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S6734Senate2015-2016 SessionSame asA2269

Prohibits the selling, offering for sale or distribution of any electrical or extension cords with fraudulent seals for the Underwriters' Laboratory

Sponsor Jack M. MartinsSD-7Affects Public Safety & Consumer Affairs
Status
In Senate Committee
Consumer Protection
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Consumer Protection

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Who cares

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Jack M. Martins

Senator · Senate District 7

Chair, Labor

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Referred to consumer protection

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.

A2269Assembly

Prohibits the selling, offering for sale or distribution of any electrical or extension cords with fraudulent seals for the Underwriters' Laboratory

Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Ellen C. Jaffee

Full text

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

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to the selling, offering for sale or distribution of any electrical or extension cords with a fraudulent seal for the Underwriters' Laboratory

Purpose or general idea of bill

To amend the general business law to top retail merchants from selling electrical products sold with fraudulent claims of quality and safety inspection. A store engaging in the sale of fraudulently labeled electrical cords are subject to a civil penalty of up to one hundred dollars. Additionally, first time violators much complete an online training seminar, conducted by the Office of Fire Prevention and control (OFPC), on how to distinguish false UL labels for the first offense. For a second or subsequent violation of this section, the civil penalty shall be set at up to 500 dollars.

Summary of specific provisions

Merchants who sell electrical products with fraudulent UL will be subject to a civil penalty of up to $100 and required to complete and online training session created by OFPC. A second or subsequent violation will result in a fine of up to $500. Each sale of a fraudulent electrical cord or extension cord in violation shall constitute a separate violation.

Justification

A number of fires have been attributed to extension cords that bore fraudulent UL labels. The potential for loss of life to both consumers and firefighters due to this fraud is unacceptable. This law would not only increase civil penalties for the retail sale of these potentially dangerous cords, but it would require all merchants who have engaged in these fraudulent transactions to learn how to learn how to differentiate between real UL cords and fakes.

Prior legislative history

01/05/11 referred to economic development 01/04/12 referred to economic development 05/08/12 reported 05/12/12 advanced to third reading al. 539 06/04/12 passed Assembly 06/04/12 delivered to senate, referred to consumer protection 03/13/13 passed assembly 01/08/14 ordered to third reading

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Effective date

This act shall take effect one hundred twenty days after it shall have become law.

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