Int. No. 1171-A
By Council Members Williams, the Public Advocate (Ms. James), Richards, Torres, Chin, Barron, Rose, Gentile, Koslowitz, Salamanca, Cornegy, Gibson, Espinal, Levin, Reynoso, Rosenthal, Rodriguez, Levine, Kallos, Lander and Menchaca
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to verification of occupancy for relocation services
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Section 26-301 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. (a) The commissioner of housing preservation and development may require that a tenant of a privately owned building provide verification of occupancy in order to receive relocation services pursuant to subparagraph (v) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of this section. If the commissioner establishes such a requirement, the commissioner shall establish a system under which such tenant is provided at least two methods to verify such occupancy, including the following two methods:
(i) submission to the commissioner of a lease, sublease or license agreement verifying that the tenant resides at such building;
(ii) submission to the commissioner of any two of the following documents:
(A) a valid government-issued identification listing such building as such tenant’s address;
(B) a valid record from any government agency listing such building as such tenant’s address;
(C) a valid record relating to medical treatment, including prescriptions, that show such building as such tenant’s address;
(D) a notarized written statement from the owner of such building verifying that such tenant resides at such building, provided, however, that a statement by such owner stating that such tenant does not reside at such building shall not be used to prevent such tenant from receiving relocation assistance;
(E) a valid utility bill addressed to such tenant at such building;
(F) a notarized statement from a third party, non-governmental service provider, written on the provider’s official letterhead, verifying that services were provided to such tenant and showing that such tenant resides at such building;
(G) any other form of verification that the commissioner of housing preservation and development may deem appropriate.
(b) The department of housing preservation and development shall attempt to obtain the records described in clause (B) of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph a of this subdivision from the department of social services/human resources administration where applicable to such tenant, provided that the tenant signs any necessary release as determined by the department of housing preservation and development.
(c) The commissioner of housing preservation and development shall provide any such tenant who is denied such services with (i) written notice of such decision, (ii) the basis for such decision and (iii) information on how to appeal such decision.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law, except that the commissioner of housing preservation and development may take such measures as are necessary for its implementation, including the promulgation of rules, before its effective date.
AV/MPC
3005/3741
1/24/17 6:43pm