S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3979
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 7, 2009
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Introduced by Sen. OPPENHEIMER -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
notice to the public of the use of certain additives
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
396-gg to read as follows:
S 396-GG. RESTAURANTS AND CATERERS; NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. 1. ANY
RESTAURANT OR OTHER PLACE WHERE FOOD CONTAINING MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE IS
PREPARED OR COOKED AND OFFERED FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC FOR CONSUMPTION
EITHER ON OR OFF THE PREMISES SHALL GIVE NOTICE OF THE USE OF SUCH ADDI-
TIVE, EITHER ON MENUS GIVEN TO EACH CUSTOMER OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER
THAT THE NOTICE IS LIKELY TO BE SEEN AND UNDERSTOOD BY EACH CUSTOMER.
2. WHENEVER THERE SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, AN APPLICATION
MAY BE MADE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK TO A COURT OR JUSTICE HAVING JURISDICTION BY A SPECIAL
PROCEEDING TO ISSUE AN INJUNCTION, AND UPON NOTICE TO THE RESPONDENT OF
NOT LESS THAN FIVE DAYS, TO ENJOIN AND RESTRAIN THE CONTINUANCE OF SUCH
VIOLATIONS; AND IF IT SHALL APPEAR TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE COURT OR
JUSTICE THAT THE RESPONDENT HAS, IN FACT, VIOLATED THIS SECTION, AN
INJUNCTION MAY BE ISSUED BY SUCH COURT OR JUSTICE, ENJOINING AND
RESTRAINING ANY FURTHER VIOLATION, WITHOUT REQUIRING PROOF THAT ANY
PERSON HAS, IN FACT, BEEN INJURED OR DAMAGED THEREBY. WHENEVER THE
COURT SHALL DETERMINE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION HAS OCCURRED, THE
COURT MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY OF FIFTY DOLLARS FOR EACH DAY THAT SUCH
VIOLATION OCCURS, BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL THE TOTAL PENALTY THEREFOR
EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH APPLICATION,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AUTHORIZED TO TAKE PROOF AND MAKE A DETERMI-
NATION OF THE RELEVANT FACTS AND TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09162-01-9