NY State Senate Bill 2013-S3156A

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cities Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 24, 2014	print number 3156a
Jan 24, 2014	amend and recommit to cities
Jan 08, 2014	referred to cities
Jan 30, 2013	referred to cities

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2013-S3156 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5159
Current Committee:: Senate Cities
Law Section:: New York City Administrative Code
Laws Affected:: Amd §§28-103.18.1, 28-118.1 & 28-105.1, add §§28-103.18.2, 28-201.5, 28-207.6, 28-104.10 & 28-110.3, NYC Ad Cd
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S2252, A4770
2011-2012: S409, A1785
2015-2016: S3394, A3617
2017-2018: S6373, A4705
2019-2020: A3115
2021-2022: A499
2023-2024: A1027

2013-S3156 - Summary

Enacts the New York city department of buildings community accountability act.

2013-S3156 - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S3156

TITLE  OF BILL:   An act to amend the administrative code of the city of
New York, in relation to enacting the New York city department of build-
ings community accountability act

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:  This bill creates the  New  York  city
Department of Buildings community Accountability Act.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 - Legislative findings.

Section  2  -  Names  this  the  NYC  Department  of Buildings community
Accountability Act.

Section 3 - Amends section 28-103.18.1 of the NYC Administrative Code to
require that any information in the complaint book that is kept  by  DOB
and is available to the public be posted on the department's website.

Section  4  - Adds a new section 28-103.18.2 requiring the department of
Buildings to-maintain a record available for public inspection at  their
office  as  well as on the department's website containing a list of all
construction and building accidents resulting in injury  or  death,  and
all  property  damage  due  to  damage  arising out of violations of the
building code. All such accidents shall be investigated  and  a  written
report of the findings must also be posted on the website.

Section  5  -  Adds a new section 28-201.5 to require monthly reports to
community boards and borough  presidents  on  the  department's  actions
within  their jurisdiction. All enforcement actions at both the Environ-
mental control Board and the department of Buildings must  be  included,
and  must  be  presented  clearly  and  completely to allow for accurate
tracking of the disposition of each action.

Section 6 - Adds a new subdivision  i  to  section  28-207.6  (dangerous
buildings)  to  require  that  whenever  the  department issues an order
regarding a dangerous building that an investigation be made as  to  the
circumstances,  and  a  report be written and posted on the department's
website describing these conditions.

Section 7 - amends § 28-118.1 to prohibit the issuance of a  certificate
of  occupancy  unless all fines penalties and/or judgments are satisfied
with respect to the new building.

Section 8 - Adds a new § 28-104 10 to require notification by department
of Buildings of the respective community board and  borough  president's
offices  whenever a permit for construction is issued. If requested, the
full docket of plans, plus any updates or changes as they occur, must be
provided to the community board within  5  business  days.  A  community
board may request department of buildings to do an audit-review of up to
30  plans  per  year.  If  requested,  the  department of buildings must
provide a preliminary report within 30 days and a final report within 30

days on whether the plan complies with  the  building  code  and  zoning
resolution.

Section  9  amends  section  25-105.1  to  require DOB to publish on the
website all permits granted for construction, demolition  or  excavation
work  by  community board. The department shall make available a copy of
the permit and other documents within the docket  upon  request,  either
electronically or within 5 business days.

Section  10 adds a new 528-110.3 to require a site safety coordinator be
designated and present at a construction site of a new building  greater
than 5 stories.

JUSTIFICATION:    The Cities Committee has held 2 hearings over the past
year as well as gathering much information from audits and reports about
construction in New York City. The following are some of  the  facts  we
have uncovered which callout for reform:

Construction Safety

The  Federal  Occupational  Health and Safety Administration reported 80
deaths in New York City construction accidents between  2002  and  2005;
the  New  York  Committee on occupational Health and Safety reports that
construction is the most dangerous occupation,  with  death  rates  four
times the average for other workers.

The  Construction Industry Partnership of New York City, a labor-manage-
ment alliance, estimates the cost of construction accidents in New  York
City at $858 million in 2002.

A  review of 2,500 OSHA construction site safety inspections in New York
City in 2003, released by the New York Trial Lawyers Institute in  2005,
determined  that  two thirds of inspections found at least one violation
of a safety standard. According to the Institute, OSHA classified virtu-
ally all the violations as "serious".

Enforcement

The NYC DOB issued 49,000 Eca and 46,000 DOB violations in FY  '06,  and
in FY '05 issued 526 vacate orders,

A  2003 NYC Comptroller's audit showed 67% of sampled construction plans
that were submitted to the Buildings Department through  self-certifica-
tion contained errors.

