STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2278--A 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 19, 2023 ___________ Introduced by Sens. CLEARE, COMRIE, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection -- recommitted to the Committee on Consumer Protection in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to establishing a right of action for claims arising out of coerced debts The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new article 2 29-HHH to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 29-HHH 4 ACTIONS INVOLVING COERCED DEBTS 5 Section 604-aa. Definitions. 6 604-bb. Notice of coerced debt. 7 604-cc. Coerced debt cause of action and affirmative defense. 8 § 604-aa. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms 9 shall have the following meanings: 10 1. "Action" means any civil judicial proceeding as defined in section 11 one hundred five of the civil practice law and rules. 12 2. "Adequate documentation of coerced debt" means documentation that 13 identifies a particular debt, or a portion thereof, as coerced debt, 14 describes the circumstances under which such coerced debt was incurred, 15 and takes the form of any of the following: 16 (a) a police report; 17 (b) a federal trade commission identity theft report that identifies a 18 particular debt, or portion thereof, as a coerced debt; 19 (c) an order from a court of competent jurisdiction setting forth 20 findings of coerced debt; or EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD05065-05-4S. 2278--A 2 1 (d) a written verification, from a qualified third party to whom the 2 debtor reported the coerced debt, which shall be satisfied by any sworn 3 or notarized statement including the required information as well as the 4 name, mailing address, and email address or telephone number, as appli- 5 cable, of such qualified third party's employer or, if self-employed, of 6 such qualified third party. 7 3. "Coerced debt", in the context of economic abuse, means debt that 8 was incurred as a result of fraud, duress, intimidation, threat, force, 9 coercion, manipulation, undue influence, the non-consensual use of the 10 debtor's personal information, or similar economic abuse perpetrated 11 against a debtor. 12 4. "Creditor" means any person, firm, corporation or organization to 13 whom a debt is owed, due, or asserted to be due or owed, or any assignee 14 for value of said person, firm, corporation or organization, including 15 any debt collection agency or debt collector as defined by section six 16 hundred of this chapter; provided, however, that "creditor" shall not 17 include a person to whom a debt is allegedly owed, due, or asserted to 18 be due or owed, where the person asserting such claim caused the debt to 19 arise by engaging in one or more acts of coercion, as identified in 20 subdivision three of this section, against the debtor. 21 5. "Debt" means any obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer to 22 pay money arising out of a transaction in which the money, property, 23 insurance, rental arrears owed for use and occupancy of a dwelling, or 24 services which are the subject of such transaction are primarily for 25 personal, family, or household purposes, whether or not such obligation 26 has been reduced to a judgment. 27 6. "Debtor" means any natural person who owes or who is asserted to 28 owe a debt. 29 7. "Economic abuse", in the context of intimate relationships or 30 relationships between family or household members as defined by section 31 four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law, relationships 32 between victims of human trafficking and traffickers, or relationships 33 between children, the elderly, or individuals eligible for protective 34 services under subdivision one of section four hundred seventy-three of 35 the social services law, and their caregivers, means behavior that is 36 coercive, deceptive, manipulative, or that controls, restrains, or 37 sabotages a person's ability to acquire, use, or maintain economic 38 resources to which they are entitled, including but not limited to using 39 coercion, fraud, or manipulation to: 40 (a) restrict a person's access to money, assets, credit, or financial 41 information; 42 (b) unfairly use a person's personal information or personal economic 43 resources, including money, assets, and/or credit; or 44 (c) exert undue influence over a person's financial and economic 45 behavior or decisions, including but not limited to forcing default on 46 joint or other financial obligations, exploiting powers of attorney, 47 guardianship, or conservatorship, or failing or neglecting to act in the 48 best interests of a person to whom one has a fiduciary duty. 49 8. "Personal information" includes, but