What's happening
This bill prohibits gas stations from charging different prices based on payment method, except for limited credit/debit card fees.
Why it matters
Reduces confusion and potential unfairness at the pump. by making it illegal for gas stations to list or charge different prices based solely on whether a customer pays with cash, check, credit, or debit card, except for narrowly defined card processing fees.
Limits extra fees on card payments. by capping allowable charges to either the actual transaction fee paid by the station or 3% of the cash price (whichever is higher), preventing excessive surcharges that can make card use significantly more expensive.
Improves price transparency for consumers. With a single posted price (or only minor, regulated card fees), customers will know exactly what they will pay regardless of payment method, making it easier to compare prices between stations and budget fuel expenses.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Dual Gas Prices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
- 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.
Ban Gas Payment Surcharges
In Senate Committee · Consumer Protection · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3490 A. 5050
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
February 7, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to method of payment pricing of gasoline
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The section heading of section 399-ee of the general business law, as added by chapter 579 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
Zone pricing and method of payment pricing of gasoline prohibited.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 399-ee of the general business law is amended by adding two new paragraphs (n) and (o) to read as follows:
(n) "Method of payment" means the manner in which a customer pays for motor fuel at a retail outlet using cash, check, debit card, credit card or a similar means of payment.
(o) "Method of payment pricing" means differences in the price per gallon of motor fuel of like grade or quality offered for sale or sold by a retail outlet based on the customer's method of payment.
§ 3. Subdivision 3 of section 399-ee of the general business law is renumbered subdivision 4 and a new subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
3. No dealer shall engage in method of payment pricing with respect to any motor fuel of like grade or quality, except that the dealer may impose a charge for the use of a credit or debit card in an amount not to exceed the greater of the transaction fee incurred by the dealer for processing the credit or debit card purchase or three percent of the cash price.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03187-01-9
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.