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Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to aging
- Referred to aging
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.
Establishes the bureau of the senior tenants' advocate in the state office for the aging
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Marcos Crespo
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S263
Title of bill
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing the bureau of the senior tenants' advocate in the state office for the aging
Purpose
Establishes the bureau of the senior tenants' advocate in the state office for the aging that will take in complaints from senior tenants and refer those complaints to the agency or agencies
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends the Elder Law by adding a new section 224. Creates within the State Office for the Aging, a Bureau of the Senior Tenant Advocate for the purpose of assisting senior citizen tenants in resolving complaints they may have with the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, landlord disputes, rent increases and other housing related matters.
Provides for the governor to appoint a state senior tenants' advocate.
Establishes requirements for the hiring and specifies the duties of the senior tenants' advocate.
Provides a process for the review of complaints submitted to the senior tenants' advocate.
Requires the senior tenants' advocate to maintain records as determined by the office for the aging.
Prohibits retaliatory discrimination against tenants who have brought any complaint to the state senior tenants' advocate for referral.
Authorizes the director of the state office for the aging to promulgate regulations to implement these provisions.
Requires the state senior tenants' advocate to submit an annual report to the governor, temporary president of the Senate, Speaker of the Assembly and the director of the Office for the Aging, by the State Senior tenants Advocate.
Specifies that such report will be made available to the public and include the following: a description of the activities carried out by the Bureau, analyzed data relating to complaints for the purpose of identifying and resolving recurring problems, and recommendations for the creation of appropriate state legislation and other actions to preserve and promote the rights of senior citizen tenants. The report will also include recommendations for the improvement of public awareness of senior citizen tenants' rights and availability of public assistance programs to senior citizen tenants and other matters that the senior tenants advocate determine to be appropriate.
Section 2. Effective Date
Existing law
None.
Justification
This legislation will create within the New York State Department for the Aging, a Bureau, whose sole purpose will be to protect the rights of senior citizen tenants. The Bureau will also provide a place where these individuals may submit any housing complaint and obtain immediate action. The Bureau of the Senior Tenant Advocate will also ensure that senior citizen tenants are afforded all the necessary information required to navigate through the New York City's housing market.
Senior citizens are at a higher risk to become victims of dishonorable conduct by various housing entities including, but not limited to, landlords and other tenants. This legislation will provide a venue of protection for these individuals.
Legislative history
2012: S.303 - Notice of Committee Consideration Requested, Committee Discharged and Committed to Rules/A.1l76 - Held for Consideration in Ways and Means 2011: S.303 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.1176 - Reported Referred to Ways and Means
2009-10: S.1556A - Amend and Recommit to Finance/A.8966A - Reported, Referred to Ways and Means
2007-08: S.777 - Referred to Aging/A.3077 - Reported, Referred to Codes
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
On the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.