Glick, Taylor, Colton, Gibbs, McDonough, Cook, Dickens, Paulin, Rosenthal L
MLTSPNSR
Add 390-e, Gen Bus L
Prohibits the installation of certain security devices used to control access to common areas of a residential building without the written permission of the owners, board of managers, board of directors, or authorized party of such property.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2258B
SPONSOR: Simon TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the
unauthorized installation of certain security devices on residential
buildings
PURPOSE GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To prevent the unauthorized installation of keyless entry devices that
could allow for unauthorized entry into the common areas of residential
buildings.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new section 390-d to the general business law to
prohibit the unauthorized installation of keyless security devices with-
out the express written consent of the owner, board of managers, board
of directors, or authorized party of such property. The authorized
installation of a keyless security device must be performed by or under
the supervision of the owner or operator of the entry system or inter-
com.
Section 2 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Amazon's "Key for Business" initiative allows Amazon to install keyless
security devices in residential buildings to give their drivers the
ability to unlock apartment-building doors with a mobile device, ulti-
mately speeding up their rounds and preventing stolen packages.
This program requires that a security device be installed on the doors
of residential buildings. This has caused serious security and privacy
concerns. Namely, tenants may not be notified when these security
devices have been installed and are then unaware of who has access to
their building.
One residential building in Westchester experienced such an issue.
According to the news report, neither the tenants nor building manager
knew or permitted Amazon to install such a device. The tenants and
building manager only learned the device was installed after hundreds of
residents reported issues granting access to guests and delivery driv-
ers. A service technician called to fix the intercom discovered the
Amazon key and radio transmitters inside the intercom causing interfer-
ence. This resulted in a $1,500 charge for the intercom repair.
This bill will ensure New Yorkers are aware of any keyless entry devices
being installed in their buildings by requiring express written consent
of the manager or board of directors of the property. The bill also
protects tenants and property owners from potential intercom repair
costs resulting from incompatible software by requiring the intercom
owner or operator to be present at installation.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A.9939 -referred to housing 2020: New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None to the state.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2258--B
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, GLICK, TAYLOR, COLTON, GIBBS, McDONOUGH,
COOK, DICKENS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Housing --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee
with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the
unauthorized installation of certain security devices on residential
buildings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
2 390-e to read as follows:
3 § 390-e. Unauthorized installation of certain security devices prohib-
4 ited. No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation shall
5 install any keyless security device used to control and secure access to
6 the common areas of any residential building without the express written
7 consent of the owner, board of managers, board of directors, or author-
8 ized party of such property. Where a keyless security device has been
9 authorized, any installation of such device shall be performed by, or
10 with the consent of, the owner, property manager, board of managers,
11 board of directors, or authorized party in place in such building.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01646-04-3
