File #: Int 1168-2025    Version: Name: Affirmative defense for certain tickets issued to maternal health specialists.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
On agenda: 1/23/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to an affirmative defense for certain tickets issued to maternal health specialists
Sponsors: Amanda Farías, Farah N. Louis, Tiffany Cabán, Lincoln Restler, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
Council Member Sponsors: 5
Summary: This bill would require the dismissal of a charge for parking where parking is prohibited by a posted sign in cases where it is proven by a preponderance of the evidence that the person charged was a doula providing doula services at the time, and at or around the location, where the violation occurred. This would not apply to charges for parking where parking is prohibited by rule or where stopping or standing are prohibited by a posted sign or rule.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1168-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 1168, 3. Int. No. 1168, 4. January 23, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-23-25, 6. Proposed Int. No. 1168-A - 9/9/25

Proposed Int. No. 1168-A

 

By Council Member Farías, Louis, Cabán, Restler and the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams)

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to an affirmative defense for certain tickets issued to maternal health specialists

 

 Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 2 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-214 to read as follows:

§ 19-214 Affirmative defense for certain tickets issued to maternal health specialists. a. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Doula. The term “doula” has the same meaning as set forth in section 365-p of the social services law.

House call. The term “house call” means the provision of maternal health services to a patient in their residence or workplace.

Maternal health services. The term “maternal health services” means the provision, by a maternal health specialist, of support to pregnant persons and their families before, during, and after childbirth to assist with the physical, emotional, and practical issues that accompany pregnancy and childbirth.

Maternal health specialist. The term “maternal health specialist” means a doula or midwife.

Midwife. The term “midwife” means a person licensed to practice midwifery by the New York State Education Department.

b. It shall be an affirmative defense to a charge for parking where parking is prohibited by a posted sign if the owner or operator produces evidence that they are a maternal health specialist, such as a certified copy of their certification from a doula educational organization or New York State midwifery license, and was engaged in a house call  at the time, and at or around the location, where such violation occurred. This affirmative defense does not apply to a charge for parking where parking is prohibited by rule or where stopping or standing are prohibited by a posted sign or rule.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.

 

MC

LS # 14177

8/27/2025 10:33AM