What's happening
This bill temporarily suspends the collection of medical and student debt owed to New York State during the COVID-19 emergency period.
Why it matters
Provides immediate financial relief. for individuals facing hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic by pausing state collection actions on medical and student debts, potentially preventing wage garnishments, seizures, or other collection activities.
Targets debts owed specifically to New York State. and referred to the attorney general, meaning the bill directly impacts those whose debt has escalated to formal state collection processes, not private lenders or federal debt.
Defines the suspension period based on public health orders. , tying debt collection pauses to the duration of business closures and assembly restrictions, which ensures the relief corresponds to the economic impact period of the pandemic.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Pause Debt Collection During COVID
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer affairs and 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.
Pause Debt Collection for COVID
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor James Skoufis
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10688
IN ASSEMBLY
July 1, 2020
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Gottfried) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT temporarily suspending medical and student debt collection during the COVID-19 covered period
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. For the purposes of this act, "COVID-19 covered period" means March 7, 2020 until the date on which none of the provisions that closed or otherwise restricted public or private businesses or places of public accommodation, or required postponement or cancellation of all non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason in executive orders 202.3, 202.4, 202.5, 202.6, 202.7, 202.8, 202.10, 202.11, 202.13 or 202.14, as extended by executive orders 202.28 and 202.31 and as further extended by any future executive order, issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to apply in the county of the insurer or debtors residence.
§ 2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the collection of medical and student debt owed to the state of New York and referred to the office of the attorney general for collection will be temporarily suspended to the end of COVID-19 covered period.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16691-01-0
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.