Int. No. 406
By Council Members Ulrich, Treyger, Chin, Cornegy, Gentile, Koo, Mendez, Rose, Rodriguez and Matteo
A Local Law in relation to the creation of a Hurricane Sandy monitor to oversee the multi-agency investigation, review, and auditing of all funding received, allocated and spent in relation to the recovery and rebuilding from Hurricane Sandy.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. a. Definitions. Whenever used in this section:
i. "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of investigation.
ii. "Department" shall mean the department of investigation.
iii. "Hurricane Sandy" shall mean the storm that struck the city of New York on October twenty-ninth, two thousand twelve.
b. The commissioner shall, for the duration of this section as described in subdivision f, investigate, review, audit and make recommendations relating to the allocation, spending and reimbursement of funds, from both non-City and City sources, related to Hurricane Sandy recovery. This will include, but not be limited to, investigating instances of waste, fraud, abuse or potential mismanagement as well as making recommendations on the operations, policies, programs and practices of agencies when using such funds, with a goal towards increasing the efficiency of recovery programs and maximizing the amount of aid received by those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
c. Not later than ninety days after the effective date of the local law that created this section, the commissioner shall report to the council regarding the identity and qualifications of the individual responsible for overseeing the implementation of the duties described in subdivision b of this section. Upon removal or replacement of the individual responsible for overseeing the implementation of the duties described in subdivision b of this section, notification of that removal or replacement, and the identity and qualifications of the new individual responsible for overseeing the implementation of the duties described in subdivision b of this section, shall be provided to the council.
d. The department shall establish and maintain a telephone hotline, and the department's website shall provide a link, for individuals to report any instances of waste, fraud, abuse or potential mismanagement of funds related to Hurricane Sandy recovery. City agencies receiving Hurricane Sandy related reimbursements from non-City sources or agencies overseeing Hurricane Sandy recovery programs shall, where appropriate, provide information to both the public and to their own employees on how to report instances of waste, fraud, abuse or potential mismanagement of those funds to the department of investigation.
e. For any investigation made pursuant to subdivision b of this section, the commissioner shall prepare a written report or statement of findings and shall forward a copy of such report or statement to the mayor, the council, and the relevant agencies upon completion. All such reports or statements of finding shall be posted on the department's website no later than ten days after it is delivered to the mayor, council and relevant agencies.
f. Beginning one year after the date on which all of the known or anticipated Hurricane Sandy recovery funding from non-city sources has been allocated, spent and received as reimbursement, where reimbursement can be reasonably expected, the commissioner may, at the commissioner's discretion, make a determination that the duties required by subsection b have been completed and shall report such determination to the council. Sixty days following the report to the council of that determination, the duties of subsection b and of this local law generally shall cease to be required.
ยง2. This local law shall take effect immediately.
BJR
LS 1066
6/16/14 8:51AM