Source: https://benkallos.com/legislation/introduction-1250-2016-licensing-tenant-screening-bureaus
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 18:44:28+00:00

Document:
§ 20-549 License term; fees.
§ 20-551 Required and prohibited practices.
§ 20-552 Powers and duties of the commissioner.
§ 20-554 Private right of action.
File. The term “file” when used in connection with information about any tenant or prospective tenant means all of the information about the tenant or prospective tenant that is recorded and retained by a tenant screening bureau, regardless of how the information is stored.
Housing court proceeding. The term “housing court proceeding” means a judicial or administrative proceeding that is related to residential tenancy, rent or eviction, regardless of the forum in which such proceeding is initiated and regardless of whether such proceeding is initiated by a landlord or a tenant.
Tenant screening. The term “tenant screening” means seeking, obtaining or using a tenant screening report about a prospective tenant for the purpose of assessing whether to make a rental offer to or to accept such an offer from a prospective tenant for residential real property located in the city.
Tenant screening bureau. The term “tenant screening bureau” means a person that, for a fee, regularly engages in the business of assembling or evaluating information about individuals for the purpose of furnishing tenant screening reports to third parties where such reports are used or are intended to be used in connection with the rental of residential real property located in the city. Such term does not include a person who obtains a tenant screening report and provides such report or information contained in such report to a subsidiary or affiliate of such person.
Tenant screening report. The term “tenant screening report” means any written, oral or other communication that purports to contain information about a housing court proceeding involving tenant or prospective tenant who is the subject of the report and that is used or expected to be used in whole or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor in determining a tenant’s or a prospective tenant’s suitability for housing.
§ 20-548 License required. No person may act as a tenant screening bureau without first having obtained a license in accordance with this subchapter.
§ 20-549 License term; fees. a. A license issued pursuant to this subchapter shall be valid for two years unless sooner suspended or revoked.
b. The fee for a license or a renewal thereof is $75.
§ 20-550 Applications. a. A person applying for a license or a renewal thereof under this subchapter shall file an application in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe and shall pay the fee required by this subchapter.
3. Any other information that the commissioner deems relevant.
11. The most current status of the housing court proceeding.
3. If such report contains information that the tenant screening bureau knows or should know is inaccurate.
§ 20-552 Powers and duties of the commissioner. a. The commissioner shall promulgate such rules as are necessary to implement and enforce this subchapter.
b. The commissioner has the power to enforce this subchapter, to investigate any violation thereof, and to investigate the business, business practices and business methods of any tenant screening bureau if the commissioner determines that such investigation is warranted. A tenant screening bureau that receives a request for information from the commissioner shall supply the requested information promptly in a manner provided by rule.
c. The commissioner may compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1 of this title.
d. The commissioner may seek to enjoin a violation of this subchapter and may suspend the issuance of any tenant screening report in order to enforce this subchapter.
§ 20-553 Civil penalties. a. A person who, after notice and a hearing, is found to have furnished another with a tenant screening report that violates this subchapter is subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each such tenant screening report furnished.
b. A person who, after notice and a hearing, is found to have acted as a tenant screening bureau without a license in violation of section 20-548 is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000.
c. If a person is found to have committed repeated, multiple or persistent violations of any provision of this subchapter, such person may be responsible for all or part of the cost of the department’s investigation.
d. Each penalty or cost specified in this section is in addition to any other applicable penalty or cost specified in this section or in other law.
§ 20-554 Private right of action. a. A tenant or prospective tenant who has been injured by a violation of this subchapter, except a violation of the requirement to obtain a license, may institute in such tenant’s or prospective tenant’s own name (i) an action to enjoin such unlawful act or practice, (ii) an action to recover the greater of such person’s actual damages or $500 or (iii) both such actions.
b. In an action for damages under this section, a court may award punitive damages if such court finds that the defendant willfully violated this subchapter.
c. In any action under this section, a court shall award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff.
d. The issuance of a tenant screening report that the tenant screening bureau knew or should have known contained inaccurate information or otherwise violated this subchapter constitutes an injury for purposes of this subdivision. This subdivision does not limit the types of other injuries that are legally cognizable under this section.
e. A tenant or prospective tenant who institutes an action pursuant to this section shall provide notice of such action to the commissioner. The corporation counsel may intervene in any such action on behalf of the city.
f. In any action brought by a resident, former resident or prospective resident of the city involving the reporting of a housing court proceeding, a party who is found during the course of such action to have violated subchapter III of chapter 41 of title 15 of the United States code or article 25 of the general business law shall file a copy of such finding with the commissioner within 60 days of such finding.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.

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