Authorizes appointment of alternate rent guidelines board members in the city of New York, counties outside the city, towns, and villages

BILL NUMBER:S2031

Title of bill

An act to amend the emergency tenant protection act of nineteen seventy-four and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to alternates on rent guidelines boards

Purpose or general idea

To restrict eligibility for public membership on a rent guidelines board to those who own or manage no more than four rental units in the entire State.

Summary of specific provisions

Amends section 4(a) of the ETPA to restrict public membership on rent guidelines boards to those who own or manage no more than four rental units in the state.

Effects of present law this bill would alter

Current law prohibits any board member from owning or managing any property that is covered by this law. This bill would extend the prohibition to the entire state, while allowing for ownership or rental of four units not covered under the law.

Justification

Current law allows public members of the board to be the owners or managers of any amount of rental units, as long as they are not situated in areas covered by the act. Especially in the counties, it is not hard for local candidates for public membership to reside in communities not covered by the act, since many communities have not opted to participate. This situation can allow for a clear evasion of the original legislation's intent.

Prior legislative history

2009-10: S.5255/A.5042 (Brodsky) - Referred to Senate Housing, Construction & Community Development/Assembly Codes A.1179 (1993-94), A.196 (1995-96), A.735 (1997-98), A.899 (1999-2000), A.572 (2001-02), A.491 (2003-04), A.2642 (2005-06). A.9409 (2007-2008).

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

Immediately, with provisions.