S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 1131--A

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. RODRIGUEZ, HOOPER, CRESPO, FARRELL -- Multi-Spon-
  sored by -- M.  of A. BRENNAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee   on  Housing  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
  reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the public housing law,  in  relation  to  enacting  the
  "public housing safety and security act of 2014"

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The public housing law is amended by adding a  new  article
12-A to read as follows:
                              ARTICLE 12-A
                   PUBLIC HOUSING SAFETY AND SECURITY
SECTION 310. SHORT TITLE.
        311. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
        312. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE GRANTS.
        313. ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.
        314. APPLICATIONS.
        315. PERIODIC SAFETY INSPECTIONS.
        316. ANNUAL REPORT.
  S  310.  SHORT  TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS
THE "PUBLIC HOUSING SAFETY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2014".
  S 311. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. 1. (A) THE STATE HAS A  DUTY  TO  PROVIDE
PUBLIC HOUSING THAT IS DECENT, SAFE, SECURE AND FREE FROM CRIME;
  (B)  THOSE  WHO  LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS IN MANY AREAS OF THIS
STATE SUFFER FROM RAMPANT CRIME, INCLUDING BREAK-INS, LARCENY,  ROBBERY,
BURGLARY AND RAPE;
  (C) GANG ACTIVITY IS INCREASINGLY IMPOSING A REIGN OF TERROR ON PUBLIC
HOUSING  TENANTS;  THE  INCREASE IN DRUG-RELATED CRIME NOT ONLY LEADS TO
MURDERS, MUGGINGS, AND OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST TENANTS, BUT ALSO

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02963-02-3
              

A. 1131--A                          2

TO A DETERIORATION OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES; AND
  (D) LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES OFTEN LACK THE RESOURCES TO DEAL
WITH  THE CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE AND PATROLLING IN PUBLIC HOUSING PARTIC-
ULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL AID TO CITIES.
  2.  RECENT EVENTS AT CERTAIN HOUSING PROJECTS DEMONSTRATE  THAT  THESE
ISSUES ARE SERIOUS, PRESSING AND IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
  S 312. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE GRANTS. THE DIVISION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS  OF THIS ARTICLE, MAY ISSUE GRANTS TO PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORI-
TIES OR AGENCIES  FOR  USE  IN  IMPROVING  SECURITY  IN  PUBLIC  HOUSING
PROJECTS.
  S  313.  ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES. A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY OR AGENCY MAY
USE A GRANT UNDER THIS ARTICLE FOR:
  1. THE EMPLOYMENT OF SECURITY PERSONNEL IN PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS;
  2. REIMBURSEMENT OF LOCAL  LAW  ENFORCEMENT  AGENCIES  FOR  ADDITIONAL
SECURITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS;
  3.  PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS WHICH ARE SPECIF-
ICALLY DESIGNED TO ENHANCE SECURITY;
  4. TRAINING, COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER RELATED EQUIPMENT FOR
USE BY VOLUNTARY PUBLIC HOUSING TENANT  PATROLS  ACTING  IN  COOPERATION
WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS;
  5.  PROVIDING  FUNDING TO NONPROFIT PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENT MANAGEMENT
CORPORATIONS AND TENANT COUNCILS TO DEVELOP SECURITY PROGRAMS  INVOLVING
SITE RESIDENTS; AND
  6.  PURCHASE  AND  INSTALLATION  OF CAMERAS THROUGHOUT PUBLIC AREAS OF
PUBLIC HOUSING BUILDINGS.
  S 314. APPLICATIONS. 1. TO RECEIVE  A  GRANT  UNDER  THIS  ARTICLE,  A
PUBLIC  HOUSING  AUTHORITY  OR AGENCY SHALL SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE
COMMISSIONER AT SUCH TIME, IN SUCH MANNER, AND ACCOMPANIED BY SUCH ADDI-
TIONAL INFORMATION AS THE  COMMISSIONER  MAY  REASONABLY  REQUIRE.  SUCH
APPLICATION  SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, A PLAN FOR ADDRESSING
SECURITY CONCERNS/ISSUES AT THE REQUESTING PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR AGENCY.
  2. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL  APPROVE  APPLICATIONS  UNDER  THIS  ARTICLE
BASED UPON:
  (A)  THE  EXTENT  OF THE CRIME PROBLEM IN THE FACILITIES OF THE PUBLIC
HOUSING PROJECT;
  (B) THE QUALITY OF THE PLAN OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY OR  AGENCY
TO ADDRESS SECURITY CONCERNS IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT OR PROJECTS;
  (C)  THE CAPABILITY OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY OR AGENCY TO CARRY
OUT THE PLAN; AND
  (D) THE EXTENT TO WHICH  THE  LOCAL  GOVERNMENT  AND  LOCAL  COMMUNITY
SUPPORT  THE  ANTI-CRIME  ACTIVITIES  OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY OR
AGENCY.
  S 315. PERIODIC SAFETY INSPECTIONS.  PERIODIC  SAFETY  INSPECTIONS  BY
DIVISION  AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS ARE REQUIRED. SUCH
INSPECTIONS SHALL OCCUR TWICE PER YEAR AND ENSURE  THAT  PUBLIC  HOUSING
UNITS  COMPORT  WITH (1) LEAD PAINT REGULATIONS; (2) HAVE SUFFICIENT AND
OPERATIONAL LOCKING DOORS; (3) ENTRANCES AND DOORWAYS INTO  AND  OUT  OF
BUILDINGS ARE SECURE AND STRUCTURALLY SOUND; (4) WINDOWS IN PUBLIC AREAS
HAVE  ADEQUATE LOCKING DEVICES THAT WORK; AND (5) SUCH OTHER AND FURTHER
INSPECTION AS IS DEEMED NECESSARY BY  THE  DIVISION.  THE  AGENCY  SHALL
DEVELOP  REGULATIONS  SUFFICIENT  TO EFFECT INSPECTIONS PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION.
  S 316. ANNUAL REPORT. THE DIVISION SHALL SUBMIT AN  ANNUAL  REPORT  TO
THE  GOVERNOR,  TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, SPEAKER OF THE ASSEM-
BLY, MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEM-

A. 1131--A                          3

BLY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, OUTLINING THE STATE  OF  SAFETY  AND
SECURITY  AT  PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS THROUGHOUT THE STATE; SPECIFIC BUILD-
INGS THAT HAVE FAILED DIVISION INSPECTION;  VIOLATIONS;  AND  NUMBER  OF
CRIMES THAT HAVE OCCURRED AT EACH PROJECT.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.