Criminalizes acting as a runner or soliciting or employing a runner to procure patients or clients

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Pretlow

Bill A 7392 criminalizes runners who procure patients/clients, bans acting, soliciting, or employing runners, to curb brokered referrals and protect patients.

REFERRED TO CODES

Overview

Bill A 7392 would criminalize the role of “runners” in acquiring patients or clients. Specifically, it makes it illegal to act as a runner, or to solicit or employ a runner, for the purpose of procuring patients or clients for another person or entity. The bill was introduced on March 25, 2025 and referred to the Codes Committee.

Purpose and Intent

The core intent appears to be to curb patient- or client-brokering practices by prohibiting intermediary recruiters (runners) who aim to connect individuals with providers or services. By criminalizing these activities, the bill seeks to deter unethical recruitment practices, protect patients and clients from exploitation, and reduce potential fraud or improper referrals tied to obtaining business.

Key Provisions (as stated)

Creates a criminal offense for acting as a runner.

Prohibits soliciting a runner to procure patients or clients.

Prohibits employing a runner to procure patients or clients.

The full text would specify definitions, penalties, and enforcement mechanisms; these details are not provided in the available summary.

Note: Specific penalties, degrees of offense, definitions of “runner,” and the scope (e.g., health care, legal services, or other professions) are not included in the provided information.

Who Would Be Affected

Individuals who act as runners (the primary targets of the bill).

Persons or entities that solicit or employ runners to obtain patients or clients.

Potentially, healthcare providers, clinics, or service businesses that rely on third-party recruitment to attract patients or clients.

Patients or clients who might be targeted by recruitment schemes.

Legislative Status and Process

Status: Referred to Codes (as of March 25, 2025).

Legislative actions show the same referral date, indicating placement in committee for consideration.

If advanced, it would proceed through the Codes Committee, then to the Senate/Assembly floor as applicable, subject to further committee and legislative action.

Related Legislation

Companion bill: S 4874 (in the Senate) with multiple mentions indicating a coordinated cross-chamber effort.

Prior-session related bills: A 862, A 4597, A 9768, A 1901, A 4599, A 3159, A 3640 (various years) suggest ongoing interest in restricting or regulating patient/client procurement and broker practices.

Summary

A 7392 seeks to criminalize the use and deployment of runners to obtain patients or clients, signaling a policy move against patient- or client-brokering through intermediary recruiters. The bill is at an early stage, pending action in the Codes Committee, with a Senate companion (S 4874) reflecting cross-chamber interest. Details on definitions, penalties, and scope will be clarified in the full text as the bill advances.

Bill