NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:
The Effectiveness of the Consumer Protection Division (CPD) within the Department of State (DOS)

PURPOSE:
To examine the effectiveness of the CPD and any changes in the delivery of services to consumers after the former Consumer Protection Board was placed as a unit within DOS.

ALBANY
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
11:30 a.m.
Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor
Albany, New York 12248

The former Consumer Protection Board (CPB) was merged into the DOS in the form of a new Division of Consumer Protection in SFY 2011-12. The Division was granted the powers, functions, and duties of the CPB, including receiving and mediating consumer complaints and enforcing certain consumer protection laws. This hearing will examine the current effectiveness of this new unit and how the merger has improved the delivery of services to consumers.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to five minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Jeffrey Dinowitz
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection


PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the Effectiveness of the Division of Consumer Protection are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to:

Emily Mercurio
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
Alfred E. Smith Building, 22nd Floor
80 South Swan Street
Albany, New York 12248
Phone: (518) 455-4355
Fax: (518) 455-7250
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I plan to attend the public hearing on the Effectiveness of the Division of Consumer Protection by the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection on November 28, 2012.
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I have been invited to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to ten minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:


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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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I would like to be added to the Committee's mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committee's mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:


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