A  2004  New York City comptroller's audit found that 51% of sampled ECB
building violations for 2002 were for hazardous violations and  that  no
evidence of a systematic DOB process existed for following up on hazard-
ous violations.

The  DOB  reported it re-inspected 11,548 hazardous violations in FY '05
and issued second violations in 170 of the re-inspections.

No system-wide public summary of violation outcomes exists  that  corre-
lates   the  percentage  of  outstanding  violations  to  how  many  are
corrected, nor did DOB report on enforcement outcomes at  the  September
7th  Assembly  hearing  despite  questions to that effect in the hearing
notice.

A 2006 New York State Comptroller's audit determined that NYC DOB track-
ing of enforcement of stop work orders and violations was inadequate, in
that  DOB did not have a database that provided correlation between stop
work orders, violations, and enforcement outcomes. DOB responded to  the
audit  in an April 2006 letter stating it was attempting to develop such
a system.

DOB announced the beginning of  adoption  of  three  new  rules  at  the
September  7th  Assembly hearing: 24-hour notice of demolition and exca-
vation commencements, and a  rule  to  require  registered  construction
superintendents at all new building and alteration construction sites.

The  changes  made in this bill will require the Department of Buildings
to much more closely monitor construction sites around  the  City  which
will  better  protect the residents as well as workers at the worksites.
While many people have called in complaints when they see illegal activ-
ities, they feel like their complaints are being ignored. This bill will
require the department to investigate and follow-up any  illegal  activ-
ities  they find. By requiring the tracking of complaints and citations,
stop work orders, and other violations on the department's website,  the
average  citizen  can see that their complaint is being investigated and
acted upon.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2009-2010: S.2252-A/A.4770-A

EFFECTIVE DATE:  July 1, 2015

2013-S3156 - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  3156

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 30, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  KRUEGER, DIAZ, HASSELL-THOMPSON -- read twice and
  ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
  Cities

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  administrative code of the city of New York, in
  relation to enacting the New York city department of buildings  commu-
  nity accountability act

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

  Section 1. Legislative findings.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
declares  that  the  health  and  safety of the population living in and
around the many construction projects within the densely populated  city
of  New  York  is  a matter of state concern as pressure mounts to build
more and more while completing projects in the shortest  time  possible.
Construction  is  the  most  dangerous occupation, with death rates four
times  the  average  for  other  workers  and  conditions  adjacent   to
construction sites dangerous to the public.
  A comprehensive public reporting system for the tracking of accidents,
vacate orders, safety violations, and enforcement actions of the depart-
ment of buildings is an essential component of assuring greater account-
ability  and  transparency in assuring compliance with the building code
and the zoning resolution to improve public safety.
  S 2. This act shall be known and may be cited as the  "New  York  city
department of buildings community accountability act".
  S 3. Section 28-103.18.1 of the administrative code of the city of New
York,  as  added  by local law number 33 of the city of New York for the
year 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  S 28-103.18.1 Complaint records. The department shall keep records  of
complaints  made  by  any  person  in reference to any building or other
matter under the jurisdiction of the department.    Recorded  complaints
shall include the name and residence of the complainant, the name of the
person  complained  of,  the  date of the entry of the complaint and any

