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Who cares
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Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to the appointment and qualifications of members of rent boards
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York and the emergency tenant protection act of nineteen seventy-four, in relation to the establishment of rent boards
Purpose
The purpose of this bill to make more democratic the appointment of members of rent guidelines boards and to enhance the qualifications of the public members.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends the New York City Rent Stabilization Law. It gives the New York City Council an advice and consent role in the mayoral appointment of New York City Rent Guidelines Board members. It removes a provision that the chair of the board serves at the pleasure of the Mayor. It provides for the removal of members for cause by the City Council and for the replacement of such members. It adds experience in public service, philanthropy, social services, urban planning, architecture, social sciences and with non-profit corporations to the list of qualifications for appointment as public members.
Read the full memo (610 words)
Section 2. Amends the Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974. It gives the county executives of the counties of Nassau, Westchester and Rockland the power to appoint members of the county rent guidelines boards with the advice and consent of the respective county legislatures. It provides for the removal of members for cause by the county legislature and for the replacement of such members. It adds experience in public service, philanthropy, social services, urban planning, architecture, social sciences and with non-profit corporations to the list of qualifications for appointment as public members.
Existing law
Under existing law, the Mayor of New York City unilaterally appoints the members of the New York City Rent Guidelines Board. In the counties of Nassau, Westchester and Rockland, the members of the county rent guidelines boards are appointed by the New York State Commissioner of Housing and Community Renewal upon recommendation of the county legislatures. The five public members of each nine member board are required to have at least five years experience in either finance, economics or housing.
Justification
Requiring City Council confirmation of the Mayor's appointees to the New York City Rent Guidelines Board provides for a system of checks and balances that is an essential component of our democracy. Legislative confirmation enhances home rule in the vital area of rent regulation. It also acknowledges the important role of the public officials serving on the New York City Rent Guidelines Board.
Removing the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) from its current role in choosing members of the rent guidelines boards in Nassau, Westchester and Rockland counties also serves to make the appointment process more democratic. The elected county executives should appoint the board members with the advice and consent of their county legislatures. The DHCR, as enforcement agency under the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, should not have a role in
the selection of the officials who decide upon the rent guidelines that the agency must enforce.
By broadening the types of qualifications that are required for public members of the guidelines boards, the bill gives the appointing officials greater latitude to choose persons of experience in a variety of disciplines, rather than only in finance, economics and housing. This will enable the public members to reflect a broader perspective on the rent setting process than was previously available and will enhance the deliberations of the boards.
Legislative history
This is new legislation.
Fiscal implications
None at this time.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately. The rent guidelines boards, as reconstituted by this act, shall be appointed and confirmed within 45 days after the effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.