S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3820
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 28, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. CHRISTENSEN, GREENE, KELLNER, COLTON, MAGNARELLI,
DelMONTE, MAISEL, HEVESI, PHEFFER, COOK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
A. ALFANO, BURLING, CALHOUN, CROUCH, ERRIGO, FARRELL, HIKIND, KOLB,
MAGEE, McDONOUGH, McENENY, RABBITT, RUSSELL, SAYWARD, SWEENEY, TOWNS,
WALKER, WEISENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting
"universal default clauses" in credit card agreements and related
increased interest rates
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 511 of the general business law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 11 to read as follows:
11. "UNIVERSAL DEFAULT CLAUSE" MEANS ANY CLAUSE OR PROVISION INCLUDED
WITHIN A CREDIT CARD AGREEMENT OR CONTRACT WHICH ALLOWS AN ISSUER TO
INCREASE THE INTEREST RATE ON SUCH ISSUER'S CREDIT CARD IF A HOLDER IS
LATE WITH A PAYMENT TO ANOTHER CREDIT CARD ISSUER OR CREDITOR.
S 2. Section 521-f of the general business law is redesignated section
521-h and two new sections 521-f and 521-g are added to read as follows:
S 521-F. PROHIBITION OF UNIVERSAL DEFAULT CLAUSES. NO ISSUER OF A
CREDIT CARD SHALL INCLUDE IN SUCH ISSUER'S CREDIT CARD CONTRACT OR
AGREEMENT A "UNIVERSAL DEFAULT CLAUSE" WHICH INCREASES INTEREST RATES
UPON THE HOLDER OF SUCH CREDIT CARD FOR LATE PAYMENT TO ANOTHER CREDIT
CARD ISSUER OR CREDITOR.
S 521-G. PROHIBITION OF INCREASED INTEREST RATES. NO ISSUER OF A CRED-
IT CARD SHALL INCREASE THE INTEREST RATE UPON A CREDIT CARD HOLDER IF
SUCH HOLDER IS LATE WITH A PAYMENT TO ANOTHER CREDIT CARD ISSUER OR
CREDITOR, UNLESS SUCH HOLDER IS ALSO LATE WITH A CREDIT CARD PAYMENT TO
SUCH ISSUER.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01941-01-9