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00869-01-3

S. 3156                             2

suggested remedies. Except for entries of names and  residences  of  the
complainants,  such  records shall be made available for public examina-
tion.  RECORDS ON ACCIDENTS, UNSAFE BUILDING ORDERS, AND  VACATE  ORDERS
SHALL  BE  POSTED  ON THE DEPARTMENT'S INFORMATION WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY
THE CITY OF NEW YORK, SUBJECT TO SUCH REGULATIONS  AS  THE  COMMISSIONER
SHALL PRESCRIBE.
  S  4.  The  administrative  code of the city of New York is amended by
adding a new section 28-103.18.2 to read as follows:
  S 28-103.18.2 RECORDS OF CONSTRUCTION AND  BUILDING  ACCIDENTS.    THE
DEPARTMENT  SHALL  MAINTAIN  A  RECORD  OF ALL CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING
ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN EITHER INJURY OR DEATH TO PERSONS  OR  DAMAGE  TO
PROPERTY  ARISING  OUT  OF VIOLATIONS OF THE BUILDING CODE.  SUCH RECORD
SHALL BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S INFORMATION  WEBSITE  MAINTAINED  BY
THE  CITY  OF  NEW YORK, SUBJECT TO SUCH REGULATIONS AS THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL PRESCRIBE. THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL  CAUSE  SUCH  ACCIDENTS  TO  BE
INVESTIGATED  AND  A WRITTEN REPORT PREPARED REGARDING THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE ACCIDENT.
  S 5. The administrative code of the city of New  York  is  amended  by
adding a new section 28-201.5 to read as follows:
  S 28-201.5 MONTHLY REPORTS TO COMMUNITY BOARDS AND BOROUGH PRESIDENTS.
THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL PROVIDE A MONTHLY REPORT ON DEPARTMENT ACTIONS TO
EACH COMMUNITY BOARD, FOR DEPARTMENT ACTIONS WITHIN SUCH BOARD,  AND  TO
THE BOROUGH PRESIDENTS, FOR ACTIONS IN THE BOROUGH OF EACH BOROUGH PRES-
IDENT.  SUCH  REPORT  SHALL  INCLUDE  THE STATUS OF ALL VIOLATIONS, BOTH
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD AND DEPARTMENT VIOLATIONS, ISSUED WITHIN THE
RESPECTIVE COMMUNITY BOARD  AND  BOROUGH.  THE  REPORT  SHALL  SHOW  ALL
OUTSTANDING  VIOLATIONS, VIOLATIONS CORRECTED DURING THE MONTH, ENFORCE-
MENT ACTIONS COMMENCED, AND  THE  DISPOSITION  OF  ENFORCEMENT  ACTIONS,
WITHIN THE PERIOD. SUCH ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS SHALL INCLUDE COURT ACTIONS,
PADLOCK ORDERS, EMERGENCY REPAIR ORDERS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD
ACTIONS  AND  ORDERS,  INCLUDING  FINES  AND PENALTIES. THE REPORT SHALL
FURTHER SHOW ALL UNSAFE BUILDING ORDERS, VACATE ORDERS,  AND  STOP  WORK
ORDERS.  SUCH  REPORT  SHALL  BE  PROVIDED TO THE BOARDS AND THE BOROUGH
PRESIDENTS IN A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT FORMAT TO  ENABLE  A  COMPLETE  AND
ACCURATE TRACKING OF DEPARTMENT ACTIONS.
  S  6.  The  administrative  code of the city of New York is amended by
adding a new section 28-207.6 to read as follows:
  S 28-207.6 INVESTIGATION AND REPORT; DANGEROUS BUILDING, NUISANCE  AND
ORDER  TO  VACATE. WHENEVER THE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED AN ORDER REGARDING
ANY DANGEROUS BUILDING, PLACE, OR THING, OR ANY NUISANCE, OR  ANY  ORDER
TO  VACATE  ANY BUILDING, STRUCTURE, PLACE, OR PREMISES, OR FOR ANY SUCH
BUILDING, STRUCTURE, PLACE, OR PREMISES TO BE SEALED AND/OR SECURED, THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL CAUSE THE CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING SUCH  ORDER  TO  BE
INVESTIGATED, AND A WRITTEN REPORT PREPARED. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE AVAIL-
ABLE  FOR PUBLIC EXAMINATION, AND POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S INFORMATION
WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK, PURSUANT TO SUCH REGULATIONS
AS THE COMMISSIONER MAY PRESCRIBE.
  S 7. Section 28-118.1 of the administrative code of the  city  of  New
York,  as  added  by local law number 33 of the city of New York for the
year 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  S 28-118.1 General provisions. No building or open lot shall  be  used
or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by the commission-
er.  Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall not be construed as an
approval of a violation of the provisions  of  this  code  or  of  other
applicable laws and rules.

