What's happening
This bill creates the Safe and Healthy Homes Commission to evaluate and recommend improvements to New York's fire prevention and building code enforcement.
Why it matters
The commission brings together experts from diverse backgrounds. including fire prevention, legal adjudication of code violations, and building safety engineering—ensuring that any recommendations are informed by specialized, practical knowledge relevant to both residential and commercial properties.
It mandates cooperation across state agencies and local governments,. increasing the likelihood that the commission can access necessary data and resources. This could lead to more comprehensive and actionable findings on the effectiveness of current fire safety and building code enforcement.
By requiring findings and recommendations within one year,. the commission is structured to produce timely advice that could directly influence legislative or regulatory changes, potentially leading to quicker improvements in public safety.
The temporary nature of the commission (expiring after two years). means it is intended as a focused, actionable task force rather than a permanent bureaucracy, which may appeal to those concerned about government efficiency and responsiveness.
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Who cares
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Create Housing Safety Commission
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental operations
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.
Create Housing Safety Commission
In Senate Committee · Housing, Construction And Community Development · Sponsor James Skoufis
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10365
IN ASSEMBLY
April 29, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. DenDEKKER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT establishing the Safe and Healthy Homes Commission to evaluate how the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code can be enhanced or assisted by the State Legislature and any agency of New York State; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. A commission, to be known as the Safe and Healthy Homes Commission, is hereby created to evaluate how the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, hereinafter referred to as the "Uniform Code", can be enhanced or assisted by the State Legislature and any agency of New York State.
§ 2. The commission shall be composed of ten members, appointed as follows: two members shall be appointed by the governor; two members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; two members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; two members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; and two members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate. The commission shall be chaired by a person chosen by a majority vote at the first meeting of the commission. The vice-chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by the chairperson. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments.
§ 3. The commission shall be made up of at least one member with an extensive background in the inspection of commercial and residential properties pursuant to the Uniform Code, at least one member with an extensive background in fire prevention and safety, at least one attorney or retired judge with extensive experience in the adjudication of code violations, and at least one engineer who specializes in building safety.
§ 4. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11561-01-9
A. 10365 2
incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder. To the maximum extent feasible, the commission shall be entitled to request and receive and shall utilize and be provided with such facilities, resources, and data of any court, department, division, board, bureau, commission, or agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof as it deems necessary or desirable to carry out properly its powers and duties hereunder.
§ 5. For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission shall be authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses it may deem relevant in cooperation with or by agreement with any other public or private agency. The commission shall meet and hold public hearings or private meetings within or without the state, and shall have all the powers of a legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law.
§ 6. The commission shall report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the governor and the legislature no later than one year after the effective date of this act.
§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after such date.
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.