- Summary
- Actions
- Committee Votes
- Floor Votes
- Memo
- Text
- LFIN
- Chamber Video/Transcript
A05837 Summary:
BILL NO | A05837B |
  | |
SAME AS | SAME AS S02890-B |
  | |
SPONSOR | Jean-Pierre |
  | |
COSPNSR | Lavine, Jensen, McDonald, Griffin, Barron, Woerner, Solages, Englebright |
  | |
MLTSPNSR | |
  | |
Add §399-nn, Gen Bus L | |
  | |
Relates to requiring publishers to offer licenses for electronic books to libraries under reasonable terms; defines terms; establishes penalties. |
A05837 Actions:
BILL NO | A05837B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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02/26/2021 | referred to consumer affairs and protection | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/10/2021 | amend and recommit to consumer affairs and protection | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/10/2021 | print number 5837a | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/19/2021 | amend and recommit to consumer affairs and protection | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/19/2021 | print number 5837b | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/25/2021 | reported referred to codes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/02/2021 | reported referred to rules | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/07/2021 | reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/07/2021 | rules report cal.443 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/07/2021 | ordered to third reading rules cal.443 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/09/2021 | passed assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/09/2021 | delivered to senate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/09/2021 | REFERRED TO RULES | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/10/2021 | SUBSTITUTED FOR S2890B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/10/2021 | 3RD READING CAL.1760 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/10/2021 | PASSED SENATE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/10/2021 | RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12/17/2021 | delivered to governor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12/29/2021 | vetoed memo.72 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12/29/2021 | tabled |
A05837 Committee Votes:
Rozic | Aye | Mikulin | Aye | ||||||
Abbate | Aye | McDonough | Aye | ||||||
Quart | Aye | Miller | Aye | ||||||
Simon | Aye | Giglio | Aye | ||||||
Niou | Aye | ||||||||
Pheffer Amato | Aye | ||||||||
Williams | Aye | ||||||||
Fall | Aye | ||||||||
Burgos | Aye | ||||||||
Gallagher | Aye | ||||||||
Rajkumar | Aye | ||||||||
Forrest | Excused | ||||||||
Dinowitz | Aye | Morinello | Aye | ||||||
Pretlow | Aye | Giglio | Aye | ||||||
Cook | Aye | Montesano | Aye | ||||||
Cymbrowitz | Aye | Reilly | Aye | ||||||
O'Donnell | Aye | Mikulin | Aye | ||||||
Lavine | Aye | Tannousis | Aye | ||||||
Perry | Aye | ||||||||
Abinanti | Aye | ||||||||
Weprin | Aye | ||||||||
Hevesi | Aye | ||||||||
Fahy | Aye | ||||||||
Seawright | Aye | ||||||||
Rosenthal | Aye | ||||||||
Walker | Aye | ||||||||
Vanel | Aye | ||||||||
Cruz | Aye | ||||||||
Heastie | Excused | Barclay | Nay | ||||||
Gottfried | Aye | Hawley | Nay | ||||||
Nolan | Excused | Giglio | Nay | ||||||
Weinstein | Aye | Blankenbush | Nay | ||||||
Pretlow | Aye | Norris | Nay | ||||||
Cook | Aye | Montesano | Nay | ||||||
Glick | Aye | Ra | Aye | ||||||
Aubry | Aye | Brabenec | Nay | ||||||
Englebright | Aye | ||||||||
Dinowitz | Aye | ||||||||
Colton | Aye | ||||||||
Magnarelli | Aye | ||||||||
Perry | Aye | ||||||||
Paulin | Aye | ||||||||
Peoples-Stokes | Aye | ||||||||
Benedetto | Aye | ||||||||
Lavine | Aye | ||||||||
Lupardo | Aye | ||||||||
Zebrowski | Aye | ||||||||
Thiele | Aye | ||||||||
Braunstein | Aye | ||||||||
Dickens | Aye | ||||||||
Davila | Aye | ||||||||
Go to top
A05837 Floor Votes:
Yes
Abbate
Yes
Clark
Yes
Frontus
Yes
Lalor
Yes
Paulin
Yes
Sillitti
Yes
Abinanti
Yes
Colton
Yes
Galef
Yes
Lavine
Yes
Peoples-Stokes
Yes
Simon
Yes
Anderson
Yes
Conrad
Yes
Gallagher
Yes
Lawler
Yes
Perry
Yes
Simpson
Yes
Angelino
Yes
Cook
Yes
Gallahan
Yes
Lemondes
Yes
Pheffer Amato
Yes
Smith
Yes
Ashby
Yes
Cruz
Yes
Gandolfo
Yes
Lunsford
Yes
Pichardo
Yes
Smullen
Yes
Aubry
Yes
Cusick
Yes
Giglio JA
Yes
Lupardo
Yes
Pretlow
Yes
Solages
Yes
Barclay
Yes
Cymbrowitz
Yes
Giglio JM
Yes
Magnarelli
Yes
Quart
Yes
Steck
Yes
Barnwell
Yes
Darling