is not limited to, a name, 50 address, telephone or mobile phone number, driver registration number or 51 non-driver identification card number, social security number, email 52 address, social media profile or screen name, place of employment, 53 employee identification number, mother's maiden name, financial services 54 account number or code, savings account number or code, checking account 55 number or code, debit or credit card number or code, automated teller 56 machine number or code, electronic serial number, any personal identifi-S. 2278--A 3 1 cation number or password of a debtor, and a debtor's personal docu- 2 ments, including, but not limited to, such debtor's driver's license or 3 non-driver identification card, passport, permanent resident card, visa, 4 birth certificate, social security card, and any copies thereof or 5 information contained therein. "Personal identification number or pass- 6 word", as used in this subdivision, means any number or alphanumeric 7 code which may be used alone or in conjunction with any other informa- 8 tion to assume the identity of another person or access financial 9 resources or credit information of another person. 10 9. "Pleading" means any complaint, petition, counterclaim, cross- 11 claim, interpleader complaint, third-party complaint or any similar 12 papers asserting a claim and demand for relief required to be filed with 13 the court pursuant to rule twenty-one hundred two of the civil practice 14 law and rules, the rules of the chief administrator of the courts, or 15 any local rule or practice established by the court. 16 10. "Qualified third party" means any (a) law enforcement officer; (b) 17 employee of a court of the state; (c) attorney, physician, psychiatrist, 18 psychologist, social worker, registered nurse, therapist, or clinical 19 professional counselor licensed to practice in any state; (d) person 20 employed by or working on behalf of a government or non-profit office, 21 agency, or service that advises or provides services to persons regard- 22 ing domestic violence, family violence, human trafficking, or abuse of 23 children, the elderly, or dependent adults; or (e) member of the clergy 24 of a church or religious society or denomination. 25 § 604-bb. Notice of coerced debt. 1. Upon receipt of the following, a 26 creditor shall cease collection activities until completion of the 27 review under subdivision three of this section: 28 (a) adequate documentation of coerced debt; and 29 (b) the debtor's statement that a particular debt being collected, or 30 portion thereof, is coerced debt. 31 2. (a) If a debtor notifies a creditor by any method or circumstance 32 that may constitute economic abuse or coerced debt, such creditor shall 33 provide written notice to such debtor that includes the following text: 34 "UNDER NEW YORK GENERAL BUSINESS LAW 604-BB, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO 35 DISPUTE DEBT THAT YOU BELIEVE IS COERCED DEBT. A DEBT IS "COERCED" WHEN 36 IT IS INCURRED IN A CONSUMER'S NAME BECAUSE OF THREATS, INTIMIDATION, OR 37 FORCE BY ANOTHER PERSON. 38 TO DISPUTE COERCED DEBT, YOU MUST SUBMIT A "NOTICE OF COERCED DEBT" IN 39 WRITING. THE "NOTICE OF COERCED DEBT" MUST INCLUDE TWO DOCUMENTS: 40 1 - A SWORN OR NOTARIZED STATEMENT BY YOU, THE ALLEGED DEBTOR, STATING 41 THAT A CERTAIN DEBT OR PORTION OF A DEBT BEING COLLECTED IS COERCED 42 DEBT. 43 2 - "ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF COERCED DEBT" 44 TO PROVIDE "ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF COERCED DEBT," YOU ARE REQUIRED 45 TO PROVIDE ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS, BUT YOU MAY PROVIDE MORE 46 THAN ONE. 47 1 - A POLICE REPORT 48 2 - A FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION IDENTITY THEFT REPORT 49 3 - A COURT ORDER FINDING THAT THE DEBT WAS COERCED 50 4 - A NOTARIZED STATEMENT FROM A "QUALIFIED THIRD PARTY" THAT YOU 51 REPORTED THE COERCED DEBT TO. 52 EXAMPLES OF "QUALIFIED THIRD PARTIES" INCLUDE SOCIAL WORKERS AND 53 ATTORNEYS; DOCTORS, NURSES, AND THERAPISTS; EMPLOYEES FROM GOVERNMENT OR 54 NON-PROFIT AGENCIES THAT WORK WITH SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE; MEMBERS OF THE 55 CLERGY; ELECTED OFFICIALS; AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.S. 2278--A 4 1 NO MATTER WHICH FORM OF "ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION OF COERCED DEBT" YOU 2 PROVIDE, IT MUST IDENTIFY THE PARTICULAR DEBT, STATE THAT IT IS COERCED 3 DEBT, AND DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAUSED THE DEBT TO BE 4 INCURRED. 5 TO DISPUTE DEBT THAT YOU BELIEVE IS COERCED DEBT, PLEASE SEND THE 6 REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO (DESIGNATED ADDRESS). AFTER RECEIVING YOUR NOTICE 7 OF COERCED DEBT, WE WILL INVESTIGATE YOUR CLAIM AND RESPOND IN WRITING 8 WITHIN 35 BUSINESS DAYS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (DESIGNATED 9 PHONE NUMBER)." 