Frank Morano

This bill would require general elections for municipal offices, including the offices of Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Council, and Borough President, to be conducted using ranked choice voting. This bill would also repeal section 10(c)(10) of the Charter, relating to runoff mayoral elections. Additionally, the bill would make certain technical amendments, and other amendments to account for current law, in sections in the Charter that contain requirements for ranked choice elections.

This bill would prohibit private employers from considering whether an individual has received a vaccination when hiring, terminating employment, or setting the terms and conditions of employment. The bill contains several exceptions for certain settings and circumstances: Employers would be permitted to require employee vaccination in health care settings, some child care settings, where the employee works in the employer’s home, and to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable federal and state laws. In addition, the bill would not apply to government employers. Finally, the bill would authorize administrative remedies for violations, as well as a private right of action.

This bill would limit the circumstances in which the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) can require repayment of public matching funds from participating candidates and their principal committees. Currently, when CFB determines it overpaid funds, the committee is required to make a repayment. This bill would require CFB to determine that the candidate or committee committed fraud in obtaining the overpayment. Also, presently, when CFB determines funds were used for purposes other than qualified campaign expenditures, the candidate or committee is required to make a repayment. This bill would require CFB to determine that it was known or reasonably knowable to the candidate or committee that the funds were so used. CFB would have to stay enforcement of repayment if a candidate pursues an Article 78 proceeding concerning a CFB final determination on repayment. The bill would also make a few technical and language clarification amendments to the involved Administrative Code section.

This bill would require a community impact statement to be included in construction documents for the creation of, or conversion to, a transient hotel. The community impact statement would be required to evaluate the impact of the proposed transient hotel on nearby emergency services, utilities, and traffic, as well as the fit of the proposed transient hotel with the surrounding area. The community impact statement would be made publicly available and shared with the relevant Borough President, Council Member, and community board before the Department of Buildings approves construction documents and grants work permits for the creation of or alteration to a transient hotel.

This bill would require the Commissioner of Transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility of permitting motorists to make a right turn at a red signal following a complete stop at each intersection with a traffic control signal on Staten Island

This bill would override the provisions of the New York City Health Code that prohibit owners of retail food stores from keeping a cat within their store. Importantly, however, this bill standing alone would not permit store owners to keep cats in their stores. Instead, further action would be required by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to change its regulations prohibiting the keeping of live animals within stores. Additionally, this bill would require the Office of Animal Welfare, in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Services, to establish a program to provide free vaccinations and spaying and neutering services to cats residing in retail food stores and to conduct an outreach campaign to inform retail food store owners regarding these programs.

This bill would provide that the primary residence of any seriously disabled veteran shall be fully exempt from taxation and special district charges, assessments and special ad valorem levies, provided that such veteran meets all other applicable requirements of section 458-a of the real property tax law.

This bill would require participation in mandatory debates by all candidates in New York City elections that receive public matching funds. Currently, the debate requirement only applies to candidates for citywide office. This bill would expand that requirement to candidates running for any elected office in New York City.

This bill would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish freight impact zones on the streets near freight terminals where action is needed to prevent congestion and other disruptions caused by long queues of trucks waiting to enter the terminal. After establishing these zones, DOT would work with the Police Department and other relevant agencies to take preventative and enforcement actions like establishing lanes that prohibit truck staging and idling, deploying traffic control personnel, and authorizing immediate towing of trucks that block residences and businesses. Freight terminals within the purview of DOT that border a freight impact zone would be required to create and submit annual plans to prevent truck queues. The bill would also require DOT to publish information about freight impact zones on its website and send an annual report to Speaker of the Council and Mayor.

This bill would create an Office of Assistance for 9/11 First Responders and Survivors within the Department of Social Services. The Office would have to connect individuals with benefits and services; provide case management; make efforts to secure priority access to benefits and services; and provide its services in coordination with other agencies and governments. The Office must provide an individual with a receipt containing a summary of an individual’s request for assistance and next steps concerning assistance. Additionally, the director of the Office would have to prepare a policy manual for Office staff and a procedure for overseeing the Office’s service delivery. The director would also be required to establish and make publicly available a bill of rights for first responders and survivors. Finally, this bill would require the Office to submit to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council, and post online, an annual report on the Office’s service delivery.