Yes
Glick
Yes
Mamdani
Yes
Ra
Yes
Stern
Yes
Barrett
Yes
Davila
Yes
Gonzalez-Rojas
Yes
Manktelow
Yes
Rajkumar
Yes
Stirpe
Yes
Barron
Yes
De La Rosa
Yes
Goodell
Yes
McDonald
Yes
Ramos
Yes
Tague
Yes
Benedetto
Yes
DeStefano
Yes
Gottfried
Yes
McDonough
Yes
Reilly
Yes
Tannousis
Yes
Bichotte Hermel
Yes
Dickens
Yes
Griffin
Yes
McMahon
Yes
Reyes
Yes
Taylor
Yes
Blankenbush
Yes
Dilan
Yes
Gunther
Yes
Meeks
Yes
Richardson
Yes
Thiele
Yes
Brabenec
Yes
Dinowitz
Yes
Hawley
Yes
Mikulin
Yes
Rivera J
Yes
Vanel
Yes
Braunstein
Yes
DiPietro
Yes
Hevesi
Yes
Miller B
Yes
Rivera JD
Yes
Walczyk
Yes
Bronson
Yes
Durso
Yes
Hunter
Yes
Miller M
Yes
Rodriguez
Yes
Walker
Yes
Brown
Yes
Eichenstein
Yes
Hyndman
Yes
Mitaynes
Yes
Rosenthal D
Yes
Wallace
Yes
Burdick
Yes
Englebright
Yes
Jackson
Yes
Montesano
Yes
Rosenthal L
Yes
Walsh
Yes
Burgos
Yes
Epstein
Yes
Jacobson
Yes
Morinello
Yes
Rozic
Yes
Weinstein
Yes
Burke
Yes
Fahy
Yes
Jean-Pierre
Yes
Niou
Yes
Salka
Yes
Weprin
Yes
Buttenschon
Yes
Fall
Yes
Jensen
ER
Nolan
Yes
Santabarbara
Yes
Williams
Yes
Byrne
Yes
Fernandez
Yes
Jones
Yes
Norris
Yes
Sayegh
Yes
Woerner
Yes
Byrnes
Yes
Fitzpatrick
Yes
Joyner
Yes
O'Donnell
Yes
Schmitt
Yes
Zebrowski
Yes
Cahill
ER
Forrest
Yes
Kelles
Yes
Otis
Yes
Seawright
Yes
Zinerman
Yes
Carroll
Yes
Friend
Yes
Kim
Yes
Palmesano
Yes
Septimo
Yes
Mr. Speaker
‡ Indicates voting via videoconference
A05837 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)   BILL NUMBER: A5837B SPONSOR: Jean-Pierre
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring publishers to offer licenses for electronic books to libraries under reasonable terms   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To make e-books equally accessible to public libraries in the state on reasonable terms.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: This bill amends the general business law by adding a new section 349-nn that requires publishers to offer electronic books to public libraries under reasonable terms. Subsection one establishes definitions for electronic books and publish- ers. Subsection two requires publishers to offer e-books to libraries on reasonable term's that permit libraries to provide patrons with access- to said books. Subsection three defines what shall and shall not constitute reasonable terms for e-book licensure. Subsection four grants Attorney General enforcement of the provisions of this section and sets the penalty. Section 2 sets the effective date.   DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE): This amended version specifies that the Attorney General has enforcement of this section and also raises the penalties for violation of this section to five hundred dollars for the first violation and one thousand for all subsequent penalties.   JUSTIFICATION: Public libraries provide equitable access to information for all. Many New Yorkers prefer digital content and libraries provide this content as a benefit to their communities. E-books are particularly useful for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and others who may find digital content more accessible and manageable than paper books. As the market for e-books has developed and matured, publishers and libraries have worked to develop equitable models to ensure access to library patrons. Many of these practices are widely accepted and help ensure libraries are able to provide access. As markets continue to grow, however, some publishers are introducing practices that signif- icantly interfere with libraries' ability to continue to provide their patrons with equitable access. In particular, there are e-book embargoes in place that restrict the timely availability of e-books to public libraries. These embargoes place an unfair burden on public library systems that are forced to wait eight weeks to purchase more than one license for a title. Such embargos undermine the democratic and educa- tional function of library systems. This discriminatory practice will restrict access in ways that harm library systems and those they serve. Many library patrons are lower income or face barriers to other means of information access. These new licensing restrictions means patrons may be forced to wait much longer to borrow books, as only one title is made available per library system. Additionally, these restrictions will financially burden library systems that will have to purchase more titles to keep up with demand following the two-month embargo. Finally, it significantly restricts access to titles for New Yorkers who find digital content more accessible than paper books. This bill establishes in statute what constitutes reasonable and unrea- sonable standards for e-book licensing to New York's public libraries. It requires publishers who offer to license e-books to the public shall offer such books to libraries on said reasonable terms. In doing so, it ensures that widely accepted and effective industry practices remain in place while prohibiting harmful practices that discriminate against libraries and harm library patrons.