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History
- Referred to consumer protection
- Referred to consumer protection
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to kosher for Passover product price gouging
Purpose
To prohibit "price gouging" of kosher Passover products by manufacturers, distributors and retailers who sell such kosher products, during the Jewish Passover season.
Summary of provisions
Amends the Agriculture and Markets Law to prohibit any manufacturers, distributors and retailers of kosher for Passover products from offering to sell such products at an excessive price, during the Passover season.
Authorizes the Dept. of Ag. and Markets to investigate instances of Kosher for Passover product price gouging during the Passover season Requires such investigation to include an annual Passover price survey to examine the prices of kosher for Passover products, before, during and after the Passover season.
Authorizes the court to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000, and where appropriate, order restitution to aggrieved consumers 1'01' violations Directs the Commissioner of Ag. & Mkts. to promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to implement this law, and establish a "Kosher for Passover Products Hotline" for consumers to report complaints of "price gouging".
Existing law
Current law does not address the issue of Kosher for Passover product "price gouging".
Justification
During the observance of Passover, many manufacturers, distributors and retailers inflate their prices for Kosher Passover products. The former Director of the Consumer Protection Board, Tim Carey, conducted a 1997 product survey which found significant disparities in the pricing of Kosher Passover products from store-to-store and region-to-region. These unfair pricing practices continue today.
New York State has a significantly large Jewish population. "Price gouging" of Kosher Products during Passover, is not only an unscrupulous business practice, but it targets Jewish consumers at a time when the demand for such products is at its highest, and forces them to endure this unfair pricing. This bill would eliminate such "price gouging" and enhance consumer protections during the time when the consumer's demand for Kosher Passover Products is at its peak.
Legislative history
S.768 2007-08
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.