Jennifer Gutiérrez

This proposed legislation would require an office or agency designated by the Mayor to study and report on the feasibility of a low-cost, New York City-sponsored renter’s insurance program. Through this study, the office or agency would be required to explore the establishment of the program by identifying considerations such as potential funding mechanisms and types of coverage, identify the financial impact of the program on the City, and evaluate initiatives the City can undertake to implement the program, including but not limited to public-private partnerships. The office or agency would be required to report on the findings of the study to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council no later than 1 year after the effective date of this bill. If the office or agency determines that the program is infeasible, the office or agency would have to include a statement explaining the reasons for infeasibility in the report.

This bill would require the Department of Education to report on certain physical facilities at public schools, including gyms, cafeterias, libraries, science and computer labs, and dedicated spaces for nurses, social workers, and guidance counselors. The report would include a description of the condition of each space and the approximate year in which it was last updated.

This bill would require the commissioner of small business services, or the head of another agency designated by the mayor, to establish a chain of municipal grocery stores, with at least two grocery stores located in each borough.

This bill would require an agency or office designated by the mayor to establish and administer a program to assist people without experience in child care to complete educational programs that satisfy the requirements of the Department of Education or the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to work in child care. The agency or office would provide loans or grants to participants and the participants in the program would be required to agree to work in child care in New York City for at least 5 years after finishing the program. The program would also be required to provide child care services to program participants during hours of the educational program and conduct outreach about its offerings to the public and high school students in New York City. The program must begin processing applications no later than 6 months after the effective date of the local law.

This bill would expand the definitions of identifying information and private information in the Administrative Code to include more modern identifiers, including technological information and behavioral characteristics.

This bill would reform the Industrial Business Zone (IBZ) Boundary Commission by expanding its membership and increasing transparency and accountability. The commission would add three new members: two appointed by the Speaker and one by the Public Advocate. The bill would require a two-thirds supermajority vote for any amendments or repeals of existing IBZ boundaries. The commission would be required to notify the City Council of any approved boundary changes within five business days. Commission members would be prohibited from having financial interests in real estate development entities or land use consulting firms, and registered lobbyists would be barred from serving on the commission.

This bill would require the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to develop a “Doula Bill of Rights” that includes State laws that affect a doula and their work with birthing people in hospitals. The bill would also require the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to develop a submission form to receive feedback from doulas working with birthing parents in hospitals in New York City and to share a summary of the feedback annually. Finally, the bill would establish a doula advisory council to study the work of doulas in the city and advise the Citywide Doula Program, comprised of doulas, recent parents, the Commissioner, and would invite a representative of NYC Health + Hospitals.

This bill would require the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) to complete installation of any necessary traffic calming device or traffic control device on any street adjacent to a school, in no more than 60 days after DOT issues its traffic study determination on such traffic calming device or traffic control device.

This bill would require the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to notify tenants of City-leased properties via mail when their lease or rental agreement is set to expire in two years. Additionally, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services must send a copy of the notification to the relevant council member, borough president and community board.

This bill would require the commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to establish and require a battery safety certification for mechanics of powered mobility devices, including e-bikes and e-scooters. The commissioner will establish the criteria for this certification process, maintain and update a monthly list of all mechanics who are thereby certified and conduct outreach and education about this certification program.