What's happening
This bill requires regular inspection and maintenance of heating and cooling systems in certain buildings to prevent and detect legionella bacteria, with penalties for violations.
Why it matters
Targets public health risks linked to Legionella bacteria. by mandating regular inspection and maintenance of HVAC systems in multi-dwelling and commercial buildings, directly addressing the root causes of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.
Places explicit, ongoing responsibilities on building owners. to not only develop and maintain detailed maintenance plans, but also to keep records available for official review, ensuring a clear paper trail and accountability.
Requires prompt action and notification. If legionella or other contaminants are found, owners must clean, disinfect, and immediately alert health authorities, increasing the speed and coordination of public health responses.
Sets a statewide standard but allows for stricter local rules. , meaning municipalities with tougher requirements can keep (or expand) their own rules, potentially leading to higher safety standards in certain areas while establishing a minimum baseline statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Check HVAC for Legionella
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4246
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI, GALEF, GUNTHER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ROZIC, SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the periodic inspection and maintenance of heating and cooling systems for the purpose of preventing and detecting the presence of legionella bacteria
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Article 13 of the public health law is amended by adding a new title 13-A to read as follows:
TITLE XIII-A
PREVENTING AND DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF LEGIONELLA BACTERIA
§ 1389-aaa. The periodic inspection and maintenance of heating and cooling systems for the purpose of preventing and detecting the presence of legionella bacteria. 1. The department shall issue regulations and standards for the periodic inspection and maintenance of heating and cooling systems for the purpose of preventing and detecting the presence of legionella bacteria.
2. Said regulations and standards shall be applicable to heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems in multiple dwelling residences and commercial buildings, including but not limited to cooling towers, evaporative condensers and humidifiers; and any other water system that the department deems necessary to inspect for the presence of legionella bacteria.
3. Said regulations and standards shall include, but not be limited to, requirements that each owner: develop and implement a maintenance program and plan; keep a copy of the plan available for review by the department upon request; have the heating and cooling system inspected at least semi-annually by a person qualified to evaluate such system for the presence of legionella bacteria according to industry standards;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03948-01-7
A. 4246 2
upon a determination of the presence of contaminants take all necessary steps to appropriately clean and disinfect the system and immediately notify the department; and permit department personnel to enter upon and inspect any such system.
4. This section shall not supersede or preempt any municipality with stronger rules, regulations, codes, statutes or ordinances with regard to detecting and preventing the presence of legionella bacteria.
5. The department shall impose a civil penalty for a violation of this section in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars for the first offense and two thousand dollars for each additional offense.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.