NY State Senate Bill S525A

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

Your Voice

Please enter your contact information

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

A valid email address is required.

Home address search or enter your address manually *

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Leave this field blank

Actions

view actions (17)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 30, 2012	referred to codes delivered to assembly passed senate
May 23, 2012	amended on third reading 525a
Jan 23, 2012	advanced to third reading
Jan 19, 2012	2nd report cal.
Jan 18, 2012	1st report cal.67
Jan 04, 2012	referred to consumer protection returned to senate died in assembly
Mar 07, 2011	referred to economic development delivered to assembly passed senate
Feb 15, 2011	advanced to third reading
Feb 14, 2011	2nd report cal.
Feb 08, 2011	1st report cal.80
Jan 05, 2011	referred to consumer protection

Votes

view votes

May 30, 2012 - floor Vote

S525A

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Jan 18, 2012 - Consumer Protection committee Vote

S525

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Mar 7, 2011 - floor Vote

S525

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Feb 8, 2011 - Consumer Protection committee Vote

S525

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

Original

A (Active)

Co-Sponsors

S525 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5345
Current Committee:: Assembly Codes
Law Section:: General Business Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §38, Gen Bus L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S39
2013-2014: S743, S6290
2015-2016: S3840
2017-2018: S4048
2019-2020: S1403
2021-2022: S3986

S525 - Summary

Establishes no itinerant vendor, except for a manufacturer, an authorized manufacturer's representative, or authorized distributor, shall offer for sale baby food, nonprescription drugs, cosmetics or batteries.

S525 - Sponsor Memo

BILL NUMBER:S525                REVISED 04/20/12

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the general business law, in relation to itinerant vendors

PURPOSE:
To clarify which products may not be sold pursuant to § 38 of the
General Business Law, so as to make its provisions more enforceable.
Specifically, the bill establishes that no itinerant vendor, except
for a manufacturer, an authorized manufacturer's representative, or
an authorized distributor, shall offer for sale baby food,
non-prescription drugs, cosmetics, or batteries.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
§ 1 - Amends § 38 of the General Business Law to specifically define
the following items -- baby food, non-prescription drugs, cosmetics,
and batteries -- as products that may not be sold in flea markets
unless sold by a manufacturer, an authorized manufacturer's
representative, or an authorized distributor.

§ 2 - Effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
The itinerant vendor statute, which was adopted as Chapter 282, Laws
of 1995, was originally enacted to curtail the sale of certain

perishable, high-theft items through flea markets. The 1995 law
focused on baby foods and over-the-counter drugs, as these were items
that professional thieves were targeting to resell through flea
markets and were products that were compromised when exposed to
sunlight and heat.

The need to tighten the definitions in General Business Law § 38 were
brought to light when law enforcement officials in central New York
encountered difficulties in halting the sale of stolen,
non-prescription drugs because of the ambiguous definitions contained
in the current law. The proposed bill will tighten the current
statute by redefining baby foods and non-prescription drugs. It will
further expand the statute to prevent the sale of cosmetics and
batteries by itinerant vendors, as these products have become
high-theft items among those engaged in organized retail theft and
because many cosmetics are similarly affected by exposure to sunlight
and heat and thereby pose a health risk.

The illegal activity this bill aims to thwart differs from shoplifting
in that shoplifters typically steal single items for their own use,
whereas this bill addresses the multiple theft of products by career
criminals who steal primarily to sell the stolen goods. These crimes
are often committed to support other illegal activity involving drug
use. Baby foods, non-prescription drugs, cosmetics and batteries are
attractive to these criminals because they are small, easily
concealed, and relatively expensive items. Prohibiting the sale of
these products in flea
markets will close an important outlet to these criminals, thereby
making their theft less desirable. The public health concerns


addressed by this bill and the need to support law enforcement
efforts warrant passage of this measure.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011:    Passed Senate (S.525/A.5345)
2010:    Reported to Codes (S.39/A.11029)
2009:    Referred to Consumer Protection (S.39/A.11029)
2007-08: Passed Senate (S.4442/A.6462A)
2005-06: A.5670/S.3174
2003-04: A.10822A/S.7128A

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to state.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

S525 - Bill Text download pdf

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                   525

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 5, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced by Sen. FUSCHILLO -- 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 itinerant
  vendors

