N.Y. General Business Law § 620: Legislative intent

§ 620. Legislative intent. 1. The legislature finds that there exists

in connection with a number of contracts for health club services, sales

practices and business and financing methods which may have resulted in

deception and financial hardship upon the people of this state, that

existing legal remedies are inadequate to correct these abuses; that the

health club services industry has a significant impact upon the economy

and well being of this state and its local communities, and that the

provisions of this article relating to such contracts are necessary for

the public welfare.

2. The legislature declares that the purpose of this article is to

safeguard the public and the ethical health club industry against

deception and financial hardship, and to foster and encourage

competition, fair dealing, and prosperity in the field of health club

services by prohibiting or restricting false or misleading advertising,

erroneous contract terms, harmful financial practices, and other unfair,

deceptive and discriminatory practices which have been conducted by some

health club operators.