10 (b) If a debtor notifies a creditor in writing that a particular debt 11 being collected, or portion thereof, is coerced debt, but omits informa- 12 tion under subdivision one of this section, and if such creditor does 13 not cease such collection activities, such creditor shall provide writ- 14 ten notice to such debtor of the additional information that is 15 required. 16 3. (a) Within ten business days of receiving the information under 17 subdivision one of this section, the creditor shall, if such creditor 18 furnishes adverse information about the debtor to a consumer reporting 19 agency, notify such consumer reporting agency that the account is 20 disputed. 21 (b) Within thirty business days of receiving the information under 22 subdivision one of this section, the creditor shall complete a review 23 considering all information provided by the debtor and other information 24 available to such creditor in such creditor's file. In connection with 25 such review and communication of the outcome of such review, the credi- 26 tor shall: 27 (i) neither directly nor indirectly contact the individual accused of 28 causing the coerced debt to be incurred; 29 (ii) use only the contact information the debtor provides with the 30 information under subdivision one of this section when attempting to 31 contact such debtor and shall not use any other contact information, 32 even if associated with the account under review, when attempting to 33 contact such debtor; and 34 (iii) not disclose the documents, information, or contact information 35 the debtor provides with the information under subdivision one of this 36 section to any other person, including, but not limited to, joint 37 account holders, without such debtor's express written authorization. 38 For purposes of this subparagraph, sending documents, information, or 39 contact information the debtor provides under subdivision one of this 40 section to a mailing or electronic mail address other than the one 41 provided by the debtor constitutes unlawful disclosure to a third party, 42 even if such mail or electronic mail address is associated with the 43 account. 44 (c) Within five business days of completing the review under paragraph 45 (b) of this subdivision, a creditor who recommences collection activ- 46 ities based on such review shall notify the debtor in writing of such 47 creditor's determination and the good faith basis for such determi- 48 nation, and shall enclose all documents and information upon which such 49 creditor bases its determination therewith. Such written notice shall 50 include a notice of the debtor's right to request reconsideration of 51 such determination to recommence collection activities under subdivision 52 four of this section. 53 (d) Within five business days of completing the review under paragraph 54 (b) of this subdivision, a creditor who ceases collection activities 55 under this section and, based on such review, does not recommence such 56 collection activities, shall:S. 2278--A 5 1 (i) notify the debtor in writing that it is ceasing collection activ- 2 ities based on such debtor's claim of coerced debt; 3 (ii) contact any consumer reporting agencies to which it furnishes 4 information about the debtor and the particular debt and instruct such 5 consumer reporting agencies to delete such information; and 6 (iii) if the creditor is also a debt collector or debt collection 7 agency, as defined in section six hundred of this chapter, notify the 8 original creditor that it has ceased collection activities because the 9 debt was found to be a coerced debt. 10 4. A debtor who receives written notice under paragraph (c) of subdi- 11 vision three of this section that the creditor will recommence 12 collection activities based on such creditor's determination under 13 subdivision three of this section may make a request to the creditor 14 that the creditor reconsider such determination to recommence collection 15 activities within thirty days of the date of mailing of such written 16 determination. A debtor requesting reconsideration of a creditor's 17 determination to recommence collection activities shall be permitted to 18 submit additional adequate documentation of coerced debt, as defined in 19 this article. Submitting a request for reconsideration of the determi- 20 nation to the creditor shall not be a condition to bringing an action 21 under section six hundred four-cc of this article. 22 5. No inference or presumption that the debt is valid or invalid, or 23 that the debtor is liable or not liable for such debt, shall arise if 24 the creditor decides after completing the review under subdivision three 25 of this section to cease or recommence the debt collection activities. 