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 38 of the general business law, as added by chapter
282 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
  S  38. Prohibited sales. No itinerant vendor, except for A MANUFACTUR-
ER, an authorized manufacturer's representative, or authorized distribu-
tor, shall offer for sale any of the following items:
  1. [Food manufactured and packaged for sale for consumption by a child
under the age of two years; or
  2. Drugs as defined in section three thousand three hundred two of the
public health law] BABY FOOD, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ANY FOOD  MANUFACTURED
AND  PACKAGED SPECIFICALLY FOR CONSUMPTION BY A CHILD UNDER TWO YEARS OF
AGE.  THE TERM SHALL INCLUDE INFANT FORMULA;
  2. NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ANY  NON-NARCOTIC  MEDI-
CINE  OR  DRUG  THAT  MAY BE SOLD WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION. THE TERM SHALL
INCLUDE ANY DRUGS COMMONLY KNOWN  AS  "OVER-THE-COUNTER  DRUGS,"  HERBAL
PRODUCTS,  DIETARY  SUPPLEMENTS,  BOTANICAL  EXTRACTS,  AND VITAMINS AND
SUBSTANCES RECOGNIZED AS DRUGS IN THE OFFICIAL UNITED STATES PHARMACOPO-
EIA, OFFICIAL HOMEOPATHIC PHARMACOPOEIA OF THE UNITED STATES,  OR  OFFI-
CIAL NATIONAL FORMULARY, OR ANY SUPPLEMENT TO SUCH PUBLICATIONS;
  3.  COSMETICS,  WHICH  SHALL  MEAN  MERCHANDISE,  OTHER THAN SOAP, BUT
INCLUDING RAZOR BLADES, THAT IS INTENDED TO BE  RUBBED,  POURED,  SPRIN-
KLED,  OR  SPRAYED  ONTO,  INTRODUCED  INTO, OR OTHERWISE APPLIED TO THE
HUMAN BODY OR ANY PART THEREOF  FOR  CLEANSING,  BEAUTIFYING,  PROMOTING
ATTRACTIVENESS, OR ALTERING THE APPEARANCE OF THE HUMAN BODY OR ANY PART
THEREOF; OR

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                           LBD00472-01-1

S. 525                              2

  4.  BATTERIES,  WHICH  SHALL MEAN   A DEVICE CONSISTING OF ONE OR MORE
CELLS, EACH CELL CONSISTING OF A POSITIVE ELECTRODE,  A  NEGATIVE  ELEC-
TRODE  AND  AN  ELECTROLYTE,  WHICH IS USED TO PROVIDE STORED ELECTRICAL
POWER.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Co-Sponsors

S525A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5345
Current Committee:: Assembly Codes
Law Section:: General Business Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §38, Gen Bus L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S39
2013-2014: S743, S6290
2015-2016: S3840
2017-2018: S4048
2019-2020: S1403
2021-2022: S3986

S525A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S525A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

BILL NUMBER:S525A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the general business law, in relation to itinerant vendors

PURPOSE:
To clarify which products may not be sold pursuant to § 3B of the
General Business Law, so as to make its provisions more enforceable.
Specifically, the bill establishes that no itinerant vendor, except
for a manufacturer, an authorized manufacturer's representative, or
an authorized distributor, shall offer for sale baby food,
non-prescription drugs, cosmetics, or batteries.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
§ 1 - Amends § 38 of the General Business Law to specifically define
the following items -- baby food, non-prescription drugs, cosmetics,
and batteries -- as products that may not be sold in flea markets
unless sold by a manufacturer, an authorized manufacturer's
representative, or an authorized distributor.

§ 2 - Effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
The itinerant vendor statute, which was adopted as Chapter 2B2, Laws
of 1995, was originally enacted to curtail the sale of certain

perishable, high-theft items through flea markets. The 1995 law
focused on baby foods and over-the-counter drugs, as these were items
that professional thieves were targeting to resell through flea
markets and were products that were compromised when exposed to
sunlight and heat.

The need to tighten the definitions in General Business Law § 3B were
brought to light when law enforcement officials in central New York
encountered difficulties in halting the sale of stolen,
non-prescription drugs because of the ambiguous definitions contained
in the current law.
The proposed bill will tighten the current statute by redefining baby
foods and non-prescription drugs. It will further expand the statute
to prevent the sale of cosmetics and batteries by itinerant vendors,
as these products have become high-theft items among those engaged in
organized retail theft and because many cosmetics are similarly
affected by exposure to sunlight and heat and thereby pose a health
risk.

