Int 0723-2005

Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Subdivisions b and c of section 20-674 of subchapter 5 of chapter 4 of title 20 of the administrative code of the city of New York are hereby amended, to read as follows: § 20-674 Violations. b. Any person who violates the provisions of section 20-673.1 of this subchapter or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars. c. (1) If, after providing due notice and an opportunity to be heard, the commissioner finds that a person has violated any of the provisions of section 20-673.2 of this subchapter or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, he or she shall be authorized to issue and serve upon such person an order requiring such person to cease and desist from engaging in the prohibited activity. Such order shall become final (i) upon the expiration of the time allowed for filing any administrative appeal which may be available and for commencing a proceeding pursuant to article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules or (ii) upon the exhaustion of all appeals arising out of the proceedings described in item (i) of this paragraph. Any person who violates an order of the commissioner issued hereunder after it has become final shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars for each violation. (2) Any person who violates the provisions of section 20-673.2 of this subchapter or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder with actual knowledge or knowledge fairly implied on the basis of objective circumstances that the act or practice underlying the violation is unfair or deceptive shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars; provided, however, that in order for any retailer to be held liable under this paragraph for violating any of the provisions of subdivisions d or e of such section 20-673.2, such retailer shall be shown to have had actual knowledge that the act or practice underlying the violation is unfair or deceptive. In determining the amount of any civil penalty imposed under this paragraph, the following shall be considered: the degree of culpability; any history of prior such conduct; ability to pay; effect on ability to continue to do business; and such other matters as justice may require. § 2. This local law shall take effect thirty days after its enactment. T.S.F. 09.22.05 LS# 3398