BILL NUMBER: S2196B
SPONSOR: RIVERA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law and the administrative code of the
city of New York, in relation to imposing certain penalties related to
violations of building and fire code standards within fourteen days and
increasing certain fines for violations of housing standards
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill imposes certain penalties related to violations of building
and fire code standards within fourteen days and increases certain fine
amounts for violations of housing standards in New York City.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends subdivision 2 of section 382 of executive law, as it
relates to remedies under the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building
Code Act, to provide dollar amounts due for each type of violation or
false certification of correction of a violation and provides that any
daily penalty levied on a person in violation of the uniform fire
prevention and building code who has not complied with an order to reme-
dy the violation shall be assessed within fourteen days of the
violation.
Section 2 amends subdivision (a) of section 27-2115 of the administra-
tive code of the city of New York, to extend civil penalties related to
housing standards for violations until they are corrected.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The current penalties for violating housing standards in New York City
were codified in 1987 and continue to be no more than $150 for the
lowest violation and no more than $1,000 for the highest violation. The
most severe penalty is for a person making a false certification of
correction of an immediately hazardous violation, for which the penalty
would be between $500-$1000. As it has been over 30 years and in order
to strengthen code enforcement, it is appropriate that these antiquated
penalties be increased to accommodate for inflation and the increased
cost of living in the city.
This bill was introduced in response to the devastating fire at Twin
Parks North West in the Bronx. On the morning of January 9, 2022, a
high-rise fire killed 17 people, including eight children, at the Twin
Parks North West Site 4 apartment building in the New York City borough
of the Bronx. This tragedy demonstrated the need to enhance code
enforcement and safety standards to prevent residential fires. The
amended version expands from New York City to the rest of the State
after conversations with members and local officials in other munici-
palities that have faced similar situations.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022: S8795A / A9163A
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S2196: 382 executive law
S2196A: 382 executive law, 382(2) executive law
S2196B: 382 executive law, 382(2) executive law