Albany, NY – Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) announced several legislative victories at the conclusion of the 2016 Legislative session.

“While it is clear that there was much unfinished business, including some much needed ethics reform, the legislature accomplished a great deal this year,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “I am very proud of how much the Assembly majority was able to accomplish this session, including passing several of my own bills.”

Legislature Passes Dinowitz Bill Improving Access to Vital Prostate Cancer Screenings

In an effort to promote the early detection of prostate cancer, Assemblyman Dinowitz authored a bill granting New York City public employees the right to take time off up to four hours of paid leave annually for screenings to detect the disease (A.409B). Currently, public employees outside of the city of New York are entitled to up to four hours of paid leave per year for prostate cancer screening; this law would give city employees the same benefit as their peers in the rest of the state.

“This benefit should apply to all New Yorkers,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “Every year nearly 15,000 men in New York State are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and almost 1,700 die from the disease. This bill very simply puts New York City employees on an equal basis with New York State employees, and has the potential to save thousands of lives in the years to come. Though there is much we don’t know about cancer, one of the few things the medical community is absolutely certain of, is that early detection yields more positive treatment results. It is my hope that this bill will foster greater accessibility to prostate screenings for city employees.”

The Assemblyman’s bill was passed in conjunction with A.10679, which, in addition to providing New York City public employees with the same four hours a year for breast cancer screenings, also prohibits annual deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance payments for screening and diagnostic imaging for the detection of breast cancer.

Assemblyman Dinowitz Passes National Popular Vote Legislation

Over time, the "winner take all" system known as the Electoral College has proven to be inadequate, and has concentrated the voice of millions of Americans into the outcome of one state's election. While efforts have been made to adopt a national popular vote of the President across many states, there are still many in which have not, further delaying the equal efforts for Presidential candidates to tend to every state alike while campaigning.

Assemblyman Dinowitz’s legislation would amend the existing law to allow a sufficient amount of time for the National Popular Vote Compact to take full effect. Not only would this proposed amendment allow more states the opportunity to join the national popular vote interstate compact, but it would also set the precedent that New York is dedicated to strengthening and ensuring fairness in our nation's Presidential elections.

“For well over two centuries now, the Electoral College has been used to elect the American President. We elect people to various offices across the country by popular votes, with the sole exception of the President of the United States. What was once a practical measure taken by America’s Founding Fathers as an added safeguard against tyranny, has since become an archaic and simply undemocratic institution – cheapening the votes of millions of Americans, especially New Yorkers,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “Why should a person from Wyoming’s vote be worth nearly 3 times that of a voter from New York? Why should a person, who a majority of American’s vote for, not be elected to the Presidency? Presidential candidates should be forced to consider all of the major issues facing our country during an election, not just the issues facing swing states. I am pleased the legislature has passed this critical legislation, and I hope even more states join us in our efforts to make America as Democratic as possible.”

Legislature Passes Dinowitz Measure Protecting Consumers from Gift Card Fees

A bill authored by Assemblyman Dinowitz that prevents fees from being assessed on gift cards and certificates has passed unanimously in both the State Assembly and Senate (A.7610). “Too often have consumers either purchased or been given a gift card, only to later find out that there is little to no money left to spend due to exorbitant fees assessed on the card due to inactivity,” Assemblyman Dinowitz said.

Current New York State law requires notice of expiration dates as well as any fees that will be charged along with other terms and conditions that must be clearly and conspicuously stated on the card, package, or accompanying printed document. Fees are currently not allowed to be assessed prior to the thirteenth month of dormancy, but New York State does not specify how much of a fee can be assessed, offering consumers little to no protection. Consumers purchase gift cards just like other products sold that have no fees assessed after the initial purchase.

“Businesses selling gift cards have already made the profit of selling it, so there is no reason that a consumer should be penalized with fees for not using it within a specific time frame,” said Mr. Dinowitz. “It’s simply unconscionable that a consumer who pays for a gift card in full should lose their investment because they waited to spend it.”

If the legislation is signed by the Governor, New York will join 20 other states that have passed similar legislation preventing any fees on gift cards and certificates, with some only allowing a fee at the time of purchase.

New York State Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Announces Pair of Bills Increasing Mandatory Arbitration Transparency & Fairness Pass the Assembly

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, announced that two pieces of legislation relating to mandatory arbitration practices in New York passed in the State Assembly.

The first bill, A.9544, requires that when a company issues a contract that contains a mandatory arbitration clause to a consumer for their signature that the mandatory arbitration clause be in a large font. The second piece of legislation, A.9545, requires that representatives of companies responsible for administering a contract for consumer goods, services, or employment to a consumer to disclose the existence of any mandatory arbitration clause contained within the contract, and clearly explain what a mandatory arbitration clause is.

“As mandatory arbitration clauses in contracts for consumer goods, services, and employment have proliferated over the last few years, consumers are increasingly forced to resolve disputes via arbitration. In many cases, consumers are unaware that the contract they are signing requires them to resolve disputes through mandatory arbitration, effectively and unknowingly signing away the right to their day in court,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “These pieces of legislation are common sense consumer protection measures that will make the arbitration process significantly more transparent in New York. When a consumer signs a contract, they shouldn’t need a lawyer to understand what they’re signing and what their rights are under the terms of the contract.”