File #: Int 0722-2022    Version: Name: Fire department to report on safety measures to mitigate fire risk associated with powered mobility devices.
Type: Introduction Status: Enacted
Committee: Committee on Fire and Emergency Management
On agenda: 10/12/2022
Enactment date: 3/20/2023 Law number: 2023/040
Title: A Local Law in relation to the fire department to report on safety measures to mitigate fire risk associated with powered mobility devices
Sponsors: Robert F. Holden, Oswald Feliz, Keith Powers , Crystal Hudson, Erik D. Bottcher, Justin L. Brannan, Marjorie Velázquez, Mercedes Narcisse, Alexa Avilés, Julie Menin, Amanda Farías, Shaun Abreu, Carlina Rivera , James F. Gennaro, Joann Ariola , Vickie Paladino, Ari Kagan, Inna Vernikov
Council Member Sponsors: 18
Summary: This bill would require the Fire Department to submit five reports—one per year beginning January 30, 2024—relating to fire risks and powered mobility devices, such as e-bikes and electric scooters. The reports would be required to include data on fires during the previous year caused by these devices, recommendations for changes to changes to the Administrative Code or other local provisions to further decrease fire risk, and a summary of actions taken by the Fire Department to decrease this fire risk, such as enforcement of existing requirements and public education.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 722-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 722, 3. Int. No. 722, 4. September 29, 2022 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 9-29-22, 6. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - September 29, 2022, 7. Committee Report 11/14/22, 8. Hearing Testimony 11/14/22, 9. Hearing Transcript 11/14/22, 10. Proposed Int. No. 722-A - 2/27/23, 11. Committee Report 3/2/23, 12. Hearing Transcript 3/2/23, 13. March 2, 2023 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 14. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 3-2-23, 15. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - March 2, 2023, 16. Int. No. 722-A (FINAL), 17. Fiscal Impact Statement, 18. Mayor's Letter, 19. Local Law 40
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
3/23/2023ARobert F. Holden City Council Recved from Mayor by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/20/2023ARobert F. Holden Mayor Signed Into Law by Mayor  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/20/2023ARobert F. Holden Mayor Hearing Held by Mayor  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/2/2023ARobert F. Holden City Council Sent to Mayor by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/2/2023ARobert F. Holden City Council Approved by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
3/2/2023*Robert F. Holden Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/2/2023*Robert F. Holden Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/2/2023*Robert F. Holden Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/2/2023ARobert F. Holden Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
11/14/2022*Robert F. Holden Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
11/14/2022*Robert F. Holden Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/29/2022*Robert F. Holden City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/29/2022*Robert F. Holden City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 722-A

 

By Council Members Holden, Feliz, Powers, Hudson, Bottcher, Brannan, Velázquez, Narcisse, Avilés, Menin, Farías, Abreu, Rivera, Gennaro, Ariola, Paladino, Kagan and Vernikov

 

A Local Law in relation to the fire department to report on safety measures to mitigate fire risk associated with powered mobility devices

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the term “powered mobility devices” means: (i) a bicycle with electric assist as defined in section 102-c of the vehicle and traffic law or any successor provision; (ii) an electric scooter as defined in section 114-e of the vehicle and traffic law or any successor provision; (iii) a motorized scooter as defined in section 19-176.2; or (iv) any other personal mobility device powered by a lithium-ion or other storage battery. The term does not include wheelchairs or other mobility devices designed for use by persons with disabilities, or any vehicle that is capable of being registered with the New York state department of motor vehicles.

b. No later than January 30, 2024, and within 30 days after the beginning of each of the four following calendar years, the fire department shall submit to the speaker of the council a report relating to safety measures to mitigate fire risks posed by powered mobility devices. Such report shall include but need not be limited to:

1. Information on all fires that occurred during the prior calendar year in which powered mobility devices were determined by the fire department to be the cause of such fire, including the geographic location and building occupancy type where each such fire occurred, and whether circumstances at each such location indicated compliance with relevant fire code and administrative code provisions, provided that such information can be ascertained;

2. A review of existing New York City Fire Code and Administrative Code provisions governing the purchase, use, storage and charging of powered mobility devices, and an evaluation of additional local measures, regulatory or otherwise,  that could further mitigate fire risks posed by powered mobility devices; and

3. A summary of relevant activities taken by the fire department to decrease the occurrence of fires caused by powered mobility devices, including a summary of all related inspections or enforcement actions, and other fire prevention activities.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

 

 

 

 JDK

LS #7025

2/7/2023