S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10669
I N A S S E M B L Y
July 22, 2024
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Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Vanel) --
read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and
Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
verification of property and rental listings on online property
marketplaces
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
396-ddd to read as follows:
§ 396-DDD. VERIFICATION OF PROPERTY AND RENTAL LISTINGS ON ONLINE
PROPERTY MARKETPLACES. 1. NO ONLINE PROPERTY MARKETPLACE SHALL ALLOW A
PROPERTY OR RENTAL TO BE LISTED ON ITS WEBSITE, APPLICATION OR SOFTWARE
NOR PERMIT ANY PERSON TO CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF AN EXISTING PROPERTY OR
RENTAL LISTING WITHOUT FIRST VERIFYING THAT THE PERSON LISTING OR CLAIM-
ING THE PROPERTY OR RENTAL IS AUTHORIZED TO DO SO. FOR THE PURPOSES OF
THIS SECTION, "ONLINE PROPERTY MARKETPLACE" SHALL MEAN ANY WEBSITE,
APPLICATION, OR SOFTWARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WHICH, IN THE REGULAR
COURSE OF BUSINESS, ALLOWS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADD AND VIEW PROPER-
TY OR RENTAL LISTINGS AND WHICH PROVIDE A CONTACT METHOD OR CONTACT
INFORMATION TO CONTACT THE OWNERS OR AGENTS OF SUCH PROPERTIES OR RENTAL
LISTINGS.
2. THE VERIFICATION REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL
BE CONDUCTED THROUGH A METHOD REASONABLY DESIGNED TO DETECT AND PREVENT
FRAUDULENT PROPERTY OR RENTAL CLAIMS AND LISTINGS.
3. AN ONLINE PROPERTY MARKETPLACE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY
OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER LISTING WHICH IS LISTED OR CLAIMED IN
VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15916-02-4