What's happening
This bill creates a citywide registry for New York City residents to opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial printed materials and sets penalties for violations.
Why it matters
Empowers residents to actively reduce unwanted commercial print materials. , helping individuals avoid litter and clutter at their homes by giving them a direct way to stop delivery of handbills, flyers, and similar advertising (except phone books).
Places new accountability on distributors and advertisers. , requiring them to regularly update their delivery lists and provide up-to-date contact information to the city, or face escalating fines—potentially deterring indiscriminate distribution tactics.
Creates a clear enforcement mechanism with specified financial penalties. , making it more likely that both small distributors and larger companies will comply, thereby supporting cleaner streets and reducing waste.
Gives the Department of Sanitation a central role in oversight and rulemaking. , indicating a shift in how the city addresses commercial waste and giving residents a formal channel to report violations and seek recourse.
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Who cares
New York City residents
They could join a citywide registry to refuse commercial handbills, circulars and similar printed material at home, excluding telephone directories.
Circular and handbill distributors
They would have to provide accurate contact information and stop deliveries to registered residents within six weeks of receiving updated lists, with civil penalties for violations.
Businesses advertising through circulars
They could face the same fines as distributors if a distributor in violation cannot be located.
New York City Department of Sanitation
Its commissioner would establish the registry, send updated lists to distributors every six weeks and issue rules to carry out the program.
Headline styles
Opt Out of Junk Mail
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5076
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the regulation of unsolicited circulars
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 10-121.2 to read as follows:
§ 10-121.2 Regulation of unsolicited circulars. a. In the interest of further eliminating litter and improving the quality of life for city residents, the commissioner shall establish a citywide registry for residents who wish to refuse the delivery of any handbill, circular or other printed matter of a commercial or business nature other than a telephone directory or book that provides telephone and directory information to their residence. The commissioner shall enter the name of the requesting resident in such registry. Such requests shall be made in writing to the commissioner, by phone at a designated number or numbers or by electronic communication at a designated electronic mail address or website.
b. In order to continue distribution in New York city, all distributors of such handbills, circulars or other like printed matter shall provide the commissioner with accurate contact information, including an address and phone number. Failure to provide accurate contact information or discontinue distribution shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this section and shall subject the violator to fines as provided in subdivision c of this section. If the distributor in violation cannot be located, the company or companies doing the advertising will be subject to the same fines. Every six weeks the commissioner shall provide distributors with an updated list of all residents who do not want distribution. Distributors then have six weeks to update their lists and discontinue distribution.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09144-01-7
A. 5076 2
c. Violators of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than two hundred fifty dollars for a first violation. The civil penalty shall be not less than two hundred fifty dollars and not more than five hundred dollars for a second violation and each violation thereafter.
d. For the purposes of this section, "commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of the city of New York department of sanitation.
e. If any clause, sentence or provision of this section shall be held to be unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this section shall not be affected thereby.
§ 2. The commissioner of the sanitation department of the city of New York shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of section 10-121.2 of the administrative code of the city of New York.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.