What's happening
This bill imposes a civil penalty up to $7,500 on building owners who knowingly allow illegal alterations that block emergency exits.
Why it matters
Targets owners who knowingly or negligently allow hazardous alterations. The bill holds building owners accountable not only if they knew about illegal changes that block emergency exits, but also if they “should have known,” raising the standard for responsible property management.
Focuses on life safety during emergencies. By specifically penalizing alterations that impede escape during fires or evacuations, the law aims to prevent tragedies where blocked exits have historically led to injury or loss of life.
Establishes a significant financial deterrent. The potential civil penalty of up to $7,500 is meant to be substantial enough to discourage owners from ignoring or overlooking dangerous code violations, especially those related to emergency egress.
Empowers local enforcement and encourages compliance. This change in law gives authorities a clear legal basis to penalize negligent owners, which can drive greater compliance with fire safety codes and improve overall building safety for tenants and visitors.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Fire Safety Penalties
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
11 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Substituted by S1714
- Rules report cal.224
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to governmental operations
- 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.
Fine Unsafe Building Owners
Signed by Governor · Sponsor John E. Brooks
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3343
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI, GALEF, COLTON, ABINANTI, BUCHWALD, HUNTER, D'URSO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, ENGLEBRIGHT, SCHIMMINGER, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to violations of the uniform fire prevention and building code
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 382 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. Where a building has been altered in violation of any provision of the uniform code or any lawful order obtained thereunder, and such alteration impedes a person's egress from such building during a fire or other emergency evacuation, the owner of such building who has knowledge of such alteration or should have had knowledge of such alteration shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to seven thousand five hundred dollars.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01596-01-9
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.