Ensuring a Fair & Efficient Foreclosure Process

MFY Legal Services supports passage of Assembly Bill A. 5582, which will stop further growth of the “shadow docket” where thousands of New York residential foreclosure cases currently languish thereby denying homeowners the ability to modify their loans before it is too late.  The legislation will also restore integrity to the judicial foreclosure process by requiring lenders’ attorneys to take steps at the outset of a foreclosure to ensure the accuracy of factual statements made in court papers.  Filed foreclosure cases will more quickly enter the court’s docketing system and be scheduled for mandatory settlement conferences, ensuring that those homes that can be saved will be saved and contributing to New York State’s recovery from the lingering economic malaise. 

Consumer Credit Fairness Act

MFY Legal Services supports swift passage of A2678/S2454, which will greatly reduce the number of unfair and abusive debt collection lawsuits, which are particularly harmful to domestic abuse survivors, and disabled, elderly, and low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. Click here to read MFY’s memorandum of support.

Amending Code of Judicial Conduct

MFY Legal Services supports the Proposed Amendment of New York’s Code of Judicial Conduct (22 NYCRR § 100.3(B)(12), relating to a judge’s role in facilitating the ability of unrepresented litigants to have their matters fairly heard. In order for the concept of “justice for all” to be more than a hollow promise, litigants need the opportunity to access the court and understand and meaningfully participate in judicial proceedings. The proposed amendment has the potential to help fulfill this promise by clarifying that a judge may take steps to reasonably accommodate unrepresented litigants without compromising judicial impartiality.

Credit Fairness in Employment Act

MFY Legal Services supports passage of the Credit Fairness in Employment Act (A. 7056/S. 3868-B), which would reduce unfair barriers to employment by prohibiting the harmful use of credit history in employment-related decisions.

Measures to Improve Adult Homes and Other Adult Care Facilities

MFY Legal Services supports several measures before the New York State Legislature that will improve adult homes and other adult care facilities, including:  (1) A5183, which codifies the EQUAL grant program, which provides funds to adult care facilities to enhance quality, and to offer protections to ensure that residents, not just operators, benefit from the grants; (2) A5201/S1662 to grant the Department of Health the authority to aggressively address repeat violations and systemic problems in facilities; (3) A5149 to limit fees for the lease of space in adult care facilities to the fair market value of similar properties; (4) A4467/S1663 to require the Department of health to implement a training program for direct care staff in adult care facilities; and (5) A5168/S1417 to require assisted living facilities with certifications to serve people needing enhanced care or people with special needs to have a registered nurse onsite to assess and monitor the condition of residents.