Int. No. 766

By Council Members Foster, Comrie, Fidler, Gonzalez, James, Stewart, Vann, Barron and Jackson

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating community advisory councils for city shelters and special needs housing

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter three of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is hereby amended by adding a new section 21-316 to read as follows:

                     § 21-316.  Community Advisory Councils. 

a.  Definitions.  For purposes of this section, the following terms are defined as follows: 

1.  “Community advisory council” means a group of at least five and no more than 20 persons, established by a covered facility to discuss issues affecting the facility and advise the covered facility on how best to facilitate productive communication and collaboration between the covered facility and its residents and the local community. 

                     2.  “Covered agency” means the department of homeless services and the human resources administration. 

3.  “Covered facility” means (i) a residence operated by or on behalf of the department of homeless services; or (ii) an emergency residence operated by or on behalf of the department of social services/human resources administration which is available primarily for homeless persons with HIV or AIDS related illness.

b.  Each covered agency shall require all covered facilities to establish and maintain a community advisory council.

c.  In establishing a community advisory council, a covered facility will invite local non-profit social service providers, members of the business community, representatives of faith-based organizations, elected officials, community planning board members, covered facility residents and other concerned members of the community to participate. 

d.  At a minimum, community advisory councils established pursuant to this section will meet on a quarterly basis. 

e.  Within 45 days of the effective date of the local law that added this section, every covered facility operating at the time the local law that added this section takes effect shall submit a certification to the appropriate covered agency indicating that it will establish and maintain a community advisory council as required by this section.  Within 45 days of commencing its activities, any covered facility that commences operations after the effective date of the local law that added this section will submit a certification to the appropriate covered agency indicating that it will establish and maintain a community advisory council as required by this section. 

§ 2.  This local law shall take effect 180 days after its enactment.  

J.D.S.

L.S. 3790