S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8050
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 15, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to imposing penal-
ties on developers who fraudulently use architect seals
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
392-k to read as follows:
§ 392-K. FRAUDULENT USE OF AN ARCHITECTURAL SEAL. 1. NO DEVELOPER MAY
USE OR DISPLAY THE SEAL OF AN ARCHITECT OR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT LICENSED
IN THIS STATE ON THE DEVELOPER'S PLANS UNLESS SUCH ARCHITECT OR LAND-
SCAPE ARCHITECT HAS OVERSEEN AND APPROVED THE DEVELOPMENT AND CREATION
OF THE PLANS.
2. A. A DEVELOPER THAT VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL
BE LIABLE FOR A FINE OF THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER VIOLATION;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF THE VIOLATION INVOLVED PLANS FOR A PROJECT AT
WHICH A PERSON SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF A DEFECT
IN THE DESIGN OF SUCH PLANS, THE DEVELOPER SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A FINE OF
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER VIOLATION.
B. A DEVELOPER THAT VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE
PROHIBITED FROM BEING AWARDED ANY STATE OR MUNICIPAL CONTRACT AND SHALL
BE INELIGIBLE TO CLAIM ANY STATE OR MUNICIPAL TAX BENEFITS OR CREDIT
OTHERWISE AVAILABLE TO A DEVELOPER.
3. WHENEVER THERE SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL, IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OR A CITY
CORPORATION COUNSEL ON BEHALF OF THE LOCALITY, MAY BRING AN ACTION IN
THE SUPREME COURT OR FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT TO ENJOIN AND RESTRAIN SUCH
VIOLATIONS AND TO OBTAIN RESTITUTION AND DAMAGES.
4. ALL MONEYS COLLECTED FROM FINES IMPOSED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE
DEPOSITED TO THE CREDIT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.