S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1379--A
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 12, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary -- recommitted
to the Committee on Judiciary in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to designating the
county of Queens a cease and desist zone and establishing an affirma-
tive defense to violations of nonsolicitation orders and cease and
desist zones
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The real property law is amended by adding a new section
442-hh to read as follows:
S 442-HH. DESIGNATING THE COUNTY OF QUEENS A CEASE AND DESIST ZONE.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, THE
COUNTY OF QUEENS SHALL BE INCLUDED ON THE CEASE AND DESIST LIST COMPILED
BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FORTY-TWO-H
OF THIS ARTICLE.
S 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 and paragraph (c) of subdivision 3
of section 442-h of the real property law, as amended by chapter 505 of
the laws of 2001, are amended to read as follows:
(a) If, after a public hearing and a reasonable investigation, the
secretary of state determines that the owners of residential real prop-
erty within a defined geographic area are subject to intense and
repeated solicitations by real estate brokers and salespersons or others
to place their property for sale with such real estate brokers or sales-
persons, or otherwise to sell their property, and that such solicita-
tions have caused owners to reasonably believe that property values may
decrease because persons of different race, ethnic, social, or religious
backgrounds are moving or are about to move into the neighborhood or
geographic area, the secretary of state may adopt a rule, to be known as
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01582-02-5
S. 1379--A 2
a nonsolicitation order, directing all real estate brokers, salespersons
and other persons regularly engaged in the trade or business of buying
and selling real estate to refrain from soliciting residential real
estate listings or otherwise soliciting the sale of residential real
estate within the subject area. Each area subject to such an order shall
be bounded or otherwise specifically defined in the order. The nonsolic-
itation order shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the
secretary of state may determine are, on balance, in the best interest
of the public, including but not limited to the affected owners and
licensees. A nonsolicitation order may prohibit any or all types of
solicitation directed towards particular home-owners, including but not
limited to letters, postcards, telephone calls, door-to-door calls, and
handbills. Every nonsolicitation order shall contain a provision setting
forth the day, month and year that the order shall become effective, as
well as the day, month and year that the order shall expire. A nonsolic-
itation order shall not be effective for more than [five] TEN years.
However, a nonsolicitation order and the boundaries of the area where it
applies may be re-adopted or amended from time to time in accordance
with the procedures set forth herein.
(c) No rule establishing a cease and desist zone shall be effective
for longer than [five] TEN years. However, the secretary of state may
re-adopt the rule to continue the cease and desist zone for additional
periods not to exceed [five] TEN years each. Whenever a rule establish-
ing a cease and desist zone shall have expired or shall have been
repealed, all owner's statements filed with the secretary of state
pursuant to that rule shall also expire. However, an owner may file a
new statement with the secretary of state if a new rule is adopted
establishing a cease and desist zone containing the owner's property.
Once the boundaries of a cease and desist zone have been established by
rule of the secretary of state, the boundaries may not be changed except
by repeal of the existing rule and adoption of a new rule establishing
the new boundaries.
S 3. Section 442-h of the real property law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. IN ANY ACTION ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, IT SHALL BE AN
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THAT THE OWNER OF RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY INCLUDED
IN A NONSOLICITATION ORDER OR CEASE AND DESIST ZONE PUBLICIZED THAT SUCH
PROPERTY WAS FOR SALE THROUGH MEANS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ADVER-
TISEMENTS OR REAL ESTATE LISTINGS.
S 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law and shall apply to all nonsolicitation orders issued
on and after such effective date.