Int. No. 116-A
By Council Members Menin, Hanif, Williams, Joseph, Brewer, Ung, De La Rosa, Riley, Yeger, Cabán, Abreu, Narcisse, Holden, Velázquez, Gennaro, Farías, Hudson, Schulman, Barron, Krishnan, Feliz, Brooks-Power, Hanks, Stevens, Moya, Powers, Won, Ossé, Dinowitz, Brannan, Avilés, Ayala, Sanchez, Marte, Rivera, Bottcher, Louis, Borelli, Ariola, Vernikov and Paladino
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating a one-stop shop small business portal
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph 3 of subdivision a of section 22-1002 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 155 for the year 2019, is amended to read as follows:
3. (a) An online portal, created in coordination with the commissioner of information technology and telecommunications, to assist with procedures and requirements to establish and operate a small business in the city. Such portal shall have a mobile-friendly responsive design and shall facilitate the processes and procedures for establishing and operating a small business in the city.
(b) The portal required by this paragraph shall be accessible from the department’s website in English and in each of the designated citywide languages as defined in section 23-1101. The portal shall make available all city applications and related information, including applications for permits and licenses, needed to open and operate a small business in the city, and provide for the submission of such applications directly from the portal. The portal shall enable a person to check the status of an application, including for a permit or license issued by the city, that was submitted by such person or is associated with such person’s small business. The portal shall also allow a person to settle or pay outstanding balances on notices of violation, or include a prominent link to a website that provides such capability.
(c) No later than February 1, 2025, and by no later than February 1 of each year thereafter, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council a report on any updates to the portal implemented during the preceding calendar year. Such report shall also include the number of questions or complaints the department received about the portal during the preceding calendar year, and the average time taken to respond to such questions or complaints; and
4. Such other tools and resources as the commissioner may deem appropriate.
§ 2. Subdivision b of section 22-1002 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 155 for the year 2019, is amended to read as follows:
b. Within 30 days after the effective date of a change to a law or rule referenced in the guide or portal described in [paragraph 2 of] subdivision a of this section, the agency having primary jurisdiction over such law or rule shall inform the department of such change.
1. Within 30 days of being informed of such change, the department shall update the guide accordingly.
2. No later than January 1, 2025, and no later than January 1 of every third year thereafter, the commissioner, in coordination with the commissioner of information technology and communications, shall review the effectiveness of the portal in facilitating assistance with respect to the establishment and operation of small businesses in the city, and implement any updates or modifications to the portal deemed necessary and appropriate. Such review shall include a survey of small businesses.
§ 3. This local law takes effect November 1, 2023, provided that the commissioner of small business services, in consultation with the commissioners of consumer and worker protection, buildings, health and mental hygiene, sanitation, and environmental protection, the fire commissioner, and the head of any other agency that oversees requirements with respect to small businesses, as determined by such commissioner of small business services, shall review the information, processes and procedures as necessary to create such portal, and perform a review to ensure that such portal includes all city applications and related information, including applications for permits and licenses, needed to open and operate a small business in the city, in compliance with this local law before such date.
JB/DSS
LS #6702
9/21/22