S. 3156                             3

  NO  CERTIFICATE  OF  OCCUPANCY  SHALL  BE  ISSUED FOR A NEW OR ALTERED
BUILDING UNLESS PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE OF ALL OUTSTANDING  FINES,  PENAL-
TIES, AND JUDGMENTS ARISING OUT OF DEPARTMENT VIOLATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE  PROPERTY,  INCLUDING  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO  VIOLATIONS  ISSUED  IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY CONSTRUCTION, EXCAVATION OR DEMOLITION WORK.
  S  8.  The  administrative  code of the city of New York is amended by
adding a new section 28-104.10 to read as follows:
  S 28-104.10 COMMUNITY BOARD NOTIFICATION OF PLAN APPROVAL. 1. A.  WHEN
AN APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF PLANS SUBMITTED  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  HAS
BEEN APPROVED FOR A NEW BUILDING, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOTIFY THE COMMU-
NITY BOARD AND THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT OF THE BOROUGH WHERE THE NEW BUILD-
ING SHALL BE LOCATED OF THE DOCKET AND ITS NUMBER FOR SUCH PLAN, AND THE
ADDRESS  WHERE  THE  BUILDING  IS  TO  BE BUILT. UPON THE REQUEST OF THE
COMMUNITY BOARD, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FURNISH,  AND  PROVIDE  A  REGULAR
UPDATE,  OF  THE COMPLETE DOCKET OF THE PROJECT, INCLUDING ALL PLANS AND
DRAWINGS, PERMITS, AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN, AUDITS, OBJECTIONS, AND  SUCH
OTHER MATERIAL AS SHALL COMPRISE THE DOCKET OF SAID PROJECT.
  B.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  FURNISH THE COMPLETE DOCKET OF THE PROJECT
WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF SAID REQUEST, AND EACH ADDITIONAL  DOCUMENT
ADDED TO THE DOCKET WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF SUCH ADDITION.
  2.  A.  THE  COMMUNITY  BOARD  IN  WHICH  ANY  NEW BUILDING PROJECT IS
LOCATED, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT IN  THE  BOROUGH  OF
THE  LOCATION OF SUCH PROJECT, MAY REQUEST IN WRITING AND UPON A VOTE OF
THE BOARD, AN AUDIT-REVIEW OF UP TO THIRTY PLANS PER YEAR BY THE DEPART-
MENT, WHICH THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE OBLIGATED TO CONDUCT. THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL PROVIDE THE BOARD AND THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT THE  RESULTS  OF  SUCH
AUDIT-REVIEW INCLUDING ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE PLAN PROVIDED TO THE APPLI-
CANT. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FURNISH A PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE BOARD AND
THE  BOROUGH  PRESIDENT  WITHIN  THIRTY  DAYS, AND A FINAL REPORT WITHIN
SIXTY DAYS, OF WHETHER THE PLAN COMPLIES WITH THE BUILDING CODE AND  THE
ZONING RESOLUTION.
  B.  NOTHING  IN  THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT REQUESTS FOR
AUDITS, REVIEWS, OR OTHER ACTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT, BY COMMUNITY BOARDS
OR BOROUGH PRESIDENTS.
  3. WHERE THE DEPARTMENT IS AUDITING AND REVIEWING ANY  APPROVED  PLAN,
ANY  NOTICE  OF OBJECTIONS TO THE PLAN SHALL BE PUBLISHED ON THE DEPART-
MENT OF BUILDINGS INFORMATION WEBSITE MAINTAINED  BY  THE  CITY  OF  NEW
YORK.
  4.  WITHIN  NINETY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE STANDARDS FOR  ALLOWING  PERMITTED  WORK  TO
CONTINUE WHEN OBJECTIONS TO APPROVED PLANS BY THE DEPARTMENT OCCUR.  THE
ADOPTION OF SUCH STANDARDS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE OF THE
NEW YORK CITY CHARTER.
  S  9.  Section  28-105.1 of the administrative code of the city of New
York, as added by local law number 33 of the city of New  York  for  the
year 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  S  28-105.1  General.  1.  It shall be unlawful to construct, enlarge,
alter, repair, move, demolish, remove or change the use or occupancy  of
any  building  or  structure  in  the city, or to erect, install, alter,
repair, or use or operate  any  sign  or  service  equipment  in  or  in
connection  therewith,  or  to  erect,  install,  alter, repair, remove,
convert or replace any gas, mechanical,  plumbing  or  fire  suppression
system  in  or  in  connection therewith or to cause any such work to be
done unless and until a written permit therefore shall have been  issued
by  the  commissioner  in accordance with the requirements of this code,

S. 3156                             4

subject to such exceptions and exemptions as may be provided in  section
28-105.4.
  2.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  PUBLISH ON ITS WEBSITE BY COMMUNITY BOARD,
NOTICE OF PERMITS GRANTED FOR ANY NEW BUILDING,  FOUNDATION  AND  EARTH-
WORK,  ALTERATION, AND ANY DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL, INCLUDING THE ADDRESS
OF THE PROJECT WHERE THE PERMIT HAS BEEN GRANTED. THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL
PROVIDE  ACCESS  TO  OR FURNISH A COPY OF THE PERMIT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS
WITHIN THE DOCKET ESTABLISHED FOR THE PROJECT, EITHER ELECTRONICALLY  OR
BY  OTHER  MEANS,  UPON  REQUEST AND SHALL MAKE SUCH DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF SUCH REQUEST.  THE DEPARTMENT MAY  WITHHOLD
PLANS  FOR  PARTICULAR BUILDINGS AT THE REQUEST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN-
CIES.
  S 10. The administrative code of the city of New York  is  amended  by
adding a new section 28-110.3 to read as follows:
  S 28-110.3 PRESENCE OF SITE SAFETY COORDINATOR REQUIRED. A SITE SAFETY
COORDINATOR SHALL BE PRESENT ON ANY SITE OF CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUILD-
ING  IN  EXCESS  OF FIVE STORIES IN HEIGHT, PURSUANT TO DEPARTMENT REGU-
LATIONS.
  S 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.

co-Sponsors

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5159
Current Committee:: Senate Cities
Law Section:: New York City Administrative Code
Laws Affected:: Amd §§28-103.18.1, 28-118.1 & 28-105.1, add §§28-103.18.2, 28-201.5, 28-207.6, 28-104.10 & 28-110.3, NYC Ad Cd
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S2252, A4770
2011-2012: S409, A1785
2015-2016: S3394, A3617
2017-2018: S6373, A4705
2019-2020: A3115
2021-2022: A499
2023-2024: A1027

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the New York city department of buildings community accountability act.

