What's happening
The bill requires gas stations to post a consumer complaint hotline and establishes a toll-free number for reporting motor fuel issues.
Why it matters
Empowers consumers to take action. By requiring clear posting of a toll-free complaint hotline at every gas pump, the bill gives consumers an immediate, visible way to report suspected price gouging, fuel quality, or tampering issues—potentially discouraging bad practices at the point of sale.
Creates a centralized, coordinated response system. Complaints phoned into the new hotline must be forwarded to both the Department of Agriculture and Markets and relevant local authorities, increasing the likelihood of swift and coordinated enforcement or investigation.
Standardizes consumer protection across New York. The signage and hotline requirements would apply statewide (unless local laws already have equivalent measures), reducing confusion for consumers and ensuring consistent protections regardless of where fuel is purchased.
Signals increased oversight of gas stations. By formalizing the complaint process and requiring visible notices, the bill puts gas stations on notice that their business practices are subject to greater public scrutiny and regulatory attention, potentially improving compliance with consumer protection laws.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Gas Stations Must Post Hotline
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4065
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, MOSLEY, OTIS, THIELE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, CROUCH, PERRY, RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and the executive law, in relation to protecting consumers from price gouging and product tampering of gasoline
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 5 of section 192 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by chapter 101 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
a. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell or offer for sale at retail for use in internal combustion engines in motor vehicles or motorboats any motor fuel unless such seller shall:
(i) post and keep posted on the dispensing device from which such motor fuel is sold or offered for sale a sign or placard, at least twelve inches in height and at least twelve inches in width, stating clearly and legibly with the whole cent numerals at least nine inches in height and at least two inches in width, the selling price per gallon of such motor fuel; or
(ii) where such individual pump or dispensing device dispenses more than two differently priced grades of motor fuel, only the highest and lowest selling price per gallon of such motor fuel dispensed therefrom must be posted thereon in conformance with all other provisions of this subdivision; or
(iii) where a multiple product dispensing device is capable of dispensing multiple products at multiple prices, then the selling price per gallon may be posted thereon with numerals at least one-half that height and one-half that width required by subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, although numerals representing tenths of a cent may be
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08410-01-9
A. 4065 2
displayed at no less than one-half those dimensions which disclose the selling price per gallon of such motor fuel dispensed therefrom;
(iv) post and keep posted on the dispensing device from which such motor fuel is sold or offered for sale a sign or placard, of a size to be determined by the commissioner, stating clearly and legibly, in substantially similar form:
NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS BUSINESS, YOU MAY CALL THE FOLLOWING TOLL-FREE NEW YORK STATE HOTLINE: (INSERT THE CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR RECEIVING COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH 16 OF PARA- GRAPH A OF SUBDIVISION 3 OF SECTION 94-A OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW).
The signs and selling prices shall be posted so as to be clearly visible to the driver of an approaching motor vehicle or motorboat. The name, trade name, brand, mark or symbol, and grade of quality classification, if any of such motor fuel shall be permanently imprinted on said motor fuel dispensing device. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to a city, county, town or village which has already enacted and continues in effect a local law, ordinance, rule or regulation in substantial conformity with this subdivision. The provisions of this subdivision shall be enforced in the counties outside the city of New York by the county or city director of weights and measures, as the case may be, and in the city of New York by the department of consumer affairs. The commissioner, by rule, shall establish the size of the sign or placard required under subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph.
§ 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 94-a of the executive law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 16 to read as follows:
(16) (i) no later than January first, two thousand twenty, establish a toll-free telephone number for receiving complaints related to the retail sale of motor fuel. The toll-free number may be an existing number established by the department of state for receiving inquiries from consumers.
(ii) Employees of the department of state, upon receipt of a complaint from a consumer through means of the toll-free number established in clause (i) of this subparagraph, shall forward the contents of such complaint to the department of agriculture and markets and the appropriate municipality or local government.
§ 3. This act shall take effect April 1, 2020; except that clause (i) of subparagraph 16 of paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 94-a of the executive law, as added by section two of this act, shall take effect immediately. Effective immediately, any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized to be amended, promulgated and/or repealed on or before such date.
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.