnership, association or organization
45 applied for a license under this title.
46 For the purposes of this subdivision, "high managerial agent" has the
47 same meaning as is given that term in section 20.20 of the penal law.
48 12. Any act or failure to act which serves as a basis for denial or
49 revocation of a license pursuant to this subdivision shall have occurred
50 within five years from the date on which the application for a license,
51 renewal or modification is submitted to the department or from the date
52 on which the department serves notice of intent to revoke or modify a
53 license issued by the department in relation to an existing license.
54 13. Any person denied a license or renewal on the grounds specified in
55 this section shall be entitled to a hearing within sixty days of such
A. 6698 5
1 denial in the case of a new license, or within fifteen days in the case
2 of a renewal of any existing license.
3 14. The department shall maintain and publish a registry of all regis-
4 tered scrap processors, which shall list and identify on a county by
5 county basis, all registered scrap processors doing business in this
6 state. The department shall make the registry available on its website.
7 § 3. Section 69-g of the general business law, as amended by chapter
8 302 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
9 § 69-g. Records. 1. [Such] A scrap processor shall record [(i) each
10 purchase of any pig or pigs of metal, bronze or brass castings or parts
11 thereof, sprues or gates or parts thereof, utility wire or brass car
12 journals, or of metal beer kegs, and (ii)] each purchase of [iron,
13 steel] ferrous and/or nonferrous scrap for a price of fifty dollars or
14 more, and preserve such record for a period of three years; which record
15 shall show the date of purchase, the name of the seller, [his] the sell-
16 er's residence or business address [by street, number, city, village or
17 town], the driver's license number or information from a government
18 issued photographic identification card, [if any, of such person, or by
19 such description as will reasonably locate the seller,] and the type and
20 quantity of such purchase[; and the]. The scrap processor shall cause
21 such record to be signed by the seller or his or her agent. It shall be
22 unlawful for any seller to refuse to furnish such information or to
23 furnish incorrect or incomplete information. Such scrap processor shall
24 also make and retain a copy of the government issued photographic iden-
25 tification card used to verify the identity of [the] any natural person
26 from whom the scrap metal was purchased and shall retain this copy in a
27 separate book, register or electronic archive for [two] three years from
28 the date of purchase.
29 2. Such records shall be available for inspection by the police
30 department of the state or the municipality in which the establishment
31 is located, by the department and by the local licensing authority so
32 designated pursuant to subdivision one of section sixty-nine-f of this
33 article.
34 3. By no later than September first, two thousand twenty, a scrap
35 processor shall install and maintain in working order an electronic
36 video recording system at all scales and at all points of sale located
37 on the premises of the scrap processing facility. Electronic video
38 records shall be maintained in an electronic archive for a period of no
39 less than one hundred twenty days from the date when such electronic
40 video record was made.
41 4. By no later than September first, two thousand twenty, a scrap
42 processor shall maintain a record that said scrap processor either (a)
43 possesses refrigerant recovery equipment certified by the United States
44 environmental protection agency or (b) has executed a valid contract
45 with a refrigerant removal contract or certified by the United States
46 Environmental Protection Agency.
47 § 4. Section 69-h of the general business law is renumbered section
48 69-i and two new sections 69-h and 69-j are added to read as follows:
49 § 69-h. Prohibition on sale of certain items. Notwithstanding any
50 provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, it shall be unlaw-
51 ful for scrap processors to sell, offer for sale, or purchase as scrap,
52 any metal items bearing markings of any governmental entity, utility
53 company, cemetery or railroad unless such items are offered for sale by
54 a duly authorized employee or agent of any such governmental entity,
55 utility company, cemetery or railroad.
A. 6698 6
1 § 69-j. Preemption of local laws. The provisions of sections sixty-
2 nine-g and sixty-nine-h of this article shall preempt and supersede any
3 local law which would otherwise regulate the purchase and/or sale of
4 scrap metal and/or impose record keeping and/or reporting requirements
5 in a manner which conflicts with or imposed additional requirements
6 other than those set forth therein, and/or which would require a scrap
7 processor to hold scrap material for a specified period of time prior to
8 the processing or re-sale of such scrap material, or which would other-
9 wise prohibit the acceptance of scrap material.