26 The exercise or non-exercise of rights under this section shall not 27 constitute a waiver of any other right or defense of the debtor or debt 28 collector. 29 6. Ceasing collection activities under this section shall not toll the 30 statute of limitations period on any action to collect the debt. 31 7. If at any time any individual or entity, including, but not limited 32 to the creditor, such creditor's assignor, or any assignee, recommences 33 collection activities on the debt after ceasing collection activities on 34 such debt based on such creditor's review of such debtor's notice of 35 coerced debt, such debtor may submit a subsequent notice of coerced 36 debt. A subsequent notice of coerced debt submitted under this subdivi- 37 sion shall be governed by subdivisions one through six of this section. 38 8. A debtor injured by a violation of this section shall have a cause 39 of action against the creditor to recover statutory damages of one thou- 40 sand dollars, actual damages, if any, and the costs and attorneys' fees 41 reasonably incurred in bringing such action. Where a creditor's 42 violation of this section is deemed willful, a debtor shall be entitled 43 to punitive damages. 44 § 604-cc. Coerced debt cause of action and affirmative defense. 1. A 45 person shall not cause another person to incur a coerced debt. A person 46 who causes another person to incur a coerced debt in violation of this 47 subdivision shall be civilly liable to the creditor, and/or the debtor 48 in whose name such coerced debt was incurred if such debtor has already 49 paid all or part of such coerced debt, for the amount of such debt, or 50 portion thereof, determined by the court to be a coerced debt, as well 51 as such creditor's and/or debtor's costs and attorneys' fees reasonably 52 incurred in bringing the action. An action under this subdivision shall 53 be commenced within three years of the later of: (a) the creditor's 54 determination that all or part of such debt is coerced debt; or (b) a 55 court's determination that all or part of such debt is coerced debt.S. 2278--A 6 1 2. (a) A debtor shall have a cause of action against a creditor in any 2 court having jurisdiction to issue a declaratory judgment establishing 3 that a debt or portion of a debt asserted to be owed to such creditor is 4 a coerced debt. Notwithstanding section one thousand one of the civil 5 practice law and rules, any individual alleged to have caused such 6 coerced debt to be incurred shall not be a necessary party to such 7 action. Such action shall not be commenced and maintained unless the 8 following conditions are satisfied: 9 (i) (1) the debtor provides by first class mail with certification of 10 mailing, certified mail, overnight delivery, or other method that allows 11 for confirmation of the date of mailing, the notice of coerced debt or 12 subsequent notice of coerced debt under section six hundred four-bb of 13 this article, provided, however, that receipt of the notice of coerced 14 debt shall not be a condition to bringing such action if it is sent in a 15 properly addressed envelope; and 16 (2) the thirty-day period under paragraph (b) of subdivision three of 17 section six hundred four-bb of this article has expired and the debtor 18 has not received written notice that collection activities have ceased; 19 or 20 (ii) the debtor receives a written determination under paragraph (c) 21 of subdivision three of section six hundred four-bb of this article that 22 the particular disputed debt is not coerced debt. 23 (b) The submission of a request for reconsideration under subdivision 24 four of section six hundred four-bb of this article of the creditor's 25 decision to recommence debt collection activities based on such credi- 26 tor's review of the debtor's notice of coerced debt is not a condition 27 to commencing an action under this subdivision. 28 3. In an action under subdivision two of this section, a debtor shall 29 plead the allegations of coerced debt with particularity and shall 30 attach the documents provided to the creditor pursuant to subdivision 31 one of section six hundred four-bb of this article to any complaint. 