BILL NUMBER: S1838
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to authorizing
certain municipalities to establish an emergency repair pilot program;
and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
To create a pilot emergency repair program to allow cities to directly
address code violations where the owner has not undertaken repairs.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the general municipal law by adding new amendment 99-a
to direct the Secretary of State, with assistance from the Division of
Housing and Community Renewal to establish a pilot program in which
participating cities will be required to adopt a local law that will
permit them to repair hazardous code violations immediately buildings
where the owner has not undertaken repairs and permit them to bill the
owner for repair costs. The Secretary of State shall, subject appropri-
ations, provide technical assistance and support to participating cities
to ensure the successful implementation of these local laws and publish
a model local law that participating cities may adopt.
The pilot program created by this bill will last until May 1, 2029.
During this, the secretary of state, in conjunction with the division of
housing and community renewal will file a report annually to evaluate
the effectiveness of the pilot program with the legislature and the
governor.
Section 2: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Around New York State, there are properties in cities that have been
issued code violations by the jurisdictional municipality but continue
to be in a state of disrepair either due to negligence or unwillingness
by the owner to make the necessary repairs. This can create extreme
safety issues for renters who reside at the property, and the property
values in the surrounding neighborhood are slowly deteriorating. This
bill seeks to remedy this issue by creating a program that would author-
ize participating municipalities to make direct code enforcement repairs
that the landlord has failed or refused to do.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2021: N/A
2022: S8146A, Passed. Senate
2023: S207B, Vetoed Memo.138
2024: S8500A, Passed Senate
Assembly
2021: N/A
2022: A9504A, Amend and Recommit to Local Governments
2023: A1662A, Vetoed Memo.138
2024: A9160, Reported Referred to Ways and Means
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed May 1, 2029.