BILL NUMBER: S5597
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to warranties and
protections for purchasers of new and used motor vehicles
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would add vehicles used primarily for commercial or
business purposes to the list of vehicles covered by the State's used
and new car Lemon Law.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Sections 1 through 14 amend section 198-a of the general business law to
add "commercial or business purposes" to the new purchaser definition
and replace "consumer" with "purchaser" in the new car lemon law.
Sections 15 through 24 amend section 198-b of the general business law
to add "commercial or business purposes" to the new, purchaser defi-
nition and replace "consumer" with "purchaser" in the used car lemon
law.
Section 25 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The purpose of the New York State Lemon Law is to protect consumers from
deceitful selling practices and faulty manufacturing. Currently, vehi-
cles that are used primarily for commercial or business purposes are not
covered, including those purchased by small businesses. Businesses are
not exempt from being victims of predatory sellers, nor are the vehicles
they purchase immune to possible flaws in the manufacturing process.
More than half of all states already include vehicles purchased for
commercial purposes in their Lemon Law statutes.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.410 (Thomas) / A.2226 (Gunther)
2021-22: S.192(Thomas) / A.391(Gunther
2019-20: S.4427(Thomas)/ A.3686(Gunther
2017-18: A.538(Gunther
2015-16: A.1834(Gunther
2014: A8352 (Gunther)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to State
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Shall take effect 90 days after becoming law.

Statutes affected:
S5597: 198-a general business law, 198-b general business law, 198-b(a) general business law, 198-b(c) general business law, 198-b(f) general business law, 198-b(g) general business law, 198-c general business law