New York Prohibits Telemarketers from Making Unsolicited
Telemarketing Sales Calls During a State of Emergency
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on March 7, 2020, declared a state of emergency in light of the spread of
the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York. This triggered the
state's newly enacted legislation that prohibits
telemarketers from making unsolicited telemarketing sales calls
during a state of emergency.
The Law on Unsolicited Telemarketing Sales
New York General Business Law § Section
399-z defines unsolicited telemarketing sales calls as
"any telemarketing sales call other than a call made: (i) in
response to an express written or verbal request by the customer;
or (ii) in connection with an established business
relationship, which has not been terminated by either party, unless
such customer has stated to the telemarketer that such customer no
longer wishes to receive the telemarketing sales calls of such
telemarketer."
