S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4619
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 24, 2009
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Introduced by Sens. ONORATO, HASSELL-THOMPSON, C. JOHNSON, KLEIN, PARK-
ER, SAMPSON -- 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 prohibiting the
transmission of unsolicited checks, drafts, or negotiable instruments
to credit card or debit card holders without their consent
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
520-d to read as follows:
S 520-D. TRANSMISSION OF UNSOLICITED CHECKS, DRAFTS, OR NEGOTIABLE
INSTRUMENTS PROHIBITED. 1. NO ISSUER SHALL TRANSMIT ANY UNSOLICITED
CHECK, DRAFT, OR NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT TO ANY HOLDER. A CHECK, DRAFT, OR
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT MAY BE TRANSMITTED TO A HOLDER ONLY IF THE HOLDER
HAS AFFIRMATIVELY, IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS, WRITTEN FORM, CONSENTED
TO THE TRANSMISSION OF A CHECK, DRAFT, OR NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT IN A
PARTICULAR INSTANCE OR HAS AFFIRMATIVELY, IN A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS,
WRITTEN FORM, CONSENTED TO THE TRANSMISSION OF CHECKS, DRAFTS, OR NEGO-
TIABLE INSTRUMENTS ON AN ONGOING BASIS, WITHOUT NEED OF AFFIRMATIVE
CONSENT FOR EACH INSTANCE. ANY CONSENT GIVEN MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY
TIME BY THE HOLDER BY GIVING WRITTEN NOTICE THEREOF TO THE ISSUER.
2. A VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE PUNISHABLE
BY A CIVIL FINE NOT TO EXCEED ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A FIRST VIOLATION
AND NOT TO EXCEED FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS. ANY
SUCH VIOLATION MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, A MUNICIPAL
DIRECTOR OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, OR THE CORPORATION COUNSEL OR ATTORNEY FOR
ANY CITY, TOWN, OR VILLAGE.
S 2. 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.
LBD03763-01-9