What's happening
This bill allows tenants facing eviction during a state disaster emergency to show their past employment to prove ability to pay.
Why it matters
Provides tenants a new legal tool. By allowing tenants to use evidence of prior employment to demonstrate their ability to pay rent, the bill gives tenants a concrete way to defend themselves in eviction proceedings during a disaster emergency—even if they are not currently employed.
Acknowledges financial disruption during crises. The bill recognizes that job loss or income disruption during events like pandemics or natural disasters may be temporary, and that a tenant’s work history can be relevant in assessing their future ability to pay.
May influence court decisions and landlord negotiations. This change could encourage courts to weigh a tenant’s employment record more heavily, potentially leading to more leniency or alternative solutions instead of eviction. It may also give tenants more leverage in negotiating payment plans with landlords during emergencies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Pause Evictions in Emergencies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10658
IN ASSEMBLY
June 17, 2020
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Hevesi) -read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the real property actions and proceedings law, in relation to actions to recover possession of real property during a state disaster emergency
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The real property actions and proceedings law is amended by adding a new section 768-a to read as follows:
§ 768-a. Actions during a state disaster emergency. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in any action commenced under the provisions of this article during a state disaster emergency, as defined in section twenty of the executive law, where there is a question as to a respondent's ability to pay, such respondent may demonstrate such ability to pay utilizing his or her previous employment.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16724-01-0
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.