BILL NUMBER: S7547

SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
appearance enhancement businesses to display a poster about gender-based
violence

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To increase awareness and access to support services for survivors of
gender-based violence (GBV) by requiring appearance enhancement busi-
nesses to display multilingual posters with information on recognizing
GBV and accessing vital resources.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1:

Adds a new Section 408-c to the General Business Law. Paragraph 1:
Requires the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, in consul-
              

tation with the Division of Human Rights and the Department of State, to
develop a poster providing information on how to recognize signs of
gender-based violence and where to find help. The poster must include
toll-free hotline numbers and victim services available throughout the
state and be available in the ten most common non-English languages
spoken in New York, based on American Community Survey data.

Paragraph 2: Directs the Department of State to distribute the poster to
appearance enhancement businesses at no cost. Businesses may also create
and display their own posters, provided they meet minimum content and
design requirements and are approved by the Department of State.

Paragraph 3: Requires all licensed appearance enhancement businesses to
display a poster, either provided by the state or an approved alterna-
tive, in a conspicuous location accessible to customers and in a
language of the business's choice.

Paragraph 4: Grants the Secretary of State the authority to promulgate
rules and regulations necessary to enforce this section, including the
ability to impose penalties for noncompliance.

Section 2:  This act shall take effect 90 days after it becomes law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Gender-based violence is a widespread and escalating crisis in New York
State. More than 1 in 3 New Yorkers will experience intimate partner
abuse during their lifetime. The State has the highest demand for domes-
tic violence services in the country, with housing support being the
most unmet need among survivors. In 2023, over 10,800 New Yorkers
accessed the domestic violence shelter system, and more than 2,900 fami-
lies with children entered Department of Homeless Services shelters
citing domestic violence as the primary cause of their homelessness
higher than eviction-related entries. New York City police file one
domestic violence incident report every two minutes, and a 24-hour
domestic violence hotline receives one call approximately every six
minutes. However, language barriers, cultural stigmas, and fear of
retaliation often prevent survivors from seeking help. Appearance
enhancement businesses-such as salons, barbershops, and spas-are impor-
tant community spaces where survivors may feel comfortable and more
willing to engage with information about services.

This bill leverages these businesses as a tool for raising awareness and
providing low-barrier access to lifesaving information. By making
resources available in multiple languages and requiring public display
in licensed businesses, this legislation will help bridge critical
information gaps for survivors across New York State.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it becomes law.