BILL NUMBER: S2570
SPONSOR: FELDER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to prohibiting certain surcharges on credit or debit card tran-
sactions
 
PURPOSE:
To prevent a surcharge from being imposed when using a credit card or
debit card to pay a fine, penalty or fee.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one would amend subdivision 3 of section 11-105 of the adminis-
trative code of the city of New York and add a new subdivision 4, that
would prevent any agency, department or tribunal of New York City from
imposing a surcharge on a person who pays a fine, penalty or fee with a
credit or debit card. It also defines the terms, "Holder", "Issuer",
"Credit card" and "Debit card."
Section two sets an effective date 19 days after it shall become law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill prevents the city of New York from charging an additional fee
when using a credit or debit card. New Yorkers are already over-fined,
over-ticketed and over-taxed. Requiring New Yorkers who pay their fine,
fee or penalty with a debit or credit card, to pay an additional
surcharge on top, is unnecessary and excessive.
As our economy moves towards more utilization of card based trans-
actions, the fee for using a credit card places an unneeded burden on
the people who are simply trying to pay what they owe to the city or its
agencies. New Yorkers are tired of being nickel and dimed, especially
when they are just trying to fulfilling their financial obligations to
the city.
 
LEGISLATIVEHISTORY:
2017/2018: S6113- Passed Senate both years
2019/2020: S693- Referred to Cities Committee
2021/2022: S3694- Referred to Cities Committee
2023/2024: S1378- Reported from Cities Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To Be Determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.