BILL NUMBER: S2083
SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, the general city law, the
town law and the village law, in relation to requiring municipalities to
include a housing needs assessment using the HUD median income calcu-
lations in their comprehensive plans; and to amend the general city law,
in relation to making a technical correction
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF IDEA:
This bill would require municipalities to perform a housing needs
assessment at five levels of affordability utilizing Area Median Income
(AMI) metrics.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new paragraph to the general municipal law providing
that counties shall do a housing needs assessment with five (5) levels
of affordability at: below thirty percent of average median income
(AMI); between thirty and fifty percent of AMI, between fifty one and
sixty percent of AMI; between sixty one percent and eighty percent of
AMI; and between eighty one percent and one hundred percent of AMI.
Section 2 adds a new paragraph to the general city law providing that
cities shall do a housing needs assessment with five (5) levels of
affordability at: below thirty percent of average median income (AMI);
between thirty and fifty percent of AMI, between fifty one and sixty
percent of AMI; between sixty one percent and eighty percent of AMI; and
between eighty one percent and one hundred percent of AMI.
Section 3 adds a new paragraph to the town law providing that towns
shall do a housing needs assessment with five (5) levels of affordabili-
ty at: below thirty percent of average median income (AMI); between
thirty and fifty percent of AMI, between fifty one and sixty percent of
AMI; between sixty one percent and eighty percent of AMI; and between
eighty one percent and one hundred percent of AMI.
Section 4 adds a new paragraph to the village law providing that
villages shall do a housing needs assessment with five (5) levels of
affordability at: below thirty percent of average median income (AMI);
between thirty and fifty percent of AMI, between fifty one and sixty
percent of AMI; between sixty one percent and eighty percent of AMI; and
between eighty one percent and one hundred percent of AMI.
Section 5 sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
To address the pressing issue of creating new housing across New York
State, conducting a data-based housing needs assessment is paramount.
Counties, cities, towns, and villages are central to creating new hous-
ing and needs assessments form a baseline and starting point for devel-
oping a municipality's housing plan. Utilizing AMI metrics for compar-
ison purposes offers a uniform, standardized and equitable approach to
evaluating needs.
By engaging counties, cities, towns, and villages in this collective
effort, the assessment captures localized nuances, ensuring that each
municipality's resulting plan is not only comprehensive but also
tailored to the unique challenges it faces. Moreover, AMI metrics facil-
itate the identification of gaps in affordable housing options, allowing
policymakers to allocate resources strategically, prioritize vulnerable
populations, and implement targeted interventions that address the
specific needs of residents at various income levels.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S9074 (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT: /A8903 (Burdick)
referred to local governments
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S2083: 28-a general city law, 28-a(4) general city law, 272-a town law, 272-a(3) town law, 7-722 village law, 7-722(3) village law