Requiring a notice on advertisements of immigration assistance services and increasing penalties for violations of requirements that apply to immigration assistance services.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a notice on advertisements of immigration assistance services and increasing penalties for violations of requirements that apply to immigration assistance services

This bill would increase civil penalties for immigration assistance service providers that do not comply with applicable requirements, such as the requirement to execute a written contract with customers, the requirement to include specific language in signage and advertisements, the requirement to retain documents, and the requirement to maintain a surety. The civil penalties would be at least $5,000 and no more than $10,000 for a first violation, and for each succeeding violation, the penalty would be at least $10,000 and no more than $15,000, except that, for violations related to prohibited conduct and guaranteeing any particular governmental action on advertisements, the civil penalties would be at least $7,500 and no more than $10,000 for the first violation and, for each succeeding violation, the penalty would be at least $18,000 and no more than $20,000. The bill would also clarify that immigration assistance service providers who advertise services via images, as well as by signs, pamphlets, newspapers, and any other means, must post or include with the advertisement a legally required notice of the services they are not authorized to provide.