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S3156A

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the administrative code of the city of
New York, in relation to enacting the New York city department of
buildings community accountability act

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill creates the New York City Department of Buildings community
Accountability Act.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 - Legislative findings.

Section 2 - Names this the NYC Department of Buildings community
Accountability Act.

Section 3 - Amends section 28-103.18.1 of the NYC Administrative Code
to require that any information in the complaint book that is kept by
DOB and is available to the public be posted on the department's
website.

Section 4 - Adds a new section 28-103.18.2 requiring the department of
Buildings to-maintain a record available for public inspection at
their office as well as on the department's website containing a list

of all construction and building accidents resulting in injury or
death, and all property damage due to damage arising out of violations
of the building code. All such accidents shall be investigated and a
written report of the findings must also be posted on the website.

Section 5 - Adds a new section 28-201.5 to require monthly reports to
community boards and borough presidents on the department's actions
within their jurisdiction. All enforcement actions at both the
Environmental control Board and the department of Buildings must be
included, and must be presented clearly and completely to allow for
accurate tracking of the disposition of each action.

Section 6 - Adds a new subdivision i to section 28-207.6 (dangerous
buildings) to require that whenever the department issues an order
regarding a dangerous building that an investigation be made as to the
circumstances, and a report be written and posted on the department's
website describing these conditions.

Section 7 - amends § 28-118.1 to prohibit the issuance of a
certificate of occupancy unless all fines penalties and/or judgments
are satisfied with respect to the new building.

Section 3 - Adds a new § 28-104 10 to require notification by
department of Buildings of the respective community board and borough
president's offices whenever a permit for construction is issued. If
requested, the full docket of plans, plus any updates or changes as
they occur, must be provided to the community board within 5 business
days. A community board may request department of buildings to do an
audit-review of up to 30 plans per year. If requested, the department
of buildings must provide a preliminary report within 30 days and a


final report within 30 days on whether the plan complies with the
building code and zoning resolution.

Section 9 amends section 25-105.1 to require DOB to publish on the
website all permits granted for construction, demolition or excavation
work by community board. The department shall make available a copy of
the permit and other documents within the docket upon request, either
electronically or within 5 business days.

Section 10 adds a new 528-110.3 to require a site safety coordinator
be designated and present at a construction site of a new building
greater than 5 stories.

JUSTIFICATION:

The Cities Committee has held 2 hearings over the past year as well as
gathering much information from audits and reports about construction
in New York City. The following are some of the facts we have
uncovered which callout for reform:

Construction Safety

The Federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration reported 80
deaths in New York City construction accidents between 2002 and 2005;
the New York Committee on occupational Health and Safety reports that
construction is the most dangerous occupation, with death rates four
times the average for other workers.

The Construction Industry Partnership of New York City, a
labor-management alliance, estimates the cost of construction
accidents in New York City at $858 million in 2002.

A review of 2,500 OSHA construction site safety inspections in New
York City in 2003, released by the New York Trial Lawyers Institute in
2005, determined that two thirds of inspections found at least one
violation of a safety standard. According to the Institute, OSHA
classified virtually all the violations as "serious".

Enforcement

The NYC DOB issued 49,000 Eca and 46,000 DOS violations in FY '06, and
in FY '05 issued 526 vacate orders.

A 2003 NYC Comptroller's audit showed 67% of sampled construction
plans that were submitted to the Buildings Department through
self-certification contained errors.

A 2004 New York City comptroller's audit found that 51% of sampled ECS
building violations for 2002 were for hazardous violations and that no
evidence of a systematic DOB process existed for following up on
hazardous violations.

The DOB reported it re-inspected 11,548 hazardous violations in EY '05
and issued second violations in 170 of the re-inspections.

No system-wide public summary of violation outcomes exists that
correlates the percentage of outstanding violations to how many are


corrected, nor did DOB report on enforcement outcomes at the September
7th Assembly hearing despite questions to that effect in the hearing
notice.

