What's happening
This bill allows local governments to impose and enforce administrative civil penalties for housing code violations without requiring court proceedings.
Why it matters
Speeds up enforcement of housing code violations. by allowing local governments to impose penalties directly through administrative processes, rather than relying solely on time-consuming court actions.
Strengthens local authority. by letting cities, towns, and villages set up their own administrative systems to handle violations, collect penalties, and even impose liens on properties or rental income without additional judicial approval.
Potentially increases accountability for landlords and property managers. , since penalties can be assessed and collected more quickly and efficiently, giving municipalities more leverage to address unsafe or unhealthy housing conditions.
May impact tenants and property owners differently. tenants could benefit from faster responses to violations, while property owners might face increased financial and legal risks if they do not promptly address code issues.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Speed Up Housing Law Fines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
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.
Let Cities Fine Bad Landlords
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3182
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, HAMILTON, HOYLMAN, MONTGOMERY, PERKINS, SERRANO, STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the multiple dwelling law and the multiple residence law, in relation to authorizing administrative imposition of civil penalties in the enforcement of state and local housing maintenance laws
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs a and b of subdivision 4 of section 3 of the multiple dwelling law, as amended by chapter 516 of the laws of 1983, are amended to read as follows:
a. Any city, town or village may make local laws, ordinances, resolutions or regulations not less restrictive than those provided in this chapter and may provide for their enforcement by legal or equitable actions or proceedings, or by administrative proceedings, and prescribe the penalties, sanctions and remedies for violations thereof. In the enforcement and administration of this chapter in a city of three hundred twenty-five thousand or more persons, the penalties, sanctions and remedies enacted by local law may be applied, notwithstanding their inconsistency with this chapter, or the provisions of this chapter.
b. In a city of three hundred twenty-five thousand or more persons, such local laws may authorize such actions or proceedings against the owner, lessee of a whole multiple dwelling, agent or other person having control of such dwelling, and any responsible party, or against the dwelling in rem. Such local laws may further authorize (1) that civil or administratively imposed penalties may be enforced against the person liable therefor, and that in addition to the methods of enforcement for judgments established in the civil practice law and rules, a lien may be imposed against the premises and the rents therefrom; (2) that such
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05429-01-7
S. 3182 2
civil or administratively imposed penalties may be enforced against the dwelling by the imposition of a lien against the rents therefrom.
§ 2. Paragraph c of subdivision 4 of section 3 of the multiple dwelling law, as amended by chapter 516 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
c. Such local laws may also authorize that all liens upon rents, whether authorized by state or local law, may be satisfied without further judicial proceedings by the collection of rents due or to become due; and may further authorize that administratively imposed penalties may be docketed and enforced in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action without further judicial proceedings.
§ 3. Section 304 of the multiple residence law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. In addition to the penalties imposed in subdivision one of this section, any city, town or village may provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter or of local laws, ordinances, resolutions or regulations promulgated pursuant hereto by administrative proceedings and may authorize administratively imposed penalties which may be docketed and enforced in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action without further judicial proceedings.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law and shall apply to any proceedings commenced on or after such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the multiple dwelling law and the multiple residence law, in relation to authorizing administrative imposition of civil penalties in the enforcement of state and local housing maintenance laws
Purpose
To authorize administrative proceedings for the enforcement of housing maintenance codes.
Summary of provisions
This bill would authorize localities to establish administrative proceedings, in addition to judicial proceedings, for the enforcement of housing maintenance codes, Administratively imposed penalties would be docketed and enforced in the same manner as a judgement in a civil action without judicial proceedings.
Justification
Presently, localities are required to enforce their housing codes through judicial proceedings. Several localities, however, are slow in their enforcement measures and in some cases actions are not taken because the courts are backlogged with summary eviction proceedings. The most glaring example is New York City which has millions of outstanding code violations. The amount of fines owed the City from unenforced violations from scofflaw landlords is substantial. In NYC and other municipalities, tax code enforcement has been exacerbated by severe state cutbacks in support for local governments' code enforcement activities. This bill would simply authorize localities to adopt administrative proceedings as an alternative to court action for the enforcement of housing code violations. This alternative could generate substantial revenues as well as preserve and improve the quality of the state's housing stock.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.