BILL NUMBER: S656
SPONSOR: KRUEGER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the real property law, in relation to the visitability
of new homes by persons with disabilities
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this article is to establish minimum regulations for the
design and construction of new single family homes, townhouses or the
ground unit of a building with three or fewer dwellings units by build-
ers who receive state or federal funds and subsidies to provide for the
occupancy and 'visitability' for and by person with disabilities.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The real property law is amended by adding a new Article 16: Visitabil-
ity of New Construction.
The article establishes minimum standards for accessibility to new homes
by people with disabilities 1) from the public street or driveway to the
exterior door of a dwelling, 2) interior doors, 3) environmental
controls, 4) habitable space and 5) interior bathroom requirements.
The article also has an enforcement/penalty clause of not less than
fifty and not more than five hundred dollars for each offense and for
each day the violation continues to occur.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The availability of accessible, affordable and integrated housing oppor-
tunities for people with disabilities is critical to sustaining fully
independent lives in their communities.
"Visitability" is a movement to change home construction practices so
that new homes offer a few specific features that would make it easier
for people with a mobility impairment to occupy and visit. The spirit of
"visitability" is the belief that it is unacceptable that new homes
continue to be built with gross barriers, given the ease of building
basic access into the majority of new homes and the harsh effects major
barriers have on people's lives, including physically unsafe conditions,
social isolation and unwanted institutionalization.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.763/A.1625
2021-2022: S.942/A.2247
2019-2020: S.2718/A.1588
2017-2018: S.3315/A.1023
2015-2016: S.4597/A.6402
2013-2014: S.3160/A.5068
2011-2012: S.429-A/A.1918-A
2009-2011: S.8150/A.9409-A
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
One hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law and shall
apply to dwelling units for which construction shall begin on or after
such date.