A 2006 New York State Comptroller's audit determined that NYC DOB
tracking of enforcement of stop work orders and violations was
inadequate, in that DOB did not have a database that provided
correlation between stop work orders, violations, and enforcement
outcomes. DOS responded to the audit in an April 2006 letter stating
it was attempting to develop such a system.

DOE announced the beginning of adoption of three new rules at the
September 7th Assembly hearing: 24-hour notice of demolition and
excavation commencements, and a rule to require registered
construction superintendents at all new building and alteration
construction sites.

The changes made in this bill will require the Department of Buildings
to much more closely monitor construction sites around the City which
will better protect the residents as well as workers at the worksites.
While many people have called in complaints when they see illegal
activities, they feel like their complaints are being ignored. This
bill will require the department to investigate and follow-up any
illegal activities they find. By requiring the tracking of complaints
and citations, stop work orders, and other violations on the
department's website, the average citizen can see that their complaint
is being investigated and acted upon.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2009-2010: S.2252-A/A.4770-A

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law.

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                 3156--A

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 30, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  KRUEGER,  DIAZ, HASSELL-THOMPSON, HOYLMAN -- read
  twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
  Committee  on  Cities  --  recommitted  to  the Committee on Cities in
  accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --  committee  discharged,  bill
  amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
  tee

AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the  city  of  New  York,  in
  relation  to enacting the New York city department of buildings commu-
  nity accountability act

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

  Section  1.  Legislative  findings.  The  legislature hereby finds and
declares that the health and safety of  the  population  living  in  and
around  the many construction projects within the densely populated city
of New York is a matter of state concern as  pressure  mounts  to  build
more  and  more while completing projects in the shortest time possible.
Construction is the most dangerous occupation,  with  death  rates  four
times   the  average  for  other  workers  and  conditions  adjacent  to
construction sites dangerous to the public.
  A comprehensive public reporting system for the tracking of accidents,
vacate orders, safety violations, and enforcement actions of the depart-
ment of buildings is an essential component of assuring greater account-
ability and transparency in assuring compliance with the  building  code
and the zoning resolution to improve public safety.
  S  2.  This  act shall be known and may be cited as the "New York city
department of buildings community accountability act".
  S 3. Section 28-103.18.1 of the administrative code of the city of New
York, as added by local law number 33 of the city of New  York  for  the
year 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  S  28-103.18.1 Complaint records. The department shall keep records of
complaints made by any person in reference  to  any  building  or  other

