Senate Bill S7547B

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7547

SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
appearance enhancement businesses to display a poster about gender-based
violence

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To increase awareness and access to support services for survivors of
gender-based violence (GBV) by requiring appearance enhancement busi-
nesses to display multilingual posters with information on recognizing
GBV and accessing vital resources.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1:

Adds a new Section 408-c to the General Business Law. Paragraph 1:
Requires the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, in consul-
              

tation with the Division of Human Rights and the Department of State, to
develop a poster providing information on how to recognize signs of
gender-based violence and where to find help. The poster must include
toll-free hotline numbers and victim services available throughout the
state and be available in the ten most common non-English languages
spoken in New York, based on American Community Survey data.

Paragraph 2: Directs the Department of State to distribute the poster to
appearance enhancement businesses at no cost. Businesses may also create
and display their own posters, provided they meet minimum content and
design requirements and are approved by the Department of State.

Paragraph 3: Requires all licensed appearance enhancement businesses to
display a poster, either provided by the state or an approved alterna-
tive, in a conspicuous location accessible to customers and in a
language of the business's choice.

Paragraph 4: Grants the Secretary of State the authority to promulgate
rules and regulations necessary to enforce this section, including the
ability to impose penalties for noncompliance.

Section 2:  This act shall take effect 90 days after it becomes law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Gender-based violence is a widespread and escalating crisis in New York
State. More than 1 in 3 New Yorkers will experience intimate partner
abuse during their lifetime. The State has the highest demand for domes-
tic violence services in the country, with housing support being the
most unmet need among survivors. In 2023, over 10,800 New Yorkers
accessed the domestic violence shelter system, and more than 2,900 fami-
lies with children entered Department of Homeless Services shelters
citing domestic violence as the primary cause of their homelessness
higher than eviction-related entries. New York City police file one
domestic violence incident report every two minutes, and a 24-hour
domestic violence hotline receives one call approximately every six
minutes. However, language barriers, cultural stigmas, and fear of
retaliation often prevent survivors from seeking help. Appearance
enhancement businesses-such as salons, barbershops, and spas-are impor-
tant community spaces where survivors may feel comfortable and more
willing to engage with information about services.

This bill leverages these businesses as a tool for raising awareness and
providing low-barrier access to lifesaving information. By making
resources available in multiple languages and requiring public display
in licensed businesses, this legislation will help bridge critical
information gaps for survivors across New York State.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it becomes law.

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7547A

SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
appearance enhancement businesses to display a poster about sexual and
domestic violence

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To promote awareness of sexual and domestic violence and ensure that
individuals have access to critical resources by requiring appearance
enhancement businesses to prominently display educational posters.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

*Section 1: Amends the General Business Law by adding a new Section
408-c, requiring the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, in
partnership with the Division of Human Rights and the Department of
State, to create and distribute informational posters regarding signs of
sexual and domestic violence and available state resources.  Posters
              

must be available in the ten most commonly spoken non-English languages.
Appearance enhancement businesses must post an approved poster in a
conspicuous customer-accessible location.

*Section 2: Establishes that the act shall take effect ninety days after
becoming law and authorizes immediate regulatory actions necessary for
implementation.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Domestic violence remains a pervasive crisis in New York State. More
than 1 in 3 New Yorkers will experience abuse by an intimate partner
during their lifetime, and the demand for domestic violence services in
New York is the highest in the nation. Survivors often face substantial
barriers to accessing help, particularly due to fear, stigma, language
barriers, or isolation from traditional sources of support.

Appearance enhancement businesses-salons, spas, and similar venues-offer
a trusted, familiar environment where survivors might first feel safe
enough to seek help or learn about resources. These businesses are
uniquely positioned to serve as silent lifelines. By requiring the post-
ing of accessible, multilingual information about recognizing abuse and
connecting with services, this bill ensures that critical support
reaches individuals in places where they may naturally feel more secure.

The stakes are extraordinarily high: domestic violence is one of the
leading drivers of homelessness in New York, particularly among women
and children. In Fiscal Year 2023, domestic violence caused over 20% of
family homelessness entries into shelters. Survivors experience not only
immediate physical and emotional trauma but long-term health effects,
including significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries.

Moreover, the consequences of domestic violence extend intergeneration-
ally. Children who witness domestic violence are significantly more
likely to become victims or perpetrators of violence themselves. Break-

ing this cycle requires widespread public awareness and 'easy access to
assistance-tools that this bill seeks to provide.

By posting resource information where it is visible to all clients, we
empower survivors with discreet, immediate access to help. We also rein-
force New York's commitment to confronting domestic violence as a public
health crisis, offering tangible support to those in danger.  This
initiative can save lives, prevent homelessness, reduce public health
costs, and help build safer communities across the State.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it becomes law.
Immediate rulemaking is authorized.