A00271 Summary:

BILL NO    A00271A

SAME AS    Same as S 3797

SPONSOR    Pheffer (MS)

COSPNSR    Gianaris, Clark, Ortiz, Millman, Robinson, Rivera J, Benjamin,
           Gabryszak, Rivera N, Jaffee

MLTSPNSR   Alfano, Aubry, Barra, Brennan, Cook, Cymbrowitz, DelMonte,
           Englebright, Farrell, Glick, Gottfried, Hooper, Hoyt, Jacobs, Lifton,
           Lupardo, Magee, Magnarelli, Paulin, Perry, Pretlow, Scarborough,
           Towns, Weinstein, Weisenberg

Add SS601-a, amd S602, Gen Bus L

Requires debt collectors to send consumers a written notice of their rights
under state law along with their initial debt collection correspondence; such
notice would contain information such as who and when a principal creditor may
contact a debtor about the debt owed as well as the fact that a principal
creditor cannot disclose information affecting a consumer debtor's reputation
for creditworthiness if the principal creditor knows or has reason to know such
information is false; applies to consumer rather than commercial debts.

A00271 Actions:

BILL NO    A00271A

01/07/2009 referred to consumer affairs and protection
03/02/2009 amend and recommit to consumer affairs and protection
03/02/2009 print number 271a
04/21/2009 reported referred to codes
04/27/2009 reported 
04/30/2009 advanced to third reading cal.413
06/22/2009 passed assembly
06/22/2009 delivered to senate
06/22/2009 REFERRED TO RULES
07/17/2009 SUBSTITUTED FOR S3797
07/17/2009 3RD READING CAL.307
07/16/2009 RECOMMITTED TO RULES
01/06/2010 DIED IN SENATE
01/06/2010 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
01/06/2010 ordered to third reading cal.14

A00271 Votes:

BILL: A00271A DATE: 06/22/2009  MOTION:                       YEA/NAY: 103/041

Abbate  Y  Cahill  Y  Englebr Y  Hooper  Y  Maisel  Y  Powell  Y  Skartad Y
Alessi  Y  Calhoun NO Errigo  NO Hoyt    NO Markey  ER Pretlow Y  Spano   Y
Alfano  NO Camara  Y  Espaill Y  Hyer-Sp Y  Mayerso Y  Quinn   NO Stirpe  Y
Amedore NO Canestr Y  Farrell Y  Jacobs  Y  McDonou NO Rabbitt NO Sweeney Y
Arroyo  Y  Carrozz Y  Fields  Y  Jaffee  Y  McEneny Y  Raia    NO Tedisco Y
Aubry   Y  Castro  Y  Finch   NO Jeffrie Y  McKevit NO Ramos   Y  Thiele  NO
Bacalle NO Christe Y  Fitzpat NO John    Y  Meng    Y  Reilich NO Titone  Y
Ball    Y  Clark   Y  Gabrysz Y  Jordan  NO Miller  NO Reilly  Y  Titus   Y
Barclay NO Colton  Y  Galef   Y  Kavanag Y  Millman Y  Rive J  Y  Tobacco NO
Barra   NO Conte   Y  Gantt   Y  Kellner Y  Molinar NO Rive N  ER Towns   Y
Barron  Y  Cook    Y  Gianari Y  Kolb    NO Morelle Y  Rive PM NO Townsen Y
Benedet Y  Corwin  NO Gibson  Y  Koon    Y  Nolan   Y  Robinso Y  Walker  NO
Benjami Y  Crespo  Y  Giglio  NO Lancman Y  Oaks    NO Rosenth Y  Weinste Y
Bing    Y  Crouch  NO Glick   Y  Latimer Y  O'Donne Y  Russell Y  Weisenb Y
Boyland Y  Cusick  Y  Gordon  Y  Lavine  Y  O'Mara  NO Saladin NO Weprin  Y
Boyle   NO Cymbrow Y  Gottfri Y  Lentol  Y  Ortiz   Y  Sayward NO Wright  Y
Bradley Y  DelMont Y  Gunther Y  Lifton  Y  Parment NO Scarbor Y  Zebrows Y
Brennan Y  DenDekk Y  Hawley  NO Lope PD NO Paulin  Y  Schimel Y  Mr Spkr Y
Brodsky Y  Destito Y  Hayes   NO Lope VJ Y  Peoples ER Schimmi NO
Brook-K Y  Dinowit Y  Heastie Y  Lupardo Y  Peralta Y  Schroed Y
Burling NO Duprey  NO Hevesi  ER Magee   Y  Perry   ER Scozzaf NO
Butler  NO Eddingt Y  Hikind  Y  Magnare Y  Pheffer Y  Seminer ER

A00271 Memo:

 BILL NUMBER:  A271A

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the general business law, in
relation to debt collection notices

 PURPOSE OF GENERAL IDEA OF BILL : To provide a "Debtor's Bill of
Rights" to inform consumers of certain provisions of New York's debt
collection practices law.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS : This bill would set forth a specific
notice to consumers, to be included in each initial correspondence on
a past due debt, of such consumer's rights under the New York law
regulating debt collection practices. The notice would contain
information such as who and when a debt collector may contact a debtor
about the debt owed as well as the fact that a debt collector cannot
disclose information affecting a consumer debtor's reputation for
creditworthiness if the debt collector knows or has reasons to know
that the information is false. The bill also clarifies the notice
regarding permissible contact with a debtor's employer (Debtor's Bill
of Rights paragraph 2).

Adds a new section 601-a to the general business law and amends
section 602 of such law.

 JUSTIFICATION : Debt is a fact of many consumer's lives. Some manage
their debt without a problem - others do not. Consumers who cannot
manage their debt may find themselves the subjects of debt collection.
Faced with the inability to payoff a loan or credit card bill,
consumers are contacted by creditors as well as professional debt
collectors. Abuses have arisen in the debt collection area.  Creditors
and debt collectors have contacted consumers at work in ways that
violate the law; late at night; and through unauthorized third
parties. With consumer debt dramatically increasing through the
1980's, these practices proliferated. In fact, there have been reports
of debt collectors parking a hearse in front of an individual's home
with "A deadbeat lives here" written on it. These and other practices
are not only outside the law, they are outrageous and must stop.

An effective way to curb abuses of the law and provide benefits to
consumers and businesses is to inform consumers of the limitations
placed on debt collectors by New York Law. Consumers deserve to be
treated fairly and reasonably, even when they have outstanding debts.
At the same time, business benefits from consumers paying their debts.
If debts are not paid, the cost of business increases - harming the
business, competition and consumers.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2007-2008: A.221 - Passed Assembly 2005-2006: A.614 - advanced to
Third Reading 2003-2004: A.3549 - advanced to Third Reading

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : None to the State.

 EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect on the first of January
next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.