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S7218Senate2009-2010 SessionSame asA10162

Relates to implementing the immigrant assistance service enforcement act

Sponsor Ruben DiazSD-32+3 co-sponsorsAffects Legal
Status
In Senate Committee
Codes
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Codes

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Who cares

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Ruben Diaz

Senator · Senate District 32

History

  1. Print number 7218a
  2. Amend and recommit to codes
  3. Referred to codes

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

A10162Assembly

Relates to implementing the immigrant assistance service enforcement act

In Assembly Committee · Rules · Sponsor Richard Brodsky

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

BILL NUMBER:S7218A

Title of bill

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to implementing the immigrant assistance service enforcement act

Purpose or general idea of bill

To provide stricter enforcement provisions and strengthen transparency within New York state's network of immigration service providers.

Summary of specific provisions

Specifically, the bill:

Doubles the fines imposed upon those who violate laws regarding immi- grant assistance services.

States that repeat offenders of the laws set forth in Article 28-c can be charged with a class A felony.

Adds two new sections to Article 28-c.

A. strengthens civil penalties for crimes committed against immigration assistance service users and creates a special fund that allocates monies collected from imposed fines to fund future enforcement provisions.

B. Requires all immigrant assistance service providers to be registered with the department of state, and added to a newly created online data- base.

States that all immigrant service providers must be registered with the department of state

Justification

Recent actions taken by the Office of the New York State Attorney Gener- al have illustrated that the system charged with the oversight of immi- gration assistance service enforcement is in dire need of stricter enforcement provisions, increased transparency, and greater public accessibility.

There are currently too many New York companies providing unauthorized and fraudulent legal services to immigrant communities. For example, under the terms of the agreements secured by the Attorney General's office in February of 2010, three different agencies have been perma- nently barred from operating a business that provides immigration-relat- ed services and have been ordered to collectively pay approximately $118,000 in penalties.

In light of such developments, "The Immigration Assistance Service Enforcement Act" serves to expand the enforcement powers of Article 28-c of general business law by increasing oversight and transparency within

the existing system and increasing penalties for violations. Perhaps most importantly this act creates a special fund that can use funds collected from fines to help strengthen and develop these vital services to the newest Americans who are often vulnerable to fraudulent legal services and other deceptive practices.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

Increased fines for violations of this statute could result in addi- tional funds for the state, but the statue is strict in regards to how they are to be allocated.

Effective date

This act shall take effect one hundred and eighty days after it becomes law.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.