Preconsidered Int. No.
By Council Members Banks and Louis
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the dissemination of information on the rent freeze program and training for participating agencies
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Section 11-139 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 10 for the year 2017, subdivision a of such section as amended by local law number 80 for the year 2020, is amended to read as follows:
§ 11-139 Dissemination of [senior citizen rent increase exemption] rent freeze program information. a. [Each agency designated as a participating agency under the provisions of this section shall, in coordination with the department of finance, implement and administer a program of distribution of information about the senior citizen rent increase exemption program pursuant to the provisions of this section. The following offices are hereby designated as participating agencies: the department for the aging, the city clerk, community boards, the department of consumer and worker protection, the commission on human rights, the department of housing preservation and development, the department of health and mental hygiene, the human resources administration/department of social services, and the department of parks and recreation; provided, however, that the department of finance, as it deems appropriate, may designate additional agencies to be participating agencies. The department of finance shall further make such information available to city hospitals and public libraries.] Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Department. The term “department” means the department of finance.
Participating agency. The term “participating agency” means the department for the aging, the city clerk, community boards, the department of consumer and worker protection, the commission on human rights, the department of housing preservation and development, the department of health and mental hygiene, the human resources administration/department of social services, the department of parks and recreation, the mayor’s office for people with disabilities, and any additional agency the department designates as a participating agency.
Rent freeze program. The term “rent freeze program” means the city senior citizen rent increase exemption program and the city disability rent increase exemption program.
b. Each participating agency shall, in coordination with the department, implement and administer a program of distribution of information about the rent freeze program pursuant to the provisions of this section. The department shall further make such information available to city hospitals and public libraries.
[b.] c. Participating agencies shall offer information about the senior citizen rent increase exemption program provided by the department [of finance] to all persons identified as [sixty-two] 62 years of age or older, and information about the disability rent increase exemption program provided by the department to all persons identified as persons with disabilities, together with written applications and related forms for services, other than emergency services, provided by such agency, in the same languages as such written applications or forms where practicable.
[c.] d. Participating agencies and the department [of finance] shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement this section.
e. For purposes of implementing this section, no later than June 30, 2027, and annually thereafter, the department shall provide training on the rent freeze program to personnel designated by each participating agency. Such training shall include, but not be limited to, the following information regarding the rent freeze program:
1. Eligibility requirements;
2. Application and renewal procedures;
3. Key program features;
4. The application process for requesting a reasonable accommodation; and
5. The appropriate agency to which an applicant should be referred to submit an application.
f. No later than October 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the council a report for the prior fiscal year. Such report shall include the date or dates on which training required pursuant to subdivision e was conducted and the number of personnel from each participating agency who attended each such training.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.
NJF
LS #25637
8/13/26 3:10 PM