32 4. A debtor who establishes by a preponderance of the evidence in an 33 action pursuant to subdivision two of this section that a debt or 34 portion of a debt asserted to be owed to the creditor is coerced debt 35 shall be entitled to the following relief: 36 (a) a declaratory judgment stating that the debt or portion thereof is 37 coerced debt and that the alleged debtor shall not be liable for such 38 coerced debt; 39 (b) an order enjoining or restraining the creditor from holding or 40 attempting to hold the debtor personally liable for the coerced debt or 41 attempting to obtain or enforce any judgment thereon against such debtor 42 and enjoining and restraining all future collection activities with 43 respect to such debt; 44 (c) an order dismissing any other cause of action brought by the cred- 45 itor to enforce or collect the coerced debt from the debtor; 46 (d) if the creditor has furnished adverse information to a consumer 47 reporting agency with respect to such coerced debt, an order directing 48 the creditor to notify such agency to delete all such adverse informa- 49 tion; and 50 (e) the costs and attorneys' fees reasonably incurred in bringing such 51 action. 52 5. In any action by a creditor against a debtor to collect a debt, it 53 shall be an affirmative defense to such action that all or a portion of 54 the debt is coerced debt. Providing notice to the creditor under 55 section six hundred four-bb of this article shall not be a prerequisite 56 to asserting such defense; provided, however, the documents described inS. 2278--A 7 1 subdivision one of section six hundred four-bb of this article shall be 2 annexed to the debtor's answer. A debtor who prevails on an affirmative 3 defense of coerced debt shall be entitled to the costs and attorneys' 4 fees reasonably incurred in defending against the action. Notwithstand- 5 ing section one thousand one of the civil practice law and rules, any 6 individual alleged to have caused such coerced debt to be incurred shall 7 not be or become a necessary party to such action. 8 6. An action pursuant to subdivision two of this section shall be 9 commenced within three years after the date on which the debtor provided 10 the notice of coerced debt pursuant to section six hundred four-bb of 11 this article to the creditor; provided, however, that if such creditor, 12 its assignor, or any assignee recommences collection activities on the 13 debt after ceasing collection activities on such debt based on such 14 creditor's review of the debtor's claim of coerced debt, such debtor 15 shall have the right to file a subsequent notice of coerced debt pursu- 16 ant to subdivision seven of section six hundred four-bb of this article 17 and the statute of limitations shall commence on the date on which such 18 debtor provided such subsequent notice of coerced debt. 19 7. If requested by the debtor, the court presiding over any action in 20 which coerced debt is raised as a claim or affirmative defense shall 21 take appropriate steps necessary to prevent abuse of such debtor or an 22 immediate family member of such debtor, including but not limited to the 23 sealing of court records, the redaction of such debtor's or their imme- 24 diate family member's personal information, and/or directing that any 25 disposition or hearing be held remotely. 26 8. The provisions of this article shall not be construed so as to 27 prevent a creditor from enforcing any claim or collecting judgment aris- 28 ing out of a lawful debt or portion thereof from any other person or 29 entity other than the coerced debtor. 30 9. For debts secured by real or personal property, the private cause 31 of action and affirmative defense authorized by this section shall 32 affect only the debtor's liability for any deficiency after the foreclo- 33 sure, repossession, or surrender and disposition of the subject collat- 34 eral. 35 10. Whenever there shall be a violation of this section, an applica- 36 tion may be made by the attorney general in the name of the people of 37 the state of New York to a court or justice having jurisdiction to issue 38 an injunction, and upon notice to the defendant of not less than five 39 days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance of such violations. If it 40 shall appear to the satisfaction of the court or justice that the 41 defendant has, in fact, violated this section, an injunction may be 42 issued by such court or justice, enjoining or restraining any violation, 43 without requiring proof that any person has, in fact, been injured or 44 damaged thereby. In any such proceeding the court may make allowances to 45 the attorney general as provided in section eighty-three hundred three 46 of the civil practice law and rules, and may make direct restitution. In 47 connection with any such proposed application, the attorney general is 48 authorized to take proof and make a determination of the relevant facts 49 and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil practice law and 50 rules. Whenever the court shall determine that a violation of this 51 section has occurred, the court may impose a civil penalty for each 52 violation up to five thousand dollars. 53 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 54 have become a law.