New York S 2545: Relates to licensing tenant screening bureaus

Bill Text

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S02545 Summary:

BILL NOS02545 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORMYRIE

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COSPNSRBAILEY, GOUNARDES, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, KRUEGER, RIVERA

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §238-b, RP L

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Relates to licensing tenant screening bureaus; provides that no person shall act as a tenant screening bureau without first obtaining a license from the department of state.

Go to top S02545 Actions:

BILL NOS02545 

&nbsp

01/21/2025REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

01/07/2026REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

Go to topS02545 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS02545 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS02545 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 2545

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 January 21, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. MYRIE, BAILEY, GOUNARDES, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, KRUEGER,
 RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be
 committed to the Committee on Judiciary

 AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to licensing tenant
 screening bureaus

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The real property law is amended by adding a new section
 2 238-b to read as follows:
 3 § 238-b. Tenant screening bureaus; licensing. 1. Definitions. For
 4 purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following
 5 meanings: (a) "File" when used in connection with information about any
 6 tenant or prospective tenant means all of the information about the
 7 tenant or prospective tenant that is recorded and retained by a tenant
 8 screening bureau, regardless of how the information is stored.
 9 (b) "Residential proceeding" means a judicial or administrative
 10 proceeding that is related to residential tenancy, rent or eviction,
 11 regardless of the forum in which such proceeding is initiated and
 12 regardless of whether such proceeding is initiated by a landlord or a
 13 tenant.
 14 (c) "Tenant screening bureau" means a person that, for a fee, regular-
 15 ly engages in the business of assembling or evaluating information about
 16 individuals for the purpose of furnishing tenant screening reports to
 17 third parties where such reports are used or are intended to be used in
 18 connection with the rental of residential real property located in the
 19 state. Such term shall not include a person who obtains a tenant screen-
 20 ing report and provides such report or information contained in such
 21 report to a subsidiary or affiliate of such person.
 22 (d) "Tenant screening report" means any written, oral or other commu-
 23 nication that purports to contain information about a residential
 24 proceeding involving tenant or prospective tenant who is the subject of

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD06781-01-5

 S. 2545 2

 1 the report and that is used or expected to be used in whole or in part
 2 for the purpose of serving as a factor in determining a tenant's or a
 3 prospective tenant's suitability for housing.
 4 2. License required. No person shall act as a tenant screening bureau
 5 without first having obtained a license in accordance with this section.
 6 3. License term; fees. (a) A license pursuant to this section shall be
 7 valid for two years unless sooner suspended or revoked.
 8 (b) The fee for a license or a renewal thereof is seventy-five
 9 dollars.
 10 4. Application. (a) A person applying for a license or a renewal ther-
 11 eof under this section shall file an application in such form and detail
 12 as the secretary of state shall prescribe and shall pay the fee required
 13 by this section.
 14 (b) The secretary of state shall require each person applying for a
 15 license under this section to provide the following information:
 16 (i) the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the
 17 applicant;
 18 (ii) if the applicant is a nonresident of the state, the name,
 19 address, telephone number and e-mail address of a registered agent in
 20 the state upon whom process or other notification may be served or a
 21 designation of the secretary of state for such purpose; and
 22 (iii) any other information the secretary of state deems relevant.
 23 5. R