S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 2106 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y (PREFILED) January 9, 2013 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. KAVANAGH, STEVENSON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. JAFFEE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to providing purchas- ers and sellers of residential real property and cooperative apart- ments with voter registration forms at closing THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The real property law is amended by adding a new section 2 262 to read as follows: 3 S 262. VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE 4 TERM "CLOSING" SHALL MEAN AN IN-PERSON MEETING TO COMPLETE FINAL DOCU- 5 MENTS INCIDENT TO THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY AND 6 COOPERATIVE APARTMENTS, AND THE TERM "SETTLEMENT AGENT" SHALL MEAN THE 7 LENDER IN A NON-CASH TRANSACTION, THE TITLE COMPANY IN A CASH TRANS- 8 ACTION AND THE MANAGING AGENT IN A COOPERATIVE APARTMENT TRANSACTION. 9 2. EVERY PURCHASER OR SELLER OF REAL PROPERTY IN ATTENDANCE AT A CLOS- 10 ING HELD WITHIN THIS STATE SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH ANY FORMS NECESSARY TO 11 COMPLY WITH THE VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 12 FIVE OF THE ELECTION LAW, EXCEPT FOR SELLERS WHO ARE MOVING OUT OF NEW 13 YORK STATE. IF SUCH PURCHASER OR SELLER SHALL NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE AT 14 SUCH CLOSING, SUCH FORMS SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF SUCH 15 PURCHASER OR SELLER. 16 3. THE PROVISION OF FORMS REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION 17 SHALL BE MADE BY THE SETTLEMENT AGENT WITHOUT COST OR CHARGE TO THE 18 PURCHASER OR SELLER. 19 4. EACH COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO 20 COOPERATE WITH SETTLEMENT AGENTS TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS 21 SECTION. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD04497-02-3 A. 2106 2 1 S 2. The real property law is amended by adding a new section 238-a to 2 read as follows: 3 S 238-A. VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS. 1. EVERY TENANT WHO ENTERS INTO A 4 LEASE TO RENT RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THIS STATE SHALL 5 BE PROVIDED WITH ANY FORMS NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH THE VOTER REGISTRA- 6 TION REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE FIVE OF THE ELECTION LAW. SUCH 7 FORMS SHALL BE PROVIDED BY THE LANDLORD OR THE LANDLORD'S REPRESENTATIVE 8 AT THE TIME SUCH LEASE IS SIGNED AND DELIVERED BY THE LANDLORD OR THE 9 LANDLORD'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE TENANT OR THE TENANT'S REPRESENTATIVE, 10 WHETHER IN PERSON OR BY MAIL. 11 2. EACH COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO 12 MAKE AVAILABLE TO PERSONS WHO RENT RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY IN THIS 13 STATE ALL FORMS NECESSARY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS 14 SECTION. 15 S 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 16 have become a law.