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The Business Council opposes this legislation, which would require the submission of detailed information about users of homesharing platforms to municipal officials, with significant civil penalties for violations, but with no restrictions on public disclosure of participant’s information.
Not only does this bill represent an incomplete, piecemeal approach to the regulation of homesharing, it would impede efforts to adopt a workable statewide regulatory framework for this sector. Instead, its intent seems to be to discourage individuals from registering on homesharing sites by requiring that detailed information on the participant be submitted the state and made available for public review by any interested party.
Moreover, this bill seems intent on bypassing ongoing negotiations on a compromise bill that addresses the full range of issues related to homesharing, including insurance coverage mandates, applicability of occupancy and sales tax, state oversight and enforcement, and others.
The Business Council represents about 2,400 private sector businesses across New York State. Our diverse membership includes a number of business sectors with an interest in this issue, and with an interest in seeing a workable approach that accommodates this business model for the benefit of the state’s tourism industry, the state’s residents and New York’s overall state economy.
New York’s record to date with regard to the sharing economy has been disappointing. New York was one of the last states to embrace and accommodate the ridesharing sector. We should avoid falling further behind the nation in accommodating this alternative rental model as well.
The State legislature should pass comprehensive homesharing legislation this session. Failure to do so will impede the ability of New Yorkers to take full advantage of this new opportunity to earn income, and will limit opportunities for travelers and tourists. Likewise, the legislature should avoid taking action on bills such as S.7740-A / A.10090 that impede the growth of the sharing economy in New York State.