BILL NUMBER: S7301

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to remedies for
violations of the New York state uniform fire prevention and building
code act

 
PURPOSE:

To protect the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers by streamlining the
judicial process to make it easier for municipalities to address
violations of the building and fire prevention code.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends section 382 of the executive law to allow a justice of
the New York City civil court, a city court, district court, or county
court the authority to order the removal of a building or abatement of
conditions where the construction or use of a building is in violation
              

of a the uniform building and fire prevention code.  Currently only
judges of the supreme court are assigned that responsibility.

Section 2: Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Executive Law § 382 currently permits local governments to seek an order
for the removal of a building or an abatement of the condition from a
justice of the Supreme Court in the judicial district in which the
building is located. Throughout the investigation, it was evident that
requiring a local government to file with a Supreme Court is a signif-
icant hindrance to addressing outstanding code violations and dealing
with buildings that are abandoned or in disarray. Filing for action in a
Supreme Court is costly, and often takes six to twelve months before an
initial hearing. This bill amends the law to allow a justice of the New
York City civil court, a city court, district court, or county court to
exercise jurisdiction over condemnation or abatement proceedings.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.