Bill Text: NY S00171 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Bill 171

Introduced

Bill Title: Creates a private right of action for improper debt collection procedures; allows plaintiffs to recover punitive damages and reasonable attorney's fees.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION [S00171 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S00171-Introduced.html




                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                           171

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                       (Prefiled)

                                     January 4, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sens.  GIANARIS,  KRUEGER,  SEPULVEDA  -- 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 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.
                                                                   LBD00044-01-3