BILL NUMBER: S2729

SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting
retail establishments from refusing to accept payment in cash

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would prohibit food-service establishments and retail estab-
lishments throughout New York State from refusing to accept payment in
cash from consumers. Under this bill, violators would be subject to
civil penalties. The purpose of the bill is to prevent discrimination
against those who lack financial stability and who need to pay with cash
because they do not have access to credit cards or a checking account.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1.

Definitions.
              

Food-service establishment or retail establishment violating this
section is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $250 for the
first violation and a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each
succeeding violation.

The NYS Department of Labor may promulgate such rules as it deems neces-
sary to implement and enforce this section.

Section 2. Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In March 2019, Philadelphia became the first American city to ban most
cashless stores. The purpose of the bill is to prevent discrimination
against those who lack financial stability. Massachusetts has a 1978 law
that requires businesses to accept cash. The New Jersey legislature
passed a bill in 2019 to ban cashless stores. Washington, D.C. and New
York City are considering banning cashless stores. This bill would
prohibit food-service establishments and retail establishments through-
out New York State from refusing to accept payment in cash from consum-
ers for the purpose of preventing the discrimination of those who need
to pay with cash for goods and services.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2022 SENATE THIRD READING

2022 referred to assembly consumer affairs and protection

2021 REFERRED TO SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION

2020 REFERRED TO SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION

2020 referred to assembly consumer affairs and protection

2019 REFERRED TO SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION
2019 referred to assembly consumer affairs and protection

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become a
law.