Pierina Ana Sanchez

Every year, the Mayor must produce a Citywide Statement of Needs relating to the opening, expansion, reduction, or closing of city facilities. Not every capital investment the City makes in neighborhoods and infrastructure, however, counts as a city facility. This bill would require the Mayor to add an appendix to the Statement of Needs consisting of a list and explanation of proposed capital projects anticipated for the next two fiscal years, which could include things such as property acquisitions and investments in streets, bridges and tunnels. The appendix would not include projects already listed in the Statement of Needs or capital projects relating to fencing vacant lots, filling sunken lots, or acquiring furnishings, machinery, apparatus or equipment.

This bill would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to ensure accessibility for community-based organizations to rapid self-testing for sexually transmitted infections, prioritizing the organizations located in areas that have higher infection rates as determined by the department.

This bill amends provisions related to the periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for fire and smoke dampers and smoke control systems. Specifically, the legislation incorporates NFPA standards for the schedule of periodic testing of fire and smoke dampers and smoke control systems, creates procedures for conducting mandated inspections, and establishes qualification requirements for individuals performing inspections, tests, and maintenance of such systems.

This bill would make amendments to the Third Party Transfer (“TPT”) program. Through the TPT program, the City forecloses on financially and physically distressed properties and transfers them to a third party for rehabilitation. This bill would expand the definition of distressed properties, create additional notice requirements to property owners and building residents, and provide opportunities for building owners to avoid the transfer of their property in particular circumstances, among other changes to the program.

This bill would require that the department of housing preservation and development post on the housing portal any previously occupied affordable housing unit available for rent.

This bill would require the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (“HPD”), in cooperation with other relevant agencies, to offer an in-person assistance program for Housing Connect applicants.

This bill would require the permit holder utilizing a sidewalk shed or scaffolding to repair or replace, within six months, any city-owned tree that is damaged as a result of the use or placement of equipment.

This local law would require construction sites post information, in a format developed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), on such sites regarding how workers can file a wage theft complaint, as well as other information on worker rights as it pertains to protecting against wage theft. Such information would also be required to be posted in multiple languages as well.

This bill would require the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene (Commissioner) to establish and operate a pilot program to provide mental health services at no cost to children who have been returned to their home following a removal by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). This bill would require the Commissioner to consult with the Commissioner of ACS to provide culturally appropriate outreach on the availability of services provided through such program and to post on City webpages information on how to access such services. This bill would require the Commissioner to submit a report to the Mayor and the Speaker regarding the feasibility of expanding or making permanent such program.

This bill would require the Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to submit an annual report to the Speaker of the Council and the Mayor on notices of violation issued by the Department of Buildings during the preceding 12 months, in connection with which OATH adjourned hearings at least twice. This report would have to detail for each borough: (1) the total number of these notices of violations; (2) a table indicating for each notice of violation the total number of hearing adjournments granted and the address of the property associated with the notice of violation; (3) the percentages of these notices of violation for which the underlying violation was sustained, dismissed, or settled; and (4) the average time, in days, taken by OATH to reach a final decision in connection with these notices of violation.