What's happening
This bill allows Putnam Valley, Putnam County to employ building inspectors and code enforcement officers who live outside the town, including adjoining counties.
Why it matters
Expands the pool of qualified candidates. By allowing residents from Putnam County and neighboring counties to serve as building inspectors or code enforcement officers, the town can attract a wider range of applicants, potentially increasing the quality and professionalism of its code enforcement staff.
Addresses past procedural issues. The bill retroactively validates and legalizes prior appointments of non-resident inspectors, protecting the town from legal challenges or disruptions related to earlier violations of residency rules.
Helps address staffing shortages. Smaller towns like Putnam Valley may struggle to find qualified personnel locally; this change could help ensure consistent enforcement of building and safety codes by making it easier to fill these critical roles.
Maintains local control elsewhere. The amendment is specific to Putnam Valley, ensuring that other towns still require local residency for these positions unless the state legislature acts, which preserves local governance norms across New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Nonresident Building Inspectors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A10743A
- Ordered to third reading cal.1895
- Referred to rules
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.
Relax Inspector Residency Rules
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Kevin M. Byrne
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8928
IN SENATE
June 5, 2018
Introduced by Sen. SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the town law and the public officers law, in relation to the residency requirements for the persons performing the functions of building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector/code enforcement officer for Putnam Valley, Putnam County
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The town of Putnam Valley, Putnam County, has employed individuals that reside outside of the political subdivision or municipal corporation as building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector/code enforcement officer in violation of section 3 of the public officers law and section 23 of the town law. Notwithstanding this defect, the employment of such individuals as building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector/code enforcement officer of the town is hereby validated, legalized, ratified and confirmed, notwithstanding the absence of prior legislative approval.
§ 2. Section 23 of the town law is amended by adding a new subdivision 32 to read as follows:
32. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of this section, in the town of Putnam Valley, Putnam County, the persons performing the functions of the building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector/code enforcement officer need not be electors of such town. Provided, however, the persons performing the functions of the building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector/code enforcement officer in any other town shall be electors of such town, unless otherwise provided by an act of the state legislature.
§ 3. Section 3 of the public officers law is amended by adding a new subdivision 67 to read as follows:
67. In the town of Putnam Valley, Putnam County, the provisions of this section requiring a person to be a resident of a political subdivi-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15670-05-8
S. 8928 2
sion or municipal corporation of the state for which he or she shall be chosen or within which his or her official functions are required to be exercised, shall not prevent a person from holding the office of building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector/code enforcement officer of the town of Putnam Valley, provided that such person resides in Putnam County or any adjoining county within the state of New York. Provided, however, the persons performing the functions of building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector/code enforcement officer in any other town shall be a resident of such town, unless otherwise provided by an act of the state legislature.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law and the public officers law, in relation to the residency requirements for the persons perform- ing the functions of building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector/code enforcement officer for Putnam Valley, Putnam County
Purpose
This bill would exempt the residency requirement for building inspector/code enforcement officer or assistant/deputy building inspec- tor code enforcement officer in the town of Putnam Valley.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 explains that the town of Putnam Valley has employed individ- uals who reside outside of the town for positions that require town residency. It validates, legalizes, ratifies, and confirms their employ- ment of these individuals, notwithstanding the absence of prior legisla- tive approval.
Section 2 amends Section 23 of the town law by adding a new subdivision 32 to state that the positions of building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector code enforcement officer do not need to be an elector of such town.
Section 3 amends Section 3 of the public officers law by adding a new subdivision 67 to state that the positions of building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector code enforcement officer must be filled by a person who lives in Putnam Coun- ty or any adjoining county.
Justification
Under current law, the positions of building inspector/code enforcement officer and assistant/deputy building inspector code enforcement officer in the Town of Putnam Valley must be filled by a resident of the Town of Putnam Valley. This bill will allow those positions to be filled by a resident of Putnam County or an adjourning county to Putnam County.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.