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2020: A.9881 (Ryan): Referred to Consumer Affairs and Protection   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: None to the state.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law shall apply to contracts entered into, renewed, modified, or amended on or after such effective date.
A05837 Text:
Go to top STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5837--B 2021-2022 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 26, 2021 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. JEAN-PIERRE, LAVINE, JENSEN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring publishers to offer licenses for electronic books to libraries under reasonable terms 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 section 2 399-nn to read as follows: 3 § 399-nn. Electronic book licenses. 1. For the purposes of this 4 section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 5 (a) "electronic book" means a text document that has been converted 6 into or published in a digital format that is read on a computer, 7 tablet, smart phone, or electronic device; and 8 (b) "publisher" means one whose business is the manufacture, promulga- 9 tion, and sale of books, journals, or other literary productions includ- 10 ing those in digital form consisting of text, imagery or both. 11 2. Any publisher who offers to license electronic books to the public 12 shall offer to license such books to libraries in the state on reason- 13 able terms that would permit the libraries to provide their users with 14 access to such electronic books. 15 3. (a) Such reasonable terms shall include: 16 (i) a limitation on the number of users to whom the libraries may 17 simultaneously provide access to the electronic books; 18 (ii) a limitation on the number of days the libraries may provide a 19 user with access to the electronic books; and EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD04861-05-1A. 5837--B 2 1 (iii) the use of technological protection measures that would prevent 2 a user from (A) maintaining access to the electronic books beyond the 3 access period set forth in the license, and (B) providing other users 4 with access to the electronic books. 5 (b) Such reasonable terms shall not include a limitation on the number 6 of licenses for electronic books libraries may purchase at the same date 7 available to the public. 8 4. Whenever there shall be a violation of this section, an application 9 may be made by the attorney general in the name of the people of the 10 state of New York, to a court or justice having jurisdiction by a 11 special proceeding to issue an injunction, and upon notice to the 12 defendant of not less than five days, to enjoin and restrain the contin- 13 uance of such violations; and if it shall appear to the satisfaction of 14 the court or justice that the defendant has, in fact, violated this 15 section, an injunction may be issued by the court or justice, enjoining 16 and restraining any further violations, without requiring proof that any 17 person has, in fact, been injured or damaged thereby. In any such 18 proceeding, the court may make allowances to the attorney general as 19 provided in paragraph six of subdivision (a) of section eighty-three 20 hundred three of the civil practice law and rules, and direct restitu- 21 tion. Whenever the court shall determine that a violation of this 22 section has occurred, the court may impose a civil penalty of not more 23 than five hundred dollars for the initial offense, and the second 24 offense and any offense thereafter shall be punishable by a civil 25 penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars. 26 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 27 have become a law and shall apply to contracts entered into, renewed, 28 modified, or amended on or after such effective date.