S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3099
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 30, 2013
___________
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- 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 regulating the
use of radio frequency identification tags by retail mercantile estab-
lishments
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "radio frequency identification right to know act".
S 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new article 12-C
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 12-C
RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION RIGHT TO KNOW
SECTION 219. RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION RIGHT TO KNOW.
S 219. RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION RIGHT TO KNOW. 1. DEFINITIONS.
AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING
MEANINGS:
A. "AFFILIATE" MEANS A PERSON RELATED TO A RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTAB-
LISHMENT THAT CARRIES ON DIRECT OR RELATED FUNCTIONS OF SUCH ESTABLISH-
MENT.
B. "DEACTIVATE" MEANS TO DISABLE OR OTHERWISE RENDER UNUSABLE.
C. "PACKAGE" MEANS ANY TYPE OF CONTAINER, ARTICLE, OR ITEM THAT IS
USED TO CONTAIN OR HOLD A RETAIL PRODUCT IN THE FORM IN WHICH THE RETAIL
PRODUCT IS SOLD TO CONSUMERS. SUCH TERM SHALL NOT APPLY TO PETS OR
DOMESTICATED ANIMALS.
D. "PERSONAL INFORMATION" MEANS ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING A NATURAL
PERSON WHICH, BECAUSE OF NAME, NUMBER, SYMBOL, MARK, OR OTHER IDENTIFI-
ER, CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY THAT NATURAL PERSON.
E. "RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION" MEANS ANY TECHNOLOGY THAT USES
RADIO WAVES OR OTHER WIRELESS MEANS TO TRANSMIT IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06834-01-3
S. 3099 2
BETWEEN A TAG, BADGE, OR OTHER DEVICE AND A READER WITHOUT PHYSICAL
CONTACT.
F. "RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG" MEANS A DEVICE THAT IS
ATTACHED TO, EMBEDDED IN, OR MADE PART OF A RETAIL PRODUCT OR ITS PACK-
AGE THAT USES RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY TO TRANSMIT A
UNIQUE NUMBER OR IDENTIFIER TO A READER.
G. "READER" MEANS A DEVICE THAT IS CAPABLE OF USING RADIO WAVES OR
OTHER WIRELESS MEANS TO COMMUNICATE WITH, AND READ THE INFORMATION TRAN-
SMITTED BY, A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG.
2. NOTICES. A. EVERY RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENT THAT SELLS OR
OFFERS FOR SALE MERCHANDISE CONTAINING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION
TAGS SHALL POST A NOTICE SO INFORMING CONSUMERS. SUCH NOTICE SHALL
DISCLOSE THAT:
(1) THE ESTABLISHMENT OFFERS ITEMS WITH RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION
TAGS;
(2) NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THE ESTABLISHMENT TO REMOVE OR DISABLE
ALL RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAGS BEFORE TAGGED ITEMS LEAVE THE
ESTABLISHMENT; AND
(3) THE ESTABLISHMENT IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE CONSUMERS, ON REQUEST,
WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION GATHERED WITHIN THE ESTABLISHMENT THROUGH THE
RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAGS USED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT.
SUCH NOTICE SHALL BE POSTED ON A SIGN AFFIXED TO EACH CASH REGISTER OR
POINT OF SALE AT WHICH SUCH GOODS ARE OFFERED FOR SALE OR ON A SIGN SO
SITUATED AS TO BE CLEARLY VISIBLE TO THE BUYER FROM EACH CASH REGISTER.
B. NO RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE
ANY ITEM OR PACKAGE THAT CONTAINS OR BEARS A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICA-
TION TAG UNLESS SUCH ITEM OR PACKAGE IS LABELED WITH A NOTICE STATING
THAT SUCH ITEM OR PACKAGE CONTAINS OR BEARS A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFI-
CATION TAG, AND THAT THE RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG CAN TRANSMIT
UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION TO AN INDEPENDENT READER BOTH BEFORE
AND AFTER PURCHASE. SUCH LABEL SHALL BE POSTED ON THE ITEM OR PACKAGE IN
A CONSPICUOUS TYPE SIZE AND LOCATION AND IN PRINT THAT CONTRASTS WITH
THE BACKGROUND AGAINST WHICH IT APPEARS.
