What's happening
This bill requires New York banking institutions to accept Dominican consular ID cards as valid identification and directs a review of other foreign IDs for banking access.
Why it matters
Expands banking access for Dominican nationals. By requiring banks to accept Dominican consular ID cards, the bill addresses barriers faced by Dominican immigrants—especially those without U.S.-issued documents—in opening accounts, cashing checks, and conducting other financial transactions.
Signals potential for broader inclusion. The legislation directs state regulators to review and recommend other foreign government-issued IDs for acceptance, hinting at possible future expansion of banking access for immigrants from other countries.
Addresses needs of undocumented and provisional immigrants. The bill explicitly requires consideration of how banking services can be made accessible to undocumented immigrants and those applying for new federal statuses (like Registered Provisional Immigrant), recognizing their unique challenges in accessing financial services.
Aims to balance access with regulatory compliance. By tasking the department with recommending supplemental identification and necessary legislative or regulatory measures, the bill seeks to ensure that expanded access does not compromise anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, or other legal safeguards.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Accept Dominican ID at Banks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to banks
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4941
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. DIAZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Banks
AN ACT to amend the banking law, in relation to requiring banking institutions to accept the Dominican consular identification card issued by the consulate general of the Dominican Republic as a valid form of identification for all banking transactions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The banking law is amended by adding a new section 9-x to read as follows:
§ 9-x. Dominican identification card, valid form of identification. 1. Every banking institution shall accept as a valid form of identification for all banking transactions the Dominican identification card issued by the consulate general of the Dominican Republic.
2. For the purposes of this section, the term "banking institution" shall mean and include all banks, trust companies, savings banks, savings and loan associations, licensed foreign banks and credit unions.
3. The department shall review the legitimacy of identification cards issued by foreign governments to their nationals living in the state and recommend which ones, if any, should be accepted by banking institutions in the state as proof of identification by the identification holder for the purpose of engaging in banking services.
4. The department shall recommend:
(a) other required forms of identification by foreign nationals living in the state, if any, to supplement verification needed by banking services in order to meet standing rules, regulations, or laws with regards to accessing banking services;
(b) any legislative measures necessary to facilitate access to banking services by foreign nationals who are currently considered undocumented immigrants;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07210-01-7
S. 4941 2
(c) any measures, in the form of rules, regulations or legislation, necessary to ensure that undocumented immigrants who can provide proof that they have applied for the new federal immigrant status classified as Registered Provisional Immigrant, hereinafter "RPI", have access to banking services while such persons wait for official federal identification; and
(d) a timeframe for requiring banking services to accept the foreign identification and temporary proof of applying for RPI to access banking services and whether the foreign issued identification shall be part of the temporary identification requirements that can be requested by a banking institution.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the banking law, in relation to requiring banking institutions to accept the Dominican consular identification card issued by the consulate general of the Dominican Republic as a valid form of identification for all banking transactions
Purpose or general idea of bill
Requires banking institutions to accept the Dominican consular identification card as a valid form of identification for all banking transactions.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the Banking Law by adding a new section 9-x. Requires every banking institution to accept as a valid form of identification, the Dominican identification card issued by the consulate general of the Dominican Republic for all banking transactions. Defines banking institutions.
Section 2. Effective Date
Existing law
None.
Justification
Illegal immigrants are not permitted to open up bank accounts because they are not able to produce a viable form of identification. This legislation would mandate banks to accept identification issued by the Dominican Consulate as a valid form of identification for all banking transactions.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.231 - REFERRED TO BANKS 2015: S.231 - REFERRED TO BANKS 2014: S.858A - Referred to Banks 2013: S.858A - Amend and Recommit to Banks 2012: S.378: Referred to Banks/ A.1175 - Referred to Banks 2011: S.378 - Defeated in Banks/A.1175 - Referred to Banks 2009-2010 S.3153 - Referred to Banks/A.8849 - Referred to Banks 2007-2008 S.778 - Referred to Banks/A.4624 - Referred to Banks 2005-2006 S.831 - Referred to Banks/A.6105 - Referred to Banks 2003-2004 S.6773 - Referred to Banks/A.10812 - Referred to Banks
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.