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00869-04-4

S. 3156--A                          2

matter  under  the  jurisdiction of the department.  Recorded complaints
shall include the name and residence of the complainant, the name of the
person complained of, the date of the entry of  the  complaint  and  any
suggested  remedies.  Except  for entries of names and residences of the
complainants, such records shall be made available for  public  examina-
tion.    RECORDS ON ACCIDENTS, UNSAFE BUILDING ORDERS, AND VACATE ORDERS
SHALL BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S INFORMATION  WEBSITE  MAINTAINED  BY
THE  CITY  OF  NEW YORK, SUBJECT TO SUCH REGULATIONS AS THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL PRESCRIBE.
  S 4. The administrative code of the city of New  York  is  amended  by
adding a new section 28-103.18.2 to read as follows:
  S  28-103.18.2  RECORDS  OF  CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING ACCIDENTS.  THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL MAINTAIN A RECORD  OF  ALL  CONSTRUCTION  AND  BUILDING
ACCIDENTS  RESULTING  IN  EITHER INJURY OR DEATH TO PERSONS OR DAMAGE TO
PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF VIOLATIONS OF THE BUILDING CODE.    SUCH  RECORD
SHALL  BE  POSTED  ON THE DEPARTMENT'S INFORMATION WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY
THE CITY OF NEW YORK, SUBJECT TO SUCH REGULATIONS  AS  THE  COMMISSIONER
SHALL  PRESCRIBE.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  CAUSE  SUCH ACCIDENTS TO BE
INVESTIGATED AND A WRITTEN REPORT PREPARED REGARDING  THE  CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE ACCIDENT.
  S  5.  The  administrative  code of the city of New York is amended by
adding a new section 28-201.5 to read as follows:
  S 28-201.5 MONTHLY REPORTS TO COMMUNITY BOARDS AND BOROUGH PRESIDENTS.
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE A MONTHLY REPORT ON DEPARTMENT  ACTIONS  TO
EACH  COMMUNITY  BOARD, FOR DEPARTMENT ACTIONS WITHIN SUCH BOARD, AND TO
THE BOROUGH PRESIDENTS, FOR ACTIONS IN THE BOROUGH OF EACH BOROUGH PRES-
IDENT. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE THE  STATUS  OF  ALL  VIOLATIONS,  BOTH
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD AND DEPARTMENT VIOLATIONS, ISSUED WITHIN THE
RESPECTIVE  COMMUNITY  BOARD  AND  BOROUGH.  THE  REPORT  SHALL SHOW ALL
OUTSTANDING VIOLATIONS, VIOLATIONS CORRECTED DURING THE MONTH,  ENFORCE-
MENT  ACTIONS  COMMENCED,  AND  THE  DISPOSITION OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS,
WITHIN THE PERIOD. SUCH ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS SHALL INCLUDE COURT ACTIONS,
PADLOCK ORDERS, EMERGENCY REPAIR ORDERS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD
ACTIONS AND ORDERS, INCLUDING FINES  AND  PENALTIES.  THE  REPORT  SHALL
FURTHER  SHOW  ALL  UNSAFE BUILDING ORDERS, VACATE ORDERS, AND STOP WORK
ORDERS. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE PROVIDED TO  THE  BOARDS  AND  THE  BOROUGH
PRESIDENTS  IN  A  CLEAR  AND CONSISTENT FORMAT TO ENABLE A COMPLETE AND
ACCURATE TRACKING OF DEPARTMENT ACTIONS.
  S 6. The administrative code of the city of New  York  is  amended  by
adding a new section 28-207.6 to read as follows:
  S  28-207.6 INVESTIGATION AND REPORT; DANGEROUS BUILDING, NUISANCE AND
ORDER TO VACATE. WHENEVER THE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED AN  ORDER  REGARDING
ANY  DANGEROUS  BUILDING, PLACE, OR THING, OR ANY NUISANCE, OR ANY ORDER
TO VACATE ANY BUILDING, STRUCTURE, PLACE, OR PREMISES, OR FOR  ANY  SUCH
BUILDING, STRUCTURE, PLACE, OR PREMISES TO BE SEALED AND/OR SECURED, THE
COMMISSIONER  SHALL  CAUSE  THE CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING SUCH ORDER TO BE
INVESTIGATED, AND A WRITTEN REPORT PREPARED. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE AVAIL-
ABLE FOR PUBLIC EXAMINATION, AND POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S  INFORMATION
WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK, PURSUANT TO SUCH REGULATIONS
AS THE COMMISSIONER MAY PRESCRIBE.
  S  7.  Section  28-118.1 of the administrative code of the city of New
York, as added by local law number 33 of the city of New  York  for  the
year 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  S  28-118.1  General provisions. No building or open lot shall be used
or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by the commission-
er. Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall not be construed as  an