C. UPON WRITTEN REQUEST OF A CONSUMER, A RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTABLISH-
MENT THAT HAS GATHERED PERSONAL INFORMATION THROUGH RADIO FREQUENCY
IDENTIFICATION TAGS SHALL RELEASE TO THE REQUESTER ALL OF THE STORED
PERSONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE REQUESTER. EVERY RETAIL MERCAN-
TILE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS A FORM FOR SUCH
REQUESTS.
3. REMOVAL. EVERY RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENT THAT OFFERS ITEMS OR
PACKAGES THAT CONTAIN OR BEAR RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAGS SHALL
REMOVE OR DEACTIVATE ALL TAGS AT THE POINT OF SALE. IN ADDITION:
A. ALL COSTS OF WHATSOEVER NAME OR NATURE FOR THE REMOVAL OR DEACTI-
VATION OF A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG SHALL BE BORNE BY THE
RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENT;
B. A RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL NOT COERCE CONSUMERS INTO
KEEPING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAGS ON ITEMS OR PACKAGES BY
REQUIRING ITEMS OR PACKAGES TO BE EXCHANGED, RETURNED, REPAIRED, OR
SERVICED TO CONTAIN OR BEAR ACTIVE TAGS; AND
C. A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG, ONCE REMOVED OR DEACTIVATED,
SHALL NOT BE REACTIVATED WITHOUT EXPRESS CONSENT OF THE CONSUMER ASSOCI-
ATED WITH THE TAGGED ITEM.
4. AGGREGATION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION AND RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICA-
TION TAG INFORMATION. A. NO RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL
COMBINE OR LINK A CONSUMER'S PERSONAL INFORMATION WITH INFORMATION GATH-
ERED BY, OR CONTAINED WITHIN, A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG.
S. 3099 3
B. NO RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL, DIRECTLY OR THROUGH AN
AFFILIATE, DISCLOSE TO A NONAFFILIATED THIRD PARTY A CONSUMER'S PERSONAL
INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH INFORMATION GATHERED BY, OR CONTAINED WITH-
IN, A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG.
C. NO RETAIL MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL, DIRECTLY OR THROUGH AN
AFFILIATE OR NONAFFILIATED THIRD PARTY, USE INFORMATION GATHERED BY, OR
CONTAINED WITHIN, A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG TO IDENTIFY A
CONSUMER.
5. ENFORCEMENT. 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 JURISDIC-
TION, BY A SPECIAL PROCEEDING, TO ISSUE AN INJUNCTION, AND, UPON NOTICE
TO THE DEFENDANT OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE DAYS, TO ENJOIN AND RESTRAIN THE
CONTINUANCE OF SUCH VIOLATION; AND, IF IT SHALL APPEAR TO THE SATISFAC-
TION OF THE COURT OR JUSTICE THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS, IN FACT, VIOLATED
THIS SECTION, AN INJUNCTION MAY BE ISSUED BY THE COURT OR JUSTICE,
ENJOINING AND RESTRAINING ANY FURTHER VIOLATIONS, WITHOUT REQUIRING
PROOF THAT ANY PERSON HAS, IN FACT, BEEN INJURED OR DAMAGED THEREBY. IN
ANY SUCH PROCEEDING, THE COURT MAY MAKE ALLOWANCES TO THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL, AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH SIX OF SUBDIVISION (A) OF SECTION
EIGHTY-THREE HUNDRED THREE OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, AND
DIRECT RESTITUTION. WHENEVER THE COURT SHALL DETERMINE THAT A VIOLATION
OF THIS SECTION HAS OCCURRED, THE COURT MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY OF
NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH VIOLATION. EACH SALE, OR
OFFERING FOR SALE, OF AN ITEM OR PACKAGE IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION
SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE VIOLATION. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH
PROPOSED APPLICATION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AUTHORIZED TO TAKE PROOF
AND MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THE RELEVANT FACTS AND TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES.
S 3. If any item, clause, sentence, subparagraph, subdivision,
section, or other part of this act, or the application thereof to any
person or circumstances shall be held to be invalid, such holding shall
not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this act, or the
application of such section or part of a section held invalid, to any
other person or circumstances, but shall be confined in its operation to
the item, clause, sentence, subparagraph, subdivision, section, or other
part of this act directly involved in such holding, or to the person and
circumstances therein involved.
S 4. This act shall take effect January 1, 2015.