What's happening
This bill requires large building owners in New York to secure HVAC and potable water systems to protect occupants from contamination.
Why it matters
Targets buildings with 50+ occupants. , meaning the law would affect schools, offices, hospitals, and other high-traffic facilities where the risks and consequences of contamination are highest.
Mandates specific security procedures. for HVAC and potable water systems, likely requiring property owners to review, update, and maintain physical or administrative controls—potentially increasing operational costs and oversight responsibilities.
Aims to protect against deliberate or accidental contamination. , highlighting concerns about public health threats such as chemical, biological, or other hazardous intrusions, and reflecting broader efforts to safeguard infrastructure from both terrorism and negligence.
Could lead to clearer accountability. for building owners and managers, as failure to implement appropriate security measures may expose them to legal or regulatory penalties if contamination incidents occur.
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Who cares
Owners of buildings with capacity for 50 or more people
They or their supervising agents would have to adopt and implement procedures to prevent unauthorized access to HVAC systems, air intakes and potable water supplies.
Property managers supervising covered buildings
Those acting as owners’ agents would be responsible for implementing the required access-security procedures.
Occupants of covered buildings
The required procedures would protect their safety, health and welfare, including protection from contaminated air and water.
Headline styles
Secure Building Air and Water
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4851
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring that access to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and potable water supply systems be secure in certain buildings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 15-a to read as follows:
§ 15-a. Secure access to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and potable water supply systems. The owner of every building having a capacity of fifty or more people, or the agent of such owner having supervision over such a building, shall adopt and implement procedures for securing and preventing access, by any person not specifically so authorized, to the (i) heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, (ii) air intakes for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and (iii) potable water supply of such building. Such procedures shall provide for the safety, health and welfare of all occupants of the building, and protect such occupants from contaminated air and water.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09055-01-9
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.