S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7860
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 17, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. NIOU -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Consumer Affairs and Protection
 
 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring  debt
   collectors to inform debtors that written communications are available
   in large print format

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 600 of the  general  business  law  is  amended  by
 adding three new subdivisions 4, 5 and 6 to read as follows:
   4. "COMMUNICATION" SHALL MEAN THE CONVEYING OF INFORMATION REGARDING A
 DEBT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO ANY PERSON THROUGH ANY MEDIUM.
   5.  "DEBT" MEANS ANY OBLIGATION OR ALLEGED OBLIGATION OF A CONSUMER TO
 PAY MONEY ARISING OUT OF A TRANSACTION IN  WHICH  THE  MONEY,  PROPERTY,
 INSURANCE,  OR  SERVICES  WHICH  ARE  THE SUBJECT OF THE TRANSACTION ARE
 PRIMARILY FOR PERSONAL, FAMILY, OR HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES,  WHETHER  OR  NOT
 SUCH OBLIGATION HAS BEEN REDUCED TO JUDGMENT.
   6.  "DEBT  COLLECTOR"  MEANS  AN INDIVIDUAL WHO, AS PART OF HIS OR HER
 JOB, REGULARLY COLLECTS OR ATTEMPTS TO COLLECT DEBTS: (A) OWED OR DUE OR
 ASSERTED TO BE OWED OR DUE TO ANOTHER; OR (B) OBTAINED BY,  OR  ASSIGNED
 TO,  SUCH PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION, THAT ARE IN DEFAULT WHEN OBTAINED
 OR ACQUIRED BY SUCH PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION.
   § 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 601-a
 to read as follows:
   § 601-A. LARGE PRINT NOTICES. 1. EACH AND EVERY PRINCIPAL CREDITOR  OR
 DEBT  COLLECTOR  SHALL,  IN  EACH  INITIAL  COMMUNICATION,  CLEARLY  AND
 CONSPICUOUSLY DISCLOSE TO THE DEBTOR THAT  WRITTEN  COMMUNICATIONS  FROM
 THE  PRINCIPAL  CREDITOR  OR  DEBT  COLLECTOR MAY BE RECEIVED IN A LARGE
 PRINT FORMAT. UPON WRITTEN REQUEST BY A DEBTOR, THE  PRINCIPAL  CREDITOR
 OR  DEBT  COLLECTOR  MUST  PROVIDE ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SENT TO THE
 DEBTOR IN THE LARGE PRINT FORMAT.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03545-01-7
              

 A. 7860                             2
 
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, LARGE PRINT FORMAT SHALL  MEAN  A
 PRINTED FONT SIZE OF SIXTEEN OR LARGER.
   §  3.  Subdivision  1  of  section 602 of the general business law, as
 added by chapter 753 of the laws of 1973, is amended to read as follows:
   1. Except as otherwise provided by law, any person who [shall violate]
 VIOLATES the terms OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED ONE of this article [shall be]
 IS guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such violation shall  be  deemed  a
 separate  offense.    A  VIOLATION  BY ANY PERSON OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED
 ONE-A OF THIS ARTICLE, IF SUCH  VIOLATION  CONSTITUTES  THE  FIRST  SUCH
 OFFENSE  BY  SUCH PERSON, IS PUNISHABLE BY A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED
 TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS. THE SECOND OFFENSE AND ANY OFFENSE  COMMITTED
 THEREAFTER  IS  PUNISHABLE BY A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED
 DOLLARS.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.