BILL NUMBER: S3819A
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:
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 the Executive Law, as
it relates to remedies under the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Build-
ing 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, as it relates to extending 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 to $1000. In order to strengthen code enforcement,
it is appropriate that these antiquated penalties be increased to accom-
modate 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.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022: S8795-A / A9163-A Fernandez
2023-2024: S2196-B / No Same As
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Effective Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S3819: 382 executive law, 382(2) executive law, 27-2115 administrative code of the city of New York as amended by local law
S3819A: 382 executive law, 382(2) executive law, 27-2115 administrative code of the city of New York as amended by local law