What's happening
This bill requires all state-owned or state-leased buildings in New York to comply with the state fire and building code, including existing structures, with staged compliance over five to ten years.
Why it matters
Expands safety and accessibility requirements to all state-owned and state-leased buildings, including older structures. , which could bring significant renovations and upgrades to facilities that may currently be outdated or unsafe.
Phased compliance (five to ten years) acknowledges logistical and financial challenges. , but also means state agencies and authorities must plan for potentially costly updates, impacting budgets and capital planning.
Immediate compliance for any alterations ensures that renovations or expansions cannot bypass modern safety codes. , potentially increasing the complexity and cost of even minor building projects.
Allows for case-by-case legislative exemptions, introducing a political process for avoiding compliance. this could create uneven application of safety standards or open the door to lobbying for exemptions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Apply Fire Code to State Buildings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.349
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Apply Fire Code to State Buildings
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
811
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 5, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- 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 executive law, in relation to application of the state uniform fire prevention and building code to certain premises
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 383 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the code shall apply to all buildings and structures owned by or in which space is leased by state agencies and covered authorities, as such terms are defined in section two-a of the state finance law, irrespective of when such buildings or structures were built or put into service. Existing buildings and structures constructed before the effective date of this subdivision shall be subject to the code pursuant to a staged plan developed by the office of general services, which may provide for compliance over a period of not more than five years, or if the office of general services shall determine that there are reasons requiring delay, within ten years, unless such building or structure is altered, in which case the code shall immediately apply to all alterations to such building or structure provided, however, that subsequent to the effective date of this subdivision, the legislature may exempt a specific building or structure, which shall be identified by its legal description and street address, if applicable, from the provisions of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05060-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to application of the state uniform fire prevention and building code to certain premises
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require State-owned buildings or State-leased space to adhere to the State's uniform fire prevention and building code.
Summary of provisions
Section one of this bill amends section 383 of the Executive Law by adding a new subdivision (5) to provide that, all buildings and structures owned or leased by a State agency or covered authority shall adhere to the uniform fire prevention and building code. For existing buildings and structures constructed before the act's effective date, the Office of General Services will create a staged plan for compliance. The staged plan may provide for compliance over a period of five years. If the Office of General Services determines that there are reasons requiring delay, the period for compliance shall be a period not to exceed ten years. However, after enactment of new subdivision 5, the Legislature may exempt a specific building or structure from the provisions of this subdivision.
Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Existing law
Currently, there is no law that provides for State owned or leased property to conform with the State's uniform fire prevention and building code.
Justification
Government controlled buildings should follow the same safety regulations that privately owned buildings are required to follow. The informal and voluntary nature of compliance with codes creates a risk that there is construction, demolition, or other hazardous activity taking place at these properties that local municipalities are not aware of, and make it difficult for local municipalities to require building owners to address and correct those concerns in the event of an emergency.
Currently, local governments have limited enforcement powers over State building and property owners. Their enforcement power depends upon the enabling statute of the State entities that own or lease the property. In some jurisdictions, the local government's main exercise of its enforcement powers upon State entities is through the voluntary filing of construction and demolition projects by those entities, and through courtesy inspections and liaison relationships. This bill would require all buildings and structures that are owned, leased or operated by the State of New York or by any of its authorities to be code-compliant to the same extent as privately owned buildings and structures.
This bill will enhance public safety throughout New York by requiring the State and its authorities do what all private building owners are required to do.
Prior legislative history
2016: S1059 - Reported to Finance 2015: S1059 - Referred to Housing, Construction, and Community Development 2014: S.2747 - 3rd Reading Calendar 2013: S.2747 - Passed the Senate 2012: S.2213 - Referred to Housing, Construction, and Community Development 2011: S.2213 - Referred to Housing, Construction, and Community Development 2010: S.5666 - Referred to Housing, Construction, and Community Development 2009: S.5666 - Referred to Housing, Construction, and Community Development
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 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.