Bill Text: NY A01647 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to prohibiting the use of polystyrene containers by restaurants and food vendors.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to consumer affairs and protection [A01647 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-A01647-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          1647
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    January 16, 2019
                                       ___________
        Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
        AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the
          use of polystyrene containers by restaurants and food vendors
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
     2  399-eee to read as follows:
     3    § 399-eee. Prohibiting the use of polystyrene  containers  by  restau-
     4  rants,  food trucks, and other food vendors. 1. Definitions. The follow-
     5  ing terms shall have the following meanings as used in this section:
     6    (a) "polystyrene" or "polystyrene foam" means  blown  polystyrene  and
     7  expanded  foams  utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by any number
     8  of techniques. Polystyrene foam is generally used to make  cups,  bowls,
     9  plates, trays, clamshell containers, meat trays and egg cartons.
    10    (b)  "food  service  establishment"  means any area, including outdoor
    11  seating areas, in which the business is the sale of food for on-premises
    12  consumption.
    13    (c) "food vendor" means any store, shop, sales outlet, or other estab-
    14  lishment, including a grocery store,  delicatessen  or  restaurant  that
    15  sells prepared foods.
    16    (d)  "disposable  food  service  ware"  means  all  containers, bowls,
    17  plates, trays, cartons, cups, lids, and other items  that  are  designed
    18  for  one-time  use  for  prepared  foods,  including without limitation,
    19  service ware takeout foods  and/or  leftovers  from  partially  consumed
    20  meals  prepared  by  food  service  establishments, food vendors, and/or
    21  mobile food service establishments.
    22    (e) "mobile food service establishment" means  a  self-contained  food
    23  service  operation,  located  in  a  vehicle or a movable stand, self or
    24  otherwise propelled, used to  store,  prepare,  display  or  serve  food
    25  intended for individual portion service.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02183-01-9
        A. 1647                             2
     1    2. Use of polystyrene disposable food service ware prohibited. No food
     2  service establishment, food vendor, or mobile food service establishment
     3  shall  use polystyrene disposable food service ware for the packaging of
     4  food or drink to be taken from such  food  service  establishment,  food
     5  vendor, or mobile food service establishment by patrons.
     6    3. Enforcement and violations. (a) Whenever there shall be a violation
     7  of  this section, application may be made by the attorney general in the
     8  name of the people of the state of New York to a court or justice having
     9  jurisdiction by a special proceeding to issue an  injunction,  and  upon
    10  notice  to  the  defendant  of  not  less  than five days, to enjoin and
    11  restrain the continuance of such violation; and if it  shall  appear  to
    12  the  satisfaction  of  the  court  or justice that the defendant has, in
    13  fact, violated this section, an injunction may be issued by  such  court
    14  or  justice,  enjoining  and  restraining any further violation, without
    15  requiring proof that any person has, in fact, been  injured  or  damaged
    16  thereby.  In connection with any such proposed application, the attorney
    17  general is authorized to take proof and  make  a  determination  of  the
    18  relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil prac-
    19  tice law and rules.
    20    (b)  Any  person who violates this section shall be subject to a civil
    21  penalty of not more than five hundred dollars for each  violation.  Each
    22  day  in  which a food service establishment, food vendor, or mobile food
    23  service establishment uses polystyrene disposable food service  ware  in
    24  violation of this section may constitute a separate violation.
    25    (c)  In  addition,  the  district  attorney,  county attorney, and the
    26  corporation counsel shall have concurrent authority to seek  the  relief
    27  in  paragraph  (b) of this subdivision, and all civil penalties obtained
    28  in any such action shall be retained by the municipality or county.
    29    § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
    30  it shall have become a law.