S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10541
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 28, 2020
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Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. DenDekker)
-- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and
Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibited debt
collection practices during a disaster emergency
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
601-b to read as follows:
§ 601-B. PROHIBITED PRACTICES; DISASTER EMERGENCY. DURING A DECLARED
STATE OF DISASTER EMERGENCY, NO PRINCIPAL CREDITOR, AS DEFINED BY THIS
ARTICLE, OR HIS AGENT SHALL:
1. COMMUNICATE IN ANY WAY WITH DEBTORS TO COLLECT A DEBT DURING A
STATE DISASTER EMERGENCY AND FOR NINETY DAYS THEREAFTER;
2. KNOWINGLY COLLECT, ATTEMPT TO COLLECT, OR ASSERT A RIGHT TO ANY
COLLECTION FEE, ATTORNEY'S FEE, COURT COST OR EXPENSE DURING A STATE
DISASTER EMERGENCY;
3. DISCLOSE OR THREATEN TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION AFFECTING THE DEBTOR'S
REPUTATION FOR CREDIT WORTHINESS DURING A STATE DISASTER EMERGENCY; OR
4. ENFORCE ANY JUDGMENTS OR HAVE ANY THIRD PARTIES ENFORCE ANY JUDG-
MENTS, OR PLACE A JUDGMENT LIEN ON ANY BANK ACCOUNTS, PERSONAL OR
COMMERCIAL DURING A STATE DISASTER EMERGENCY AND FOR NINETY DAYS THERE-
AFTER.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to
have been in full force and effect on and after March 7, 2020.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16411-02-0