What's happening
This bill requires street vendors to be at least 100 feet away from businesses selling similar goods or food.
Why it matters
Could reduce competition for brick-and-mortar businesses. by creating a buffer zone, potentially helping local stores maintain customer traffic and sales against street vendors offering similar goods or food.
Might limit the locations where street vendors can legally operate. , especially in densely commercial areas, possibly making it harder for vendors to find profitable spots and impacting their livelihoods.
Introduces clear definitions of “like goods and services” and “vendor,”. which could affect enforcement and clarify which vendors are subject to the new restrictions, potentially leading to more consistent regulation but also new disputes over what counts as “substantially similar” products.
May influence the overall urban landscape and street life. by reducing the number of street vendors near established businesses, possibly impacting neighborhood character, convenience for consumers, and the city’s informal economy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Street Vendor Locations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer protection
- Referred to consumer protection
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1684
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to imposing restrictions on vending like goods and services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 38-a to read as follows:
§ 38-a. Restrictions on vending like goods and services. 1. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Like goods and services" means any product or service which is bought and sold and is substantially similar to another such product or service.
(b) "Food" means raw, cooked or processed edible substances, beverages, ingredients, ice or water used or intended for use or for sale in whole or in part for human consumption.
(c) "Vendor" means a person who hawks, peddles, sells or offers food, goods or products for sale at retail in any public space.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections thirty-two and thirtyfive-a of this article, every person who vends goods to retail trade on public streets shall be a minimum of one hundred feet away from the edge of the property of a place of business which sells retail trade, like goods, food and produce which the street vendor is offering for sale.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01281-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to imposing restrictions on vending like goods and services
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends the general business law by adding a new section 38-a to place restrictions on vending like goods and services. Subdivision 1 defines the terms "Like goods and services," "Food," and "Vendor." Subdivision 2 states that notwithstanding the provisions of sections thirty-two and thirty-five-a of this article, every person who vends goods to retail trade on public streets shall be a minimum of one hundred feet away from the edge of the property of a place of business which sells retail trade, like goods, food and produce which the street vendor is offering for sale.
Section 3 of this bill states that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Supermarkets have long served as vital centerpieces of neighborhood stability by providing services, employment, and tax revenues. In addition to providing a wide array of consumer products, supermarkets also attract smaller businesses to the area. They frequently participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the special nutritional assistance program for Women Infants and Children (WIC), which many individuals and families depend on. New York State residents cannot afford to lose access to these services.
And yet, supermarkets are disappearing from metro areas at an alarming rate. This loss is in part due to the increasing number of street vendors, who often sit directly in front of traditional supermarkets and sell similar goods. Brick and mortar stores cannot compete with the unregulated and untaxed street vendors, who have a competitive advantage. Supermarket closures also cost the state tax revenue. This bill would ensure that cities preserve decent paying jobs, a strong tax base, and access to essential and affordable consumer products by restricting street vendors from selling like goods and services within 100 feet of the place of business selling the same.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.