Gov. George Pataki signed a bill that allows dry cleaning businesses to donate any unclaimed clothes to charity after six months, marking the end of five years of lobbying by the National Cleaners Association.

Dry cleaners in New York will no longer have any legal obligation to hold unclaimed clothing beyond a six-month period under a bill signed by Gov. George Pataki.

The National Cleaners Association has lobbied for such a bill for several years. Many NCA members have been storing unclaimed items for as long as five years.

Debra Kravet, president of the New York City & Long Island chapter of NCA, feels the bill is a "huge victory" for dry cleaners in the state.

"We've been working toward this for the last five years," Kravet said. "Before this bill, there was no established regulation. This was a big problem for the industry, and this will protect businesses and consumers. I'm very excited."

The new law allows cleaners to post signs warning customers that if they do not claim their items within six months, it is the cleaner's option to donate the items to charity. The law also requires that this warning be printed on receipts.

Albany lobbyist Donald Halperin worked alongside the NCA during legislation. Halperin cited an example of a Brooklyn dry cleaner who was successfully sued by a customer after discarding items that had been unclaimed for over five years. The cleaner is an acquaintance of Kravet's.

"The customer came in with a bunch of clothes, and more or less disappeared. Then she comes back looking for them five years later, and ended up suing for about 2800 dollars," Kravet said.

The NCA has complained that unclaimed items can cost dry cleaners money in several different ways. Aside from smaller businesses lacking storage capacity for a buildup of items, many do not ask for payment until the item is picked up, and are therefore never paid for work that has already been done. Then with no regulation in place, if the items were discarded, the businesses were at risk to be sued.

Some dry cleaners, such as Joseph Garcia who owns Century Dry Cleaners in Middletown, NY, have created their own store policies to protect themselves.

"I print right on my receipt that you have 30 days to pick up your items. After that, I try to give them three chances- usually three phone calls," Garcia said. "If they still don't come, I take them straight to Salvation Army."

The new law goes into effect this upcoming November. Other states have similar laws in place, often with stricter regulations. For example, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Tennessee only allow the consumers 90 days to claim items.

Joe Apuzzo, the manager of Crystal Cleaners in Scotchtown, NY, says he does not understand how people just forget their clothes for such extended periods.

"My favorite story is about this woman who dropped off five pairs of jeans, and didn't come back for them for like 15 months. I called her a few times to remind her and she said she keeps forgetting but she'll get them soon," Apuzzo said. "Finally I called and told her we'd just give them to charity, and she shows up the same day. People are amazing."