Bill Text: NY A04946 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates a private right of action for improper debt collection procedures; allows plaintiffs to recover punitive damages and reasonable attorneys' fees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - ordered to third reading cal.353 [A04946 Detail]
Download: New_York-2017-A04946-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4946 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 6, 2017 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS, JAFFEE, M. G. MILLER, ROSENTHAL, ABINAN- TI, WEPRIN, BLAKE, ORTIZ, SIMON, COLTON, STECK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, HOOPER, PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to allowing a private right of action for improper debt collection The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 602 of the general business law is amended by 2 adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows: 3 4. A debtor shall have a private right of action against any person or 4 persons in violation of this article. Such person or persons shall be 5 liable to the debtor for any actual damages the debtor sustained as a 6 result of the violation of this article, any punitive damages awarded by 7 the court, and reasonable attorney's fees. 8 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 9 have become a law. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD04145-01-7