NYC Legislative Brief #2
17 local laws were enacted in May // guinea pigs join rabbits as illegal to sell in pet stores in NYC // expect about 18 new city laws in June
Contents & notes
See the Twitter thread of this post here.
17 new city laws were enacted last month (May 2023)
14 were adopted via charter rule, and 3 were adopted via mayoral signature
3 laws (indicated with ✂️) cut outdated, unconstitutional, and redundant laws
Local Law 54 illegalized selling guinea pigs in pet shops (and if you look at the portion of the administrative code that this changes, you’ll find that rabbits were already illegal in the same manner!)
Legislative forecast for June: about 18 laws will be enacted, most of them via charter rule adoption. 18 bills were approved by the City Council in May, and most bills passed by the Council sit on the Mayor’s desk, unsigned, for 30 days, at which point they automatically become law.
New local laws in May 2023 (17)
Local Law 53 (Int 0273-2022), Enacted via Mayoral Signature 👮♂️🧩
by Mercedes Narcisse with 26 sponsors, Committee on Public Safety
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring police officers to receive training related to recognizing and interacting with individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Summary: The bill will require that NYPD to provide officers with training related to recognizing and interacting with individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Such training would include: (i) enhancing awareness and a practical understanding of autism spectrum disorder; (ii) development of the interpersonal skills to safely respond to emergencies involving someone with autism spectrum disorder; and (iii) instruction on interview and investigative techniques to utilize in cases involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder.Local Law 54 (Int 0004-2022), Charter Rule Adopted 🐭👎
by Diana I. Ayala with 36 sponsors, Committee on Health
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the sale of guinea pigs in pet shops.
Summary: This bill would prohibit pet shops from selling guinea pigs.Local Law 55 (Int 0008-2022), Charter Rule Adopted 🎟
by Justin L. Brannan with 17 sponsors, Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the disclosure of total ticket costs in advertisements.
Summary: This bill would require the operator of a place of entertainment; an agent, licensee or other ticket reseller of such operator; or a platform that facilitates the sale or resale of tickets to disclose the full price of a ticket whenever they display a ticket price on advertisements. The advertised price would be required to include fees such as taxes and service fees to increase transparency. By requiring early disclosure, this bill would allow consumers to make more informed decisions before beginning a transaction. Those who violate this bill would be subject to civil penalties from zero dollars for the first violation up to $500.Local Law 56 (Int 0128-2022), Charter Rule Adopted 👶🧷🌳
by Rafael Salamanca, Jr. with 17 sponsors, Committee on Parks and Recreation
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to diaper changing accommodations in parks and redesignating section 18-148.
Summary: This bill would require that every bathroom under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department have a safe, sanitary and convenient diaper changing station, deck, table or similar amenity, with half of all bathrooms being equipped by December 31, 2025, three-quarters of bathrooms by December 31, 2026 and all remaining bathrooms by December 31, 2027. If the Parks commissioner determines that a restroom does not have sufficient space for the installation of a diaper changing station, or that the installation would negatively impact public safety, the commissioner must notify the speaker of the council and the local council member within 10 days of that determination being made.Local Law 57 (Int 0239-2022), Charter Rule Adopted ☀️
by James F. Gennaro with 27 sponsors, Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency and Waterfronts
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to education and outreach regarding solar and green roof systems.
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Buildings to conduct targeted outreach to educate building owners about the benefits of installing solar and green roof systems. Educational materials shall be made available in plain English and all of the designated citywide languages and on the department’s website.Local Law 58 (Int 0606-2022), Charter Rule Adopted 🚛💨
by Alexa Avilés with 39 sponsors, Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency and Waterfronts
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to motor vehicles idling adjacent to and within certain parks.
Summary: This bill would amend the idling law to restrict idling to one minute when adjacent to or within parks that have a designated name and are identified as a park on the Department of Parks and Recreation’s website. This bill would also create an affirmative defense that the park was not easily identifiable as a park by signage or otherwise at the time a violation occurred.Local Law 59 (Int 0675-2022), Charter Rule Adopted 🩺💻
by Crystal Hudson with 34 sponsors, Committee on Health
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the creation of a telemedicine accessibility plan.
Summary: This bill would require the creation of a telemedicine accessibility plan to improve the availability and accessibility of portable monitoring devices and telehealth devices for populations that could be better served by telemedicine services.Local Law 60 (Int 0891-2023) Enacted via Mayoral Signature 🎰
by Rafael Salamanca, Jr. with 5 sponsors, Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to allowing charitable organizations to conduct games of chance at professional sporting venues, and to repeal subdivision 8 of section 20-435 of such code, which defines the term “Prize.”
Summary: This bill would allow sports venues throughout New York City to conduct raffles for charitable purposes during professional or collegiate sporting competitions by providing certain exemptions regarding advertising, the value of prizes, the sale of alcohol on the premises, the cost of admission to the premises, the number of raffles that may occur within one calendar year, and the length of a license period. Raffles may be conducted from two hours before the beginning of play until the end of play.Local Law 61 (Int 0209-2022), Enacted via Mayoral Signature 🔖
by Shaun Abreu with 35 sponsors, Committee on Civil and Human Rights
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of a person’s height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Summary: This bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. This bill would also create an exemption for employers needing to consider height or weight in employment decisions only where required by federal, state, or local laws or regulations or where the Commission on Human Rights permits such considerations because height or weight may prevent a person from performing essential requirements of a job and no alternative is available or this criteria is reasonably necessary for the normal operation of the business. This bill would similarly permit consideration of height or weight by operators or providers of public accommodations. Covered entities under this law would have an affirmative defense that their actions based on a person’s height or weight were reasonably necessary for normal operations.Local Law 62 (Int 0190-2022), Charter Rule Adopted 📄⛺️
by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams with 20 sponsors, Committee on General Welfare
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the creation and distribution of a statement of rights for persons experiencing homelessness and residing in shelter.