10 § 5. Section 69-i of the general business law, as added by chapter 431
11 of the laws of 1976 and as renumbered by section four of this act, is
12 amended to read as follows:
13 § 69-i. Penalty. 1. [Each violation of this article by a scrap proces-
14 sor shall be a violation subject to a fine of not more than two hundred
15 dollars, unless such violation shall be wilful, in which event it shall
16 be a misdemeanor except, however, the scrap processor shall not be
17 liable for any violation of this article by a seller, his agent, or a
18 purported seller or agent.
19 2. Each violation of this article by a seller or his agent shall be a
20 misdemeanor.] Any person, association, partnership or corporation who
21 violates this article shall be liable for a criminal fine of not more
22 than two thousand five hundred dollars and/or imprisonment for a term of
23 not more than fifteen days. A second violation of this article committed
24 within a ten-year period shall be punishable as a misdemeanor subject to
25 a criminal fine of not more than five thousand dollars and/or imprison-
26 ment for a term of not more than one year.
27 2. Any person, association, partnership or corporation who violates
28 this article shall be liable for a maximum civil penalty of two thousand
29 five hundred dollars for a first offense, five thousand dollars for a
30 second offense within a twelve month period and for a maximum civil
31 penalty of ten thousand dollars for a third and for each subsequent
32 offense within a twelve-month period.
33 3. In any criminal proceeding brought pursuant to this article, in
34 addition to a term of imprisonment, where a person, association, part-
35 nership or corporation has gained money or property through a violation
36 of this article the court, upon conviction thereof, in lieu of imposing
37 the fine authorized for the offense under subdivision one of this
38 section may sentence the defendant to pay an amount, fixed by the court,
39 not exceeding double the amount of the defendant's gain from the commis-
40 sion of the offense.
41 4. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule or regulation,
42 in addition to those persons otherwise authorized to enforce this arti-
43 cle and adjudicate violations thereof, the provisions of this article
44 shall also be enforceable in a city with a population of one million or
45 more by an agency designated by a local law duly adopted by such city,
46 and notices of violation may be returnable to the environmental control
47 board of such city, which shall have the power to impose the civil
48 penalties herein provided. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
49 rule or regulation, service of a notice of violation for an alleged
50 violation of this subdivision committed in such city may be made upon
51 any person, association, partnership or corporation by first class mail,
52 postage prepaid, and any such notice served by mail shall be returnable
53 only to such environmental control board. Such service by first class
54 mail shall be deemed complete upon mailing of the notice of violation,
55 unless the notice of violation is returned to the sender by the United
56 States postal service for any reason other than refusal of delivery. In
A. 6698 7
1 addition, any notice of violation for a violation of this subdivision
2 may be served by a means prescribed in article three of the civil prac-
3 tice law and rules or article three of the business corporation law.
4 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule or regulation,
5 such civil penalties imposed by such environmental control board shall
6 be paid into the general fund of such city.
7 (c) Any final order issued pursuant to this subdivision by an environ-
8 mental control board of a city with a population of one million or more
9 shall constitute a judgment that may be entered in any place provided
10 for the entry of civil judgments within the state, and may be enforced
11 without court proceedings in the same manner as the enforcement of money
12 judgments entered in civil actions; provided, however, that no such
13 judgment shall be entered that exceeds the sum of twenty-five thousand
14 dollars for each person, association, partnership or corporation.
15 Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, before a judgment based upon a
16 default may be so entered, such environmental control board must have
17 notified the person, association, partnership or corporation by first
18 class mail in such form as such environmental control board may direct:
19 (1) of the default decision and order and the penalty imposed; (2) that
20 a judgment will be entered in any place provided for the entry of civil
21 judgments in the state; and (3) that entry of such judgment may be
22 avoided by requesting a stay of default for good cause shown and either
23 requesting a hearing or entering a plea pursuant to the rules of such
24 environmental control board within thirty days of the mailing of such
25 notice. No judgment based upon a default may be so entered by the envi-
26 ronmental control board within less than sixty days from the completion
27 of service by mail of the notice of violation as provided in paragraph
28 (a) of this subdivision. Any requirement of any provision of law other
29 than this subdivision that relates to the manner of service of the
30 notice of violation that precedes any final order of such environmental
31 control board shall not apply to a final order issued pursuant to this
32 subdivision. A judgment entered pursuant to this paragraph shall remain
33 in full force and effect for eight years.
34 § 6. This act shall take effect on the first of September next
35 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law, provided,
36 however, that the department of state may take all steps necessary,
37 including but not limited to the promulgation of rules and regulations,
38 to ensure the prompt implementation of this act on its effective date.