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Consumer Protection Legislative Goals

-To promote consumer awareness and confidence among seniors.

-To prevent elder victimization, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, error, and abuse.

Bills supported by Statewide Senior Action

Wireless Telephone Service Consumer Protection Act
Would establish controls over wireless service providers to make using cell phones more understandable and effective for seniors.

Assembly Bill #   A2030 O'Donnell

Senate Bill #         S 3293 Flanagan

Status:                   Passed Assembly. In Senate Rules.

Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act
Protects unmarked burial sites of farm families, native Americans, African Americans, and others

Assembly Bill #   A7821 Englebright

Senate Bill #         S5713 Lavalle

Status:                   In Assembly Corps. Committee.

                                   In Senate Corps. Committee.

Funeral Insurance Bill
Would permit funeral homes to market funeral insurance (life insurance policies) to pay for pre-need funeral arrangements, i.e. the funeral homes would become the beneficiaries of life insurance policies.

Assembly Bill #   A4923 Carrozza

Senate Bill #

Status:                   No bill identified yet.

Funeral Package Pricing Bill
Allows funeral homes to “package price” funerals; requires the Commissioner of Health to issue regulations permitting “alternative pricing methods.” Currently, funeral homes are only allowed to use itemized prices, which is much stronger protection for seniors and their families.

Assembly Bill #   A. 8042 Towns

Senate Bill #         S. 5249 Winner

Status:                   Passed Assembly Health Committee, on Floor, Third Reading cal. 729.
                                 In Senate Health Committee.

Pre-Need Funeral Insurance Sunset Act
Pre-Need Funeral Insurance Sunset Act prohibits funeral directors from selling pre-need funeral insurance policies until 2012.

Assembly Bill #   A8695 (Pheffer)

Senate Bill #         S5952 (Rules)

Status:                   Passed Senate and Assembly. Signed by Governor Chapter 78, on 6/18/2007.

Telecommunications Reform Act
Would allow phone companies to sell TV service over their fiber-optic networks to state residents, including seniors using Telemedicine to buy their drugs.

Assembly Bill #   A3980-B Brodsky

Senate Bill #         S5124 Leibell

Status:                   Passed Assembly Corporations Committee and Codes Committee,
                                 in  Ways and Means. In Senate Corporations Committee.