What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
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.
Authorizes municipalities to treat unpaid fines for building code, property maintenance and nuisance violations as unpaid real property taxes
In Assembly Committee · Real Property Taxation · Sponsor Sean Ryan
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6906
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to authorizing municipalities to treat unpaid building code, property maintenance and nuisance fines as delinquent taxes and impose tax liens upon the real property which is the subject of such fines
Purpose
This bill authorizes municipalities to enact a local law, ordinance, or resolution that includes unpaid fines for building code, property maintenance, and nuisance violations as liens on the affected real property if such property is not the primary residence of the owner(s). The real property would then be subject to annual tax foreclosure proceedings should the liens remain unpaid.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: amends adds a new section 901 to the real property tax law.
Subsection 1: authorizes municipalities to enact a local law, ordinance, or resolution providing the finally adjudicated fines imposed on real property, other than a property serving as the primary residence of one or more of its owners, for building code, property maintenance, and nuisance violations be included as liens.
Subsection 2: requires that such local law establishes a procedure for judicial determination and adjudication of underlying circumstances relating to the violation(s), as well as the right of the real property owner to appeal such judgment.
Subsection 3: provides that the affected property owner be notified in writing at least ten days prior to any action pursuant to this section, and each notice shall inform the owner that a real property tax lien may be imposed if the fine remains unpaid.
Subsection 4: allows for unpaid fines and expenses incurred in the adjudication of such fines to be declared as unpaid real property taxes.
Section 2: amends section 936 of the real property tax law to include fines pursuant to section 901 deemed as unpaid taxes.
Section 3: amends section 1102 of the real property tax law to include unpaid fines pursuant to section 901 in the definition of "delinquent tax".
Justification
The purpose of this legislation is to hold property owners who do not reside in a property that has been cited by a municipality for building code, property maintenance, and nuisance violations accountable. Often colloquially referred to as "slumlords", these absentee landlords allow properties to deteriorate with little-to-no recourse, as municipalities often face difficulties in enforcing and collecting fines. These problem properties plague neighborhoods and communities across New York State, negatively impacting quality of
life and property values for nearby residents. By authorizing municipalities to pass local laws allowing for unpaid fines to be included as a tax lien on the property, property owners will be forced to pay the fines or risk the property being foreclosed upon.
Fiscal implications
None to the state. Positive for municipalities.
Effective date
The first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.