S. 3156--A                          3

approval  of  a  violation  of  the  provisions of this code or of other
applicable laws and rules.
  NO  CERTIFICATE  OF  OCCUPANCY  SHALL  BE  ISSUED FOR A NEW OR ALTERED
BUILDING UNLESS PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE OF ALL OUTSTANDING  FINES,  PENAL-
TIES, AND JUDGMENTS ARISING OUT OF DEPARTMENT VIOLATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE  PROPERTY,  INCLUDING  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO  VIOLATIONS  ISSUED  IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY CONSTRUCTION, EXCAVATION OR DEMOLITION WORK.
  S 8. The administrative code of the city of New  York  is  amended  by
adding a new section 28-104.10 to read as follows:
  S 28-104.10 COMMUNITY BOARD NOTIFICATION OF PLAN APPROVAL. 1. A.  WHEN
AN  APPLICATION  FOR  APPROVAL  OF PLANS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT HAS
BEEN APPROVED FOR A NEW BUILDING, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOTIFY THE COMMU-
NITY BOARD AND THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT OF THE BOROUGH WHERE THE NEW BUILD-
ING SHALL BE LOCATED OF THE DOCKET AND ITS NUMBER FOR SUCH PLAN, AND THE
ADDRESS WHERE THE BUILDING IS TO BE  BUILT.  UPON  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE
COMMUNITY  BOARD,  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL FURNISH, AND PROVIDE A REGULAR
UPDATE, OF THE COMPLETE DOCKET OF THE PROJECT, INCLUDING ALL  PLANS  AND
DRAWINGS,  PERMITS, AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN, AUDITS, OBJECTIONS, AND SUCH
OTHER MATERIAL AS SHALL COMPRISE THE DOCKET OF SAID PROJECT.
  B. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FURNISH THE COMPLETE  DOCKET  OF  THE  PROJECT
WITHIN  FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF SAID REQUEST, AND EACH ADDITIONAL DOCUMENT
ADDED TO THE DOCKET WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF SUCH ADDITION.
  2. A. THE COMMUNITY  BOARD  IN  WHICH  ANY  NEW  BUILDING  PROJECT  IS
LOCATED,  IN  CONSULTATION  WITH THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT IN THE BOROUGH OF
THE LOCATION OF SUCH PROJECT, MAY REQUEST IN WRITING AND UPON A VOTE  OF
THE BOARD, AN AUDIT-REVIEW OF UP TO THIRTY PLANS PER YEAR BY THE DEPART-
MENT, WHICH THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE OBLIGATED TO CONDUCT. THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL  PROVIDE  THE  BOARD AND THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT THE RESULTS OF SUCH
AUDIT-REVIEW INCLUDING ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE PLAN PROVIDED TO THE APPLI-
CANT. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FURNISH A PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE BOARD AND
THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS,  AND  A  FINAL  REPORT  WITHIN
SIXTY  DAYS, OF WHETHER THE PLAN COMPLIES WITH THE BUILDING CODE AND THE
ZONING RESOLUTION.
  B. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO  LIMIT  REQUESTS  FOR
AUDITS, REVIEWS, OR OTHER ACTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT, BY COMMUNITY BOARDS
OR BOROUGH PRESIDENTS.
  3.  WHERE  THE DEPARTMENT IS AUDITING AND REVIEWING ANY APPROVED PLAN,
ANY NOTICE OF OBJECTIONS TO THE PLAN SHALL BE PUBLISHED ON  THE  DEPART-
MENT  OF  BUILDINGS  INFORMATION  WEBSITE  MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF NEW
YORK.
  4. WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS  SUBDIVISION,  THE
DEPARTMENT  SHALL  PROMULGATE  STANDARDS  FOR ALLOWING PERMITTED WORK TO
CONTINUE WHEN OBJECTIONS TO APPROVED PLANS BY THE DEPARTMENT OCCUR.  THE
ADOPTION OF SUCH STANDARDS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE OF THE
NEW YORK CITY CHARTER.
  S 9. Section 28-105.1 of the administrative code of the  city  of  New
York,  as  added  by local law number 33 of the city of New York for the
year 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  S 28-105.1 General. 1. It shall be  unlawful  to  construct,  enlarge,
alter,  repair, move, demolish, remove or change the use or occupancy of
any building or structure in the city,  or  to  erect,  install,  alter,
repair,  or  use  or  operate  any  sign  or  service equipment in or in
connection therewith, or  to  erect,  install,  alter,  repair,  remove,
convert  or  replace  any  gas, mechanical, plumbing or fire suppression
system in or in connection therewith or to cause any  such  work  to  be
done  unless and until a written permit therefore shall have been issued

S. 3156--A                          4

by the commissioner in accordance with the requirements  of  this  code,
subject  to such exceptions and exemptions as may be provided in section
28-105.4.
  2.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  PUBLISH ON ITS WEBSITE BY COMMUNITY BOARD,
NOTICE OF PERMITS GRANTED FOR ANY NEW BUILDING,  FOUNDATION  AND  EARTH-
WORK,  ALTERATION, AND ANY DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL, INCLUDING THE ADDRESS
OF THE PROJECT WHERE THE PERMIT HAS BEEN GRANTED. THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL
PROVIDE  ACCESS  TO  OR FURNISH A COPY OF THE PERMIT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS
WITHIN THE DOCKET ESTABLISHED FOR THE PROJECT, EITHER ELECTRONICALLY  OR
BY  OTHER  MEANS,  UPON  REQUEST AND SHALL MAKE SUCH DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF SUCH REQUEST.  THE DEPARTMENT MAY  WITHHOLD
PLANS  FOR  PARTICULAR BUILDINGS AT THE REQUEST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN-
CIES.
  S 10. The administrative code of the city of New York  is  amended  by
adding a new section 28-110.3 to read as follows:
  S 28-110.3 PRESENCE OF SITE SAFETY COORDINATOR REQUIRED. A SITE SAFETY
COORDINATOR SHALL BE PRESENT ON ANY SITE OF CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUILD-
ING  IN  EXCESS  OF FIVE STORIES IN HEIGHT, PURSUANT TO DEPARTMENT REGU-
LATIONS.
  S 11. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after  it  shall
have become a law.

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Senate Bill S3156A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cities Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2013-S3156 - Details

2013-S3156 - Summary

2013-S3156 - Sponsor Memo

2013-S3156 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Details

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S3156A

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Sponsored By

Liz Krueger

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cities Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

Ruben Diaz

Ruth Hassell-Thompson

Brad Hoylman-Sigal

2013-S3156 - Details

2013-S3156 - Summary

2013-S3156 - Sponsor Memo

2013-S3156 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

Ruben Diaz

Ruth Hassell-Thompson

Brad Hoylman-Sigal

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Details

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2013-S3156A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments