S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3105
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 27, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. KAPLAN, MAYER, PARKER, SKOUFIS -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law and the banking law, in
relation to providing financial consumer protections for small busi-
nesses
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The general obligations law is amended by adding a new
section 5-522 to read as follows:
§ 5-522. APPLICATION TO SMALL BUSINESSES. ALL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
GRANTED UNDER THIS TITLE TO PERSONS SHALL ALSO APPLY TO SMALL BUSI-
NESSES. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A SMALL BUSINESS SHALL BE DEEMED
TO BE ONE WHICH IS RESIDENT IN THIS STATE, INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPER-
ATED, NOT DOMINANT IN ITS FIELD AND EMPLOYS ONE HUNDRED OR LESS PERSONS.
§ 2. Section 173 of the banking law is amended by adding a new subdi-
vision 4 to read as follows:
4. ALL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION TO PERSONS
SHALL ALSO APPLY TO SMALL BUSINESSES. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION,
A SMALL BUSINESS SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE ONE WHICH IS RESIDENT IN THIS
STATE, INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED, NOT DOMINANT IN ITS FIELD AND
EMPLOYS ONE HUNDRED OR LESS PERSONS.
§ 3. Section 380-e of the banking law, as separately amended by chap-
ters 349 and 1072 of the laws of 1968, is amended to read as follows:
§ 380-e. Effect of usury. The knowingly taking, receiving, reserving,
or charging by a savings and loan association of interest, as computed
pursuant to this article, at a rate greater than such rate of interest
as may be authorized by law shall be held and adjudged a forfeiture of
the entire interest which the note or other evidence of debt carries
with it, or which has been agreed to be paid thereon. If such greater
rate of interest has been paid, the person paying the same or his legal
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00970-01-1
S. 3105 2
representatives may recover from the savings and loan association twice
the entire amount of the interest thus paid. Nothing in this section
shall be deemed to affect the powers of any savings and loan association
with respect to loans or investments it is authorized to make. THE
RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL ALSO APPLY TO
SMALL BUSINESSES. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A SMALL BUSINESS SHALL
BE DEEMED TO BE ONE WHICH IS RESIDENT IN THIS STATE, INDEPENDENTLY OWNED
AND OPERATED, NOT DOMINANT IN ITS FIELD AND EMPLOYS ONE HUNDRED OR LESS
PERSONS.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.