The illegal activity this bill aims to thwart differs from shoplifting
in that shoplifters typically steal single items for their own use,
whereas this bill addresses the multiple theft of products by career
criminals who steal primarily to sell the stolen goods. These crimes
are often committed to support other illegal activity involving drug
use.
Baby foods, non-prescription drugs, cosmetics and batteries are
attractive to these criminals because they are small, easily
concealed, and relatively expensive items. Prohibiting the sale of
these products in flea markets will close an important outlet to
these criminals, thereby making their theft less desirable. The


public health concerns addressed by this bill and the need to support
law enforcement efforts warrant passage of this measure.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011:    Passed Senate (S.525/A.5345)
2010:    Reported to Codes (S.39/A.11029)
2009:    Referred to Consumer Protection (S.39/A.11029)
2007-08: Passed Senate (S.4442/A.6462A)
2005-06: A.5670/S.3174
2003-04: A.10822A/S.7128A

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to state.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

S525A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 525--A
    Cal. No. 67

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 5, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  FUSCHILLO,  LARKIN,  STAVISKY  --  read twice and
  ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
  Consumer  Protection  --  recommitted  to  the  Committee  on Consumer
  Protection in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favor-
  ably from said committee, ordered to first and second report,  ordered
  to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place
  in the order of third reading

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  general  business law, in relation to itinerant
  vendors

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 38 of the general business law, as added by chapter
282 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
  S  38. Prohibited sales. No itinerant vendor, except for A MANUFACTUR-
ER, an authorized manufacturer's representative, or authorized distribu-
tor, shall offer for sale any of the following items:
  1. [Food manufactured and packaged for sale for consumption by a child
under the age of two years; or
  2. Drugs as defined in section three thousand three hundred two of the
public health law] BABY FOOD, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ANY FOOD  MANUFACTURED
AND  PACKAGED SPECIFICALLY FOR CONSUMPTION BY A CHILD UNDER TWO YEARS OF
AGE.  THE TERM SHALL INCLUDE INFANT FORMULA;
  2. NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ANY  NON-NARCOTIC  MEDI-
CINE  OR  DRUG  THAT  MAY BE SOLD WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION. THE TERM SHALL
INCLUDE ANY DRUGS COMMONLY KNOWN AS  "OVER-THE-COUNTER  DRUGS,"  DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS  AS  DEFINED  IN  21 USC 32(FF), AND VITAMINS AND SUBSTANCES
RECOGNIZED AS DRUGS IN THE OFFICIAL UNITED STATES  PHARMACOPOEIA,  OFFI-
CIAL  HOMEOPATHIC  PHARMACOPOEIA  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  OR  OFFICIAL
NATIONAL FORMULARY, OR ANY SUPPLEMENT TO SUCH PUBLICATIONS;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                           LBD00472-02-2

S. 525--A                           2

  3. COSMETICS, WHICH SHALL  MEAN  MERCHANDISE,  OTHER  THAN  SOAP,  BUT
INCLUDING  RAZOR  BLADES,  THAT IS INTENDED TO BE RUBBED, POURED, SPRIN-
KLED, OR SPRAYED ONTO, INTRODUCED INTO,  OR  OTHERWISE  APPLIED  TO  THE
HUMAN  BODY  OR  ANY  PART THEREOF FOR CLEANSING, BEAUTIFYING, PROMOTING
ATTRACTIVENESS, OR ALTERING THE APPEARANCE OF THE HUMAN BODY OR ANY PART
THEREOF; OR
  4.  BATTERIES,  WHICH  SHALL MEAN   A DEVICE CONSISTING OF ONE OR MORE
CELLS, EACH CELL CONSISTING OF A POSITIVE ELECTRODE,  A  NEGATIVE  ELEC-
TRODE  AND  AN  ELECTROLYTE,  WHICH IS USED TO PROVIDE STORED ELECTRICAL
POWER.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

The New York State Senate

senate Bill S525A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 30, 2012 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 30, 2012

Jan 18, 2012 - Consumer Protection committee Vote

Committee Vote: Jan 18, 2012

Mar 7, 2011 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 7, 2011

Feb 8, 2011 - Consumer Protection committee Vote

Committee Vote: Feb 8, 2011

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S525 - Details

S525 - Summary

S525 - Sponsor Memo

S525 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S525A (ACTIVE) - Details

S525A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S525A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S525A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S525A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Charles J. Fuschillo Jr.

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 30, 2012 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 30, 2012

Jan 18, 2012 - Consumer Protection committee Vote

Committee Vote: Jan 18, 2012

Mar 7, 2011 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 7, 2011

Feb 8, 2011 - Consumer Protection committee Vote

Committee Vote: Feb 8, 2011

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

William J. Larkin, Jr.

Toby Ann Stavisky

S525 - Details

S525 - Summary

S525 - Sponsor Memo

S525 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

William J. Larkin, Jr.

Toby Ann Stavisky

S525A (ACTIVE) - Details

S525A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S525A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S525A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments