What's happening
This bill gives tenants with mobility disabilities in NYC public housing priority for lower-floor vacant units in their building.
Why it matters
Helps tenants with mobility disabilities remain in their current community. By prioritizing them for lower-floor units in their own building, the law minimizes disruption and allows individuals to maintain established support networks and daily routines.
Addresses accessibility barriers within existing public housing. Many NYCHA buildings lack elevators or have unreliable elevator service, so moving to a lower floor can drastically improve safety and independence for those with mobility challenges.
Sets clear guidelines for eligibility and fairness. The bill defines disability using established state law, limits moves to units of equal or smaller size, and prioritizes the longest-term residents when multiple tenants qualify, reducing ambiguity and potential conflicts.
May improve quality of life and reduce emergency risks. Easier access to exits can be crucial during emergencies, and everyday tasks like leaving the building become less burdensome for tenants with disabilities, potentially reducing isolation and health risks.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Floors for Disabled Tenants
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Substituted by S2720
- Advanced to third reading cal.212
- Reported
- Referred to housing
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.
Prioritize Lower Floors for Disabled
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Jesse Hamilton
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4818
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. TITUS, RODRIGUEZ, BLAKE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the public housing law, in relation to granting tenants, with a physically disabling condition that affects their mobility, a preference in occupying a vacant dwelling unit on a lower floor in the same building in projects operated by the New York city housing authority
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 402 of the public housing law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10 to read as follows:
10. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, upon the vacancy of a dwelling unit in any project operated by the authority, such vacant dwelling unit shall first be made available for occupancy to any tenant within the same project who lives on a higher floor than the vacant dwelling unit, provided, however, the vacant dwelling unit must be the same size or smaller than the unit occupied by such tenant, and the tenant or any other legal occupant currently residing with the tenant has a disability, as defined by subdivision twenty-one of section two hundred ninety-two of the executive law, that affects mobility. If two or more tenants are eligible for such vacant apartment, preference shall be given to the individual that has resided in the project for the longest period of time.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00692-01-7
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.