S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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6786--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 20, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Judiciary -- recommitted to the Committee on Judiciary in accord-
ance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to designate certain zip codes as cease and desist zones
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. To curb aggressive real estate
solicitation practices, the legislature enabled the secretary of state
to create "cease and desist zones" if owners within the zone "are
subject to intense and repeated solicitation" to place their property
for sale. A homeowner within a cease and desist zone may file a state-
ment with the secretary of state requesting placement on a cease and
desist list. No real estate broker, salesperson or other person regular-
ly engaged in the trade or business of buying and selling real estate
may solicit a listing from an owner placed on the cease and desist list.
The cease and desist program is a valuable tool for homeowners that
are inundated with solicitations for their home, and it has been a prov-
en success in cease and desist zones in the counties of Queens, Bronx
and Rockland.
In many neighborhoods in Kings County, long-time homeowners have been
the subject of increasingly aggressive real estate solicitation, espe-
cially in neighborhoods experiencing rapid gentrification. Solicitors
often use shady or illegal tactics to confuse or manipulate homeowners.
Many homeowners have also been the victims of deed theft, unknowingly
signing away their home and most valuable asset. Unfortunately, existing
statutory framework for establishing a cease and desist zone in these
neighborhoods is not working fast enough to protect homeowners in Brook-
lyn.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06112-03-0
A. 6786--A 2
The legislature hereby finds and declares that due to intense and
repeated solicitation of owners of residential real property by real
estate brokers, real estate salespersons, and other persons regularly
engaged in the trade or business of buying and selling real estate, the
rapid establishment of a cease and desist zone is necessary in the
following zip codes: 11203, 11210, 11212, 11215, 11217, 11218, 11219,
11225, 11226, 11230, 11232, 11234, 11236 and 11238.
§ 2. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contra-
ry, the secretary of state shall establish by rule a cease and desist
zone, pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 442-h of the real property
law, consisting of the following zip codes within ninety days of the
effective date of this act: 11203, 11210, 11212, 11215, 11217, 11218,
11219, 11225, 11226, 11230, 11232, 11234, 11236 and 11238. The rule
establishing such cease and desist zone shall be effective for five
years, provided the secretary of state may re-adopt the rule to continue
the cease and desist zone pursuant to paragraph (c) of subdivision 3 of
section 442-h of the real property law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.