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to produce a statement of rights for those living in shelter, which would inform clients experiencing homelessness about the rights and services available to them. In addition, DHS would be required to make this document available on its website and to provide it to shelters and social services offices for distribution to people experiencing homelessness.Local Law 63 (Int 0679-2022), Charter Rule Adopted 👵🚘
by Rita C. Joseph with 19 sponsors, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of traffic calming devices in senior pedestrian zones.
Summary: This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT), in consultation with the Department for the Aging, to designate certain senior pedestrian zones in the City. DOT must annually install at least one traffic calming device in each zone, and no less than 50 devices across all zones. The Commissioner, after installing at least fifty devices across all zones, may determine to stop further installation in any zone and notify the Speaker of such determination. When any new zone is established or existing zone expanded, DOT shall evaluate the need for any new traffic calming devices in such zones. DOT must report to the Council by February 1, 2024 and annually thereafter on the locations where traffic calming devices have been installed.Local Law 64 (Int 0704-2022), Charter Rule Adopted 💵🖥
by Shaun Abreu with 37 sponsors, Committee on General Welfare
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the receipt of rental assistance payments.
Summary: The bill would require the Human Resources Administration to provide landlords the option to accept rental assistance payments via an electronic transfer into a bank account.Local Law 65 (Int 0805-2022), Charter Rule Adopted 📄📄🚗
by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams with 16 sponsors, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian safety reporting.
Summary: Under the bill, the Department of Transportation (DOT) would be required to accelerate the schedule on which the agency conducts the study of traffic crashes involving a pedestrian fatality or serious injury required by local law from every five years to every four years, and to provide such studies and plans arising from such studies to all Community Boards in addition to the Mayor and Speaker. DOT would also be required to submit reports concerning investigations undertaken by its crash investigation and analysis unit to the Speaker and to all Community Boards.Local Law 66 (Int 0854-2022), Charter Rule Adopted ☀️🚗
by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers with 18 sponsors, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to new daylighting measures.
Summary: This bill requires that the Department of Transportation (DOT) study safety benefits of daylighting and daylighting barriers, and implement daylighting at a minimum of 100 intersections a year beginning on January 1, 2025. DOT would also be required to install daylighting barriers in intersections where daylighting has been implemented, subject to the Commissioner’s determination. The Commissioner may determine to cease implementation of daylighting at 100 intersections a year on or after January 1, 2030 if additional daylighting would not meaningfully contribute to the safety of motorists, pedestrians, or cyclists and the Commissioner notifies the Speaker of such determination. DOT must annually report on the locations at which daylighting has been implemented and discontinued.Local Law 67 (Int 0984-2023), Charter Rule Adopted ✂️
by Gale A. Brewer with 8 sponsors, Committee on Governmental Operations
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to eliminating certain outdated and unnecessary temporary programs and pilot programs, unconstitutional provisions and other outdated and unnecessary provisions…
Summary: The proposed legislation would repeal 12 provisions from the Administrative Code: Temporary or pilot programs – 7 provisions - Such provisions would be repealed as each of the programs have expired. Some provisions require only the creation of a program for a specific period of time, while others also require submission of an accompanying report by a specific date. Regardless, all the program completion dates and report due dates required under such provisions have long since passed. Unconstitutional provisions – 3 provisions - These provisions of the Administrative Code have been deemed unconstitutional. Outdated provisions – 2 provisions - These two provisions are obsolete due to changed circumstances.Local Law 68 (Int 0986-2023), Charter Rule Adopted ✂️
by Amanda Farías with 8 sponsors, Committee on Governmental Operations
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to eliminating certain outdated and unnecessary advisory boards, task forces and commissions…
Summary: The proposed legislation would repeal 17 provisions of the Charter and Administrative Code establishing certain advisory boards, task forces or commissions. Such provisions would be repealed for at least one of the following reasons: the body no longer convenes and has been dormant for a substantial period of time; the provision establishing the body calls for the submission of a one-time report and no further activity; the body no longer provides any useful function; the duties assigned to the body are duplicative of the functions of other City bodies; or the provision was waived by the Report and Advisory Board Review Commission.Local Law 69 (Int 1004-2023), Charter Rule Adopted ✂️
by Nantasha M. Williams with 8 sponsors, Committee on Governmental Operations
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to eliminating certain reporting requirements selected for waiver by the report and advisory board review commission and amending certain outdated and unnecessary reports and studies…
Summary: The proposed legislation would repeal 27 provisions of the Charter and Administrative Code requiring certain reports and studies. Such provisions would be repealed for at least one of the following reasons: the due date for submission of the report or study has passed and no further reporting has been required; the report is duplicative of other mandated reporting; the report is no longer necessary in light of changing circumstances; or the provision was waived by the Report and Advisory Board Review Commission.