BILL NUMBER: S419
SPONSOR: LIU
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to repair or replacement of damaged residential lateral sewer
and water pipes
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Homeowners shall be reimbursed the full cost of any repairs that are the
result damages from a third party.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by
adding two new sections 24-316.1 and 24-531, to read as follows:
24-316.1 Water lateral pipe repair or replacement. Public Utilities
shall be responsible for the repair or replacement of all damaged resi-
dential lateral water pipes where such pipes have been damaged as a
result of actions or negligence of such public utility as determined by
the State of New York.
24-531 Sewer lateral pipe repair or replacement. Public Utilities shall
be responsible for the repair or replacement of all damaged residential
lateral water pipes where such pipes have been damaged as a result of
actions or negligence of such public utility as determined by the State
of New York.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Title 15 of the Rules of the City of New York places the financial cost
of inoperative or defective lines on the responsibility of the homeown-
er, which they are forced to comply with within 30 days of being issued
the order, which unsatisfied will result in shutting off of water
service. The cost to the homeowner, which can amount to ten of thousands
of dollars, is a financial hardship that should not be endured when a
third party is at fault. Homeowners should not be burdened by damages
and costs that are no fault of their own but at the fault of a third
party, including but not limited to private utility companies.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HI TORY:
03/25/24 PASSED SENATE, REFERRED TO CITIES
03/23/23 PASSED SENATE, REFERRED TO CITIES
02/16/22 PASSED SENATE REFERRED TO ASSEMBLY CITIES COMMITTEE
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately