S01945 Summary:

BILL NOS01945B
 
SAME ASSAME AS A01787-C
 
SPONSORBONACIC
 
COSPNSRSAVINO, ADDABBO, AKSHAR, AVELLA, BOYLE, BRESLIN, CARLUCCI, COMRIE, DILAN, ESPAILLAT, FLANAGAN, FUNKE, GALLIVAN, GIANARIS, GOLDEN, GRIFFO, HAMILTON, HANNON, HASSELL-THOMPSON, HOYLMAN, KAMINSKY, KENNEDY, KRUEGER, LANZA, LARKIN, LATIMER, LITTLE, MARTINS, MONTGOMERY, MURPHY, ORTT, PANEPINTO, PARKER, PERALTA, PERKINS, PERSAUD, RANZENHOFER, RITCHIE, RIVERA, ROBACH, SANDERS, SERRANO, SQUADRON, STAVISKY, VALESKY, VENDITTO
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add Art 33 §§950 - 958, Lab L; add §97-pppp, St Fin L
 
Requires the licensing of persons engaged in the design, construction, operation, inspection, maintenance, alteration and repair of elevators and other automatic people moving devices and creates the New York state elevator safety and standards board and the elevator and related conveyances safety program account.
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S01945 Actions:

BILL NOS01945B
 
01/15/2015REFERRED TO LABOR
05/18/2015REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
01/06/2016REFERRED TO LABOR
01/29/2016AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LABOR
01/29/2016PRINT NUMBER 1945A
05/03/2016REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
05/18/2016AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
05/18/2016PRINT NUMBER 1945B
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S01945 Memo:

Memo not available
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S01945 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         1945--B
 
                               2015-2016 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                    January 15, 2015
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sens.  BONACIC,  SAVINO, ADDABBO, AKSHAR, AVELLA, BOYLE,
          BRESLIN, CARLUCCI, COMRIE, DILAN, ESPAILLAT, FLANAGAN,  FUNKE,  GALLI-
          VAN,  GIANARIS,  GOLDEN,  GRIFFO,  HAMILTON, HANNON, HASSELL-THOMPSON,
          HOYLMAN, KAMINSKY, KENNEDY, KRUEGER, LANZA, LARKIN,  LATIMER,  LITTLE,
          MARTINS,   MONTGOMERY,   MURPHY,  ORTT,  PANEPINTO,  PARKER,  PERALTA,
          PERKINS,  PERSAUD,  RANZENHOFER,  RITCHIE,  RIVERA,  ROBACH,  SANDERS,
          SERRANO,  SQUADRON,  STAVISKY,  VALESKY,  VENDITTO  --  read twice and
          ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
          Labor  --  recommitted  to  the  Committee on Labor in accordance with
          Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill  amended,  ordered
          reprinted  as  amended  and  recommitted to said committee -- reported
          favorably from said  committee  and  committed  to  the  Committee  on
          Finance  --  committee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
          amended and recommitted to said committee
 
        AN ACT to amend the labor law and the state finance law, in relation  to
          requiring   the   licensing   of   persons   engaged  in  the  design,
          construction,  inspection,  maintenance,  alteration,  and  repair  of
          elevators and other automated people moving devices
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new article 33 to read
     2  as follows:
     3                                 ARTICLE 33
     4                 ELEVATORS AND OTHER CONVEYANCES; LICENSING
     5  Section 950. Legislative findings and declaration.
     6          951. Application.
     7          952. Definitions.
     8          953. Licensing, permit,  registration  and  compliance  require-
     9                 ments.
    10          954. License and permit procedure.
    11          955. Qualifications, training and continuing education.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02916-06-6

        S. 1945--B                          2
 
     1          956. Powers of the commissioner.
     2          957. New York state elevator safety and standards board.
     3          958. Exempt persons.
     4    §  950.  Legislative  findings and declaration. The legislature hereby
     5  finds that the use of unsafe and defective elevators and other automated
     6  people moving conveyances may expose the public to unsafe conditions and
     7  increase the risk of injury. The legislature finds that improper design,
     8  construction, maintenance and repair of such conveyances is  preventable
     9  by  requiring  proper  training  of  persons employed to perform work on
    10  elevators and other automated people moving conveyances and by requiring
    11  the licensing  of  contractors  and  the  certification  of  individuals
    12  involved  in  elevator  and  other  automated  people moving conveyances
    13  projects.
    14    Nothing in this article  is  intended  to  create,  expand,  diminish,
    15  limit, impair, or supersede any rights under current law, rule, or regu-
    16  lation,  or  resulting  from  a determination of a court or the national
    17  labor relations board with regard to building trades  and  the  work  of
    18  such building trade. Nor is it intended to abrogate any rights or duties
    19  under  any  contract with regard to building trades and the work of such
    20  building trade.
    21    § 951. Application. 1. The design, construction,  erection,  installa-
    22  tion,  inspection, testing, maintenance, alteration, service, and repair
    23  of the following equipment are covered by this article:
    24    (a) hoisting and lowering mechanisms equipped with a car  or  platform
    25  which  moves  between two or more landings. This equipment includes, but
    26  is not limited to elevators, platform lifts and stairway chair lifts;
    27    (b) power driven stairways and walkways for carrying  persons  between
    28  landings.    This  equipment includes, but is not limited to, escalators
    29  and moving walks;
    30    (c) hoisting and lowering mechanisms equipped with a car, which serves
    31  two or more landings and is restricted to the carrying  of  material  by
    32  its  limited size or limited access to the car. This equipment includes,
    33  but is not limited to, dumbwaiters, material lifts, and dumbwaiters with
    34  automatic transfer devices as defined in section nine hundred  fifty-two
    35  of this article; and
    36    (d)  automatic  guided transit vehicles on guideways with an exclusive
    37  right of way.  This equipments includes, but is not  limited  to,  auto-
    38  mated people movers.
    39    2. The following equipment is not covered by this article:
    40    (a) material hoists;
    41    (b) manlifts;
    42    (c) mobile scaffolds, towers, and platforms;
    43    (d)  powered platforms and equipment for exterior and interior mainte-
    44  nance;
    45    (e) conveyor and related equipment;
    46    (f) cranes, derricks, hoists, hooks, jacks and slings;
    47    (g) industrial trucks;
    48    (h) portable  equipment, except for portable escalators;
    49    (i) tiering and piling machines used to move  materials  to  and  from
    50  storage located and operating entirely within one story;
    51    (j)  equipment for feeding or positioning materials including, but not
    52  limited to, machine tools and printing presses;
    53    (k) skip or furnace hoists;
    54    (l) wharf ramps;
    55    (m) railroad car lifts or dumpers;

        S. 1945--B                          3

     1    (n) line jacks, false cars, shafters,  moving  platforms  and  similar
     2  equipment  used  for  installing an elevator by a contractor licensed in
     3  this state.
     4    3.  The  licensing,  permitting  and  certification provisions of this
     5  article shall not apply to the owners or lessees of  private  residences
     6  who  design,  erect, construct, install, alter, repair, service or main-
     7  tain conveyances that are located or will be located in  such  owner  or
     8  lessee's  private residence. However, any person hired to design, erect,
     9  construct, install, alter, repair, service,  maintain,  or  perform  any
    10  other  work  related to such conveyances must comply with the provisions
    11  of this article.
    12    4. No license shall be required for  the  removal  or  dismantling  of
    13  conveyances.
    14    5. The provisions of this article and the rules adopted pursuant ther-
    15  eto  shall  be  the  minimum  standard  required and shall supersede any
    16  special law or local ordinance  inconsistent  therewith,  and  no  local
    17  ordinance  inconsistent  therewith  shall be adopted, but nothing herein
    18  contained shall prevent the enactment by local law or ordinance of addi-
    19  tional requirements and restrictions.
    20    § 952. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
    21  have the following definitions:
    22    1. "Automated people mover" means a guided  transit  mode  with  fully
    23  automated  operation,  featuring vehicles that operate on guideways with
    24  exclusive right-of-way.
    25    2. "Board" means the New York  state  elevator  safety  and  standards
    26  board established by section nine hundred fifty-seven of this article.
    27    3.  "Certificate  of operation" means a document issued by the commis-
    28  sioner that indicates that the elevator or related  conveyance  has  had
    29  the  required  safety inspection and tests and that the fees required by
    30  this article have been paid.
    31    4. "Temporary certificate of operation" means a document issued by the
    32  commissioner which permits the temporary use of a non-compliant elevator
    33  or related conveyance by the general public for a limited time,  not  to
    34  exceed thirty days, while minor repairs are being completed.
    35    5.  "Conveyance"  means  any  elevator,  dumbwaiter, escalator, moving
    36  sidewalk, platform  lifts,  stairway  chairlifts  and  automated  people
    37  movers.
    38    6.  "Dormant elevator, dumbwaiter, or escalator" means an installation
    39  placed out of service under the following  circumstances:  (a)  when  an
    40  installation's  power  has  been  disconnected  and (i) when an electric
    41  elevator, dumbwaiter, or material lift whose suspension ropes have  been
    42  removed, whose car and counterweight rest at the bottom of the hoistway,
    43  and  whose  hoistway doors have been permanently barricaded or sealed in
    44  the closed position on the hoistway side; or (ii) a hydraulic  elevator,
    45  dumbwaiter, or material lift whose car rests at the bottom of the hoist-
    46  way  and  whose  doors are permanently barricaded or sealed; or (iii) an
    47  escalator or moving walk whose entrances have been permanently barricad-
    48  ed; or (b) as determined by state or local law,  code,  rule,  or  regu-
    49  lations.
    50    7. "Elevator" means a hoisting and lowering mechanism, equipped with a
    51  car, that moves within guides and serves two or more landings.
    52    8. "Elevator contractor" means, a public corporation, or instrumental-
    53  ity  of  a public corporation, self-employed person, company, unincorpo-
    54  rated association, firm, partnership, limited liability company,  corpo-
    55  ration,  or  any  other  entity,  or any owner or operator of any of the
    56  foregoing entities, who possesses an elevator  contractor's  license  in

        S. 1945--B                          4
 
     1  accordance  with the provisions of sections nine hundred fifty-three and
     2  nine hundred fifty-four of this article and is engaged in  the  business
     3  of  designing,  erecting, constructing, installing, altering, repairing,
     4  servicing  or  maintaining  elevators  or  other automated people moving
     5  conveyances covered by this article.
     6    9. "Elevator helper/apprentice/assistant mechanic"  means  any  person
     7  who works under the general direction of a licensed elevator mechanic.
     8    10.  "Elevator  inspector"  means any person who possesses an elevator
     9  inspector's license in accordance with the provisions of this article.
    10    11. "Elevator mechanic" means any person  who  possesses  an  elevator
    11  mechanic's license in accordance with the provisions of this article.
    12    12. "Escalator" means power-driven, inclined, continuous stairway used
    13  for raising or lowering passengers.
    14    13.  "Existing  installation"  means  an  installation  that  has been
    15  completed or is under construction prior to the effective date  of  this
    16  article.
    17    14. "License" means a license duly issued by the commissioner, author-
    18  izing  the  design,  erection,  construction,  installation, alteration,
    19  repair, service,  maintenance,  or  inspection  of  elevators  or  other
    20  conveyances covered by this article.
    21    15. "Elevator contractor's license" means a license which entitles the
    22  holder  thereof  to  engage  in  the  business  of  designing, erecting,
    23  constructing, installing, altering, repairing, servicing or  maintaining
    24  conveyances covered by this article.
    25    16.  "Elevator inspector's license" means a license which entitles the
    26  holder thereof to engage  in  the  business  of  inspecting  or  testing
    27  conveyances covered by this article.
    28    17.  "Elevator  mechanic's license" means a license which entitles the
    29  holder thereof to install,  construct,  alter,  service,  repair,  test,
    30  maintain,  and  perform  work  on  conveyances or other automated people
    31  movers covered by this article.
    32    18. "Moving walk/sidewalk" means a type of  passenger-carrying  device
    33  on  which  passengers stand or walk, and in which the passenger-carrying
    34  surface remains parallel to its direction  of  motion  and  is  uninter-
    35  rupted.
    36    19.  "Permit" means a document issued by the commissioner prior to the
    37  commencement  of  work  that  permits  a  conveyance  to   be   erected,
    38  constructed,  installed,  or altered under plans approved by the commis-
    39  sioner pursuant to this article.
    40    20. "Person" means any natural person.
    41    21. "Private residence" means a separate dwelling or a separate apart-
    42  ment in a multiple dwelling, which is occupied by members  of  a  single
    43  family unit.
    44    22.  "Repair"  means  reconditioning  or renewal of parts, components,
    45  and/or subsystems necessary to keep equipment in compliance with  appli-
    46  cable code requirements.
    47    23.  "Alteration"  means any change to equipment, including its parts,
    48  components,  and/or  subsystems,  other  than  maintenance,  repair,  or
    49  replacement,  but  shall  not include the professional services of engi-
    50  neering or architecture as defined in sections seventy-two  hundred  one
    51  and seventy-three hundred one of the education law.
    52    24.  "Design"  means the act or process of planning the repair, alter-
    53  ation or construction of any  conveyance,  but  shall  not  include  the
    54  professional  services  of  engineering  or  architecture  as defined in
    55  sections seventy-two hundred one and seventy-three hundred  one  of  the
    56  education law.

        S. 1945--B                          5
 
     1    25.  "Construction"  means  the  act  or  process  of constructing any
     2  conveyance.
     3    26.  "Inspection"  means a critical examination, observation or evalu-
     4  ation of quality and code compliance of any conveyance.
     5    27. "Testing" means a process or trial of operation of any conveyance.
     6    28. "Maintenance" means a process of routine examination, lubrication,
     7  cleaning, and adjustment of parts, components, and/or subsystems for the
     8  purpose of ensuring performance in accordance with any  applicable  code
     9  requirements.
    10    29.  "Service  or servicing" means a service call or other unscheduled
    11  visit, not including routine maintenance or a repair,  from  a  licensed
    12  elevator  mechanic to troubleshoot, adjust or repair an improperly func-
    13  tioning or an otherwise shut down conveyance.
    14    30. "Temporarily dormant elevator, dumbwaiter, or escalator" means  an
    15  installation  temporarily  placed  out  of  service  under the following
    16  circumstances: (a) (i) when such installation's power  supply  has  been
    17  disconnected;  and  (ii)  the car is parked and any doors are closed and
    18  latched; and (iii) a wire seal is installed on the  mainline  disconnect
    19  switch  by  a licensed elevator inspector; or (b) as determined by state
    20  or local law, code, rule, or regulation.
    21    31. "Erect" means to vertically construct or connect any conveyance or
    22  part or system thereof.
    23    32. "Installation" means to place or fix any  conveyance  or  part  or
    24  system thereof, in position for operation.
    25    Temporarily dormant installations shall not be used until such instal-
    26  lation  has  been  restored  to a safe running order and is in condition
    27  suitable for use in accordance with all applicable  laws,  codes,  rules
    28  and  regulations. Such temporarily dormant installation shall be subject
    29  to continued inspections for the duration of the  "temporarily  dormant"
    30  status  by  a  licensed  elevator inspector. Such inspector shall file a
    31  report with the commissioner describing the conditions of such temporar-
    32  ily dormant installation. The report shall be filed annually or more  or
    33  less  frequent  as determined by the commissioner. "Temporarily dormant"
    34  status shall be renewable on an annual basis, but  shall  not  exceed  a
    35  five-year period.
    36    No person shall remove the wire seal and padlock for any purpose with-
    37  out the express permission of the elevator inspector.
    38    § 953. Licensing, permit, registration and compliance requirements. 1.
    39  Except  as  otherwise  provided  for  in  subdivisions three and four of
    40  section nine hundred fifty-one of this article, it shall be a  violation
    41  of this article for any elevator contractor to design, erect, construct,
    42  install,  alter, replace, service, or maintain, any conveyance contained
    43  within buildings or  structures  in  this  state  unless  such  elevator
    44  contractor holds an elevator contractor's license.
    45    2.  Except as otherwise provided for in subdivisions three and four of
    46  section nine hundred fifty-one of this article, it shall be a  violation
    47  of this article for any person to wire any conveyance, from the mainline
    48  feeder terminals on the controller, in this state unless such person has
    49  an  elevator  mechanic's  license and is working under the direct super-
    50  vision of a licensed elevator contractor pursuant to  this  article.  No
    51  other  license  shall be required for this work, excluding the installa-
    52  tion of branch circuits and wiring terminations for machine room and pit
    53  lighting, receptacles and HVAC as described in the NFPA  National  Elec-
    54  tric  Code  620.23  and  620.24  as  well as fire and heat detectors and
    55  alarms, may be performed by a licensed  electrical  contractor.    Addi-
    56  tionally,  within New York city, the installation of branch circuits and

        S. 1945--B                          6
 
     1  wiring  terminations  for  the  car  fan,  lights  and  receptacles,  as
     2  described  in  the NFPA National Electric Code 620.22, and intercoms and
     3  voice communications as well as signal equipment or systems, as  defined
     4  in  NFPA  Article 620.2, that is not directly associated with the opera-
     5  tion or safety of any conveyance, may be performed by a  licensed  elec-
     6  trical contractor.
     7    3.  Except  as  otherwise provided for in subdivision three of section
     8  nine hundred fifty-one of this article, it shall be a violation of  this
     9  article  for  any person to inspect or test any conveyance within build-
    10  ings or structures unless such  person  holds  an  elevator  inspector's
    11  license.
    12    4.  Except as otherwise provided for in subdivisions three and four of
    13  section nine hundred fifty-one of this article, it shall be a  violation
    14  of  this  article  for  any  elevator  contractor  to  erect, construct,
    15  install, or alter conveyances within buildings or structures within this
    16  state unless a permit therefor  has  been  issued  by  the  commissioner
    17  before  work  is commenced. No permit shall be issued except to a person
    18  holding a valid elevator contractor's license. A  copy  of  such  permit
    19  shall be kept at the construction site at all times while the work is in
    20  progress.
    21    5.  Except  as otherwise provided in subdivision three of section nine
    22  hundred fifty-one of this  article,  all  new  conveyance  installations
    23  shall  be  performed  by an elevator contractor licensed to install such
    24  conveyance. Subsequent to installation,  the  elevator  contractor  must
    25  certify  compliance  to the commissioner with the applicable sections of
    26  this article as well as any other applicable law,  rule,  regulation  or
    27  code.    Prior  to  such  conveyances  being used, the property owner or
    28  lessee must obtain a certificate of operation from the  commissioner.  A
    29  fee, as set forth in this article, shall be paid for such certificate of
    30  operation,  however,  no  such  fee shall be required for conveyances in
    31  private residences. It is the responsibility of  the  licensed  elevator
    32  contractor  to  complete and submit registrations for new installations.
    33  A certificate of operation shall be  valid  for  one  year,  except  for
    34  certificates  issued  for  platform  and stairway chairlifts for private
    35  residences, which shall be valid for a period of  three  years.  Certif-
    36  icates  of  operation must be clearly and conspicuously displayed on, in
    37  or around each conveyance and be accessible to  the  state  or  locality
    38  inspecting or enforcing any applicable law, rule, regulation or code.
    39    6.  Except  as otherwise provided in subdivision three of section nine
    40  hundred fifty-one of this article,  the  certificate  of  operation  for
    41  newly installed platform lifts and stairway chairlifts for private resi-
    42  dences  shall  be  issued only subsequent to an inspection by a licensed
    43  third party inspection firm. The certificate of operation  fee  for  all
    44  new and existing platform and stairway chairlifts for private residences
    45  and  any  renewal  certificate fees are hereby waived. The inspection of
    46  private residence platform and stairway chairlifts shall be done at  the
    47  request and consent of the private residence's owner or lessees.
    48    7.  It  shall  be  the  responsibility of licensees to ensure that the
    49  installation, service or maintenance  of  conveyances  is  performed  in
    50  compliance with existing state and local building and maintenance codes.
    51    §  954.  License  and  permit procedure. All applications for elevator
    52  contractor's, elevator mechanic's, and elevator inspector's licenses and
    53  required permits shall be submitted to  the  department  in  writing  on
    54  forms  furnished  by  the commissioner and shall contain the information
    55  set forth in this section as well as any additional information that the

        S. 1945--B                          7
 
     1  commissioner may require. The  commissioner  shall  also  set  fees  for
     2  licensing and permitting under this section.
     3    1.  Applications  for  licenses. Every application for a license under
     4  this article shall include the following:
     5    (a) the name, residence address and business address of the applicant;
     6    (b) the number of years the applicant has engaged in the  business  or
     7  practice  of  designing, constructing, erecting, installing, inspecting,
     8  testing, repairing,  altering,  maintaining,  or  servicing  conveyances
     9  covered by this article;
    10    (c)  the  approximate number of persons, if any, to be employed by the
    11  applicant for an elevator contractor's license;
    12    (d) evidence that the applicant is  or  will  be  covered  by  general
    13  liability, personal injury and property damage insurance; and
    14    (e) any other information which the commissioner may require.
    15    Upon  approval  of an application for a license the commissioner shall
    16  issue such license which shall be valid for two years. The fees for such
    17  license and renewal thereof shall be set by the commissioner. Any denial
    18  for such application shall set forth the reasons therefor.
    19    2. Application for permits. Every application for a permit under  this
    20  article  shall  include plans and specifications stamped and signed by a
    21  professional engineer and/or an architect licensed pursuant  to  article
    22  one  hundred  forty-five  and/or  article one hundred forty-seven of the
    23  education law.  Every application for a permit under this article  shall
    24  include the following:
    25    (a)  copies  of  the  specifications  and  accurately scaled and fully
    26  dimensioned plans showing the location of the installation  in  relation
    27  to the plans and elevation of the building;
    28    (b)  the  location  of  the  machinery  room  and  the equipment to be
    29  installed, relocated or altered;
    30    (c) all structural supporting members thereof, including foundations;
    31    (d) a list of all materials  to  be  employed  and  all  loads  to  be
    32  supported and conveyed;
    33    (e)  any other information that the commissioner may require to ensure
    34  that such plans and specifications are sufficiently complete and  illus-
    35  trate all details of construction and design; and
    36    (f)  any  required  permitting  fees, which are subject to return upon
    37  denial of a permit application.
    38    Upon approval of an application for a permit  the  commissioner  shall
    39  issue  such  permit.  Such permit shall state the time by which the work
    40  shall commence and also when such permit expires. If after the work  has
    41  been started, work is suspended or abandoned for a period of sixty days,
    42  or  such  shorter  period of time as the commissioner may specify at the
    43  time the permit is issued, the permit shall expire.  Upon expiration  of
    44  a  permit  for  which  work has not been completed, the commissioner may
    45  extend such permit.
    46    3. Licensing and permitting exemptions. Whenever an  emergency  exists
    47  in  this  state  due  to  a  disaster  or act of God, which imperils the
    48  health, safety or welfare of an individual or  individuals  and  placing
    49  such individual or individuals in imminent danger of injury or death and
    50  the number of persons in the state holding licenses granted by the board
    51  is  insufficient  to cope with such emergency, any person certified by a
    52  licensed elevator contractor to have an acceptable combination of  docu-
    53  mented experience and education to perform elevator work with direct and
    54  immediate  supervision  shall  seek  an  emergency  elevator  mechanic's
    55  license from the commissioner within five business days after commencing
    56  work requiring a license.  The commissioner shall issue emergency eleva-

        S. 1945--B                          8
 
     1  tor mechanic's licenses  to  address  the  emergency  that  exists.  The
     2  licensed  elevator  contractor  shall furnish proof of competency as the
     3  commissioner may require. Each such license  shall  recite  that  it  is
     4  valid  for  a  period of fifteen days from the date thereof and for such
     5  particular elevators or  geographical  areas  as  the  commissioner  may
     6  designate to address the emergency situation and otherwise shall entitle
     7  the  licensee  to  the  rights  and privileges of an elevator mechanic's
     8  license issued in this article.  The commissioner shall renew  an  emer-
     9  gency  elevator  mechanic's license during the existence of an emergency
    10  as needed. No fee shall be charged for any emergency elevator mechanic's
    11  license or renewal thereof.
    12    § 955.  Qualifications,  training  and  continuing  education.  1.  No
    13  license  shall  be  granted  to any person who has not paid the required
    14  application fee and demonstrated his or her  qualifications  and  abili-
    15  ties.  Applicants  for  a mechanic's license must demonstrate one of the
    16  following qualifications: (a) an acceptable  combination  of  documented
    17  experience  and  education  credits consisting of (i) not less than four
    18  years work experience  in  the  construction,  maintenance  and  service
    19  repair  of  elevators, as verified by current and previous employers and
    20  (ii) satisfactory completion of a written examination,  administered  by
    21  the  commissioner, on the most recent national, state, and local convey-
    22  ances codes and standards; or
    23    (b)  acceptable  proof  that  he  or  she  has  worked   on   elevator
    24  construction,  maintenance  or  repair  with direct and immediate super-
    25  vision in this state for a period of not less than four years immediate-
    26  ly prior to the effective date  of  this  article,  provided  that  such
    27  applicant  shall  file such application within one year of the effective
    28  date of this article; or
    29    (c) a certificate of successful completion  and  successfully  passing
    30  the mechanic examination of a nationally recognized training program for
    31  the elevator industry including, but not limited to, the national eleva-
    32  tor industry educational program or its equivalent; or
    33    (d)  certificate  of successful completion of the joint apprentice and
    34  training committee of the elevator industry of local 3, IBEW,  EE  divi-
    35  sion  training program or an apprenticeship program for elevator mechan-
    36  ics, having standards substantially equal to those of this chapter,  and
    37  registered  with the bureau of apprenticeship and training, U.S. depart-
    38  ment of labor or a state apprenticeship council.
    39    (e) The commissioner shall upon application and  without  examination,
    40  issue  a  license  to  any person over the age of eighteen years who has
    41  been duly  licensed by any other state of the United States to engage in
    42  the business of construction, operation, inspection, maintenance, alter-
    43  ation and repair of  elevators  as  verified  by  current  and  previous
    44  employers, upon compliance with standards and requirements not lower, in
    45  the  judgement  of  the commissioner than those of this state, provided,
    46  however, that such state extends the same reciprocity to  the  licensees
    47  of  this  state.  Such  application shall be accompanied by the required
    48  license fee.
    49    2. Applicants for an elevator contractor's license must demonstrate to
    50  the commissioner that such elevator contractor employs licensed elevator
    51  mechanics who perform the work described in section nine hundred  fifty-
    52  one  of  this  article  and  have proof of compliance with the insurance
    53  requirements set forth in paragraph (d) of subdivision  one  of  section
    54  nine hundred fifty-four of this article.
    55    3. Any applicants for an elevator inspector's license must demonstrate
    56  to  the  satisfaction  of  the commissioner that such applicant meets or

        S. 1945--B                          9
 
     1  exceeds applicable national standards. Private elevator inspectors shall
     2  maintain the same insurance requirements as an elevator contractor.
     3    4.  (a)  The  renewal  of all licenses granted under the provisions of
     4  this subdivision shall be conditioned upon the submission of  a  certif-
     5  icate of completion of a course designed to ensure the continuing educa-
     6  tion of licensees on new and existing national, state, and local convey-
     7  ances  codes  and  standards. Such course shall consist of not less than
     8  eight hours of instruction that shall be attended annually and completed
     9  preceding any such license renewal.  The  commissioner  shall  establish
    10  requirements  for  continuing education and training programs, and shall
    11  approve such programs, as well as maintain a list of  approved  programs
    12  which  shall be made available to license applicants, permit applicants,
    13  renewal applicants  and  other  interested  parties  upon  request.  The
    14  commissioner  shall  promulgate  rules and regulations setting forth the
    15  criteria for approval of such programs, the procedures to be followed in
    16  applying for such approval, and  other  rules  and  regulations  as  the
    17  commissioner  deems  necessary  and proper to effectuate the purposes of
    18  this section.
    19    (b) The commissioner shall assess a  fee  for  each  training  program
    20  completion   certificate   and   for  each  refresher  training  program
    21  completion certificate, provided, however, that in no  event  shall  the
    22  cost  of  such  certificates be assessed by the sponsor of such training
    23  program against the participants.
    24    5. The renewal of all licenses granted under the  provisions  of  this
    25  section  shall  be  conditioned  upon the submission of a certificate of
    26  completion of a course designed to ensure the  continuing  education  of
    27  licensees on new and existing regulations of the department. Such course
    28  shall  consist of not less than eight hours of instruction that shall be
    29  attended and completed annually prior to any such license renewal.
    30    The courses shall be taught by instructors through  continuing  educa-
    31  tion  providers  that  may include, but shall not be limited to, associ-
    32  ation seminars, and labor  training  programs.  The  commissioner  shall
    33  approve  the  continuing  education  providers. All instructors shall be
    34  exempt from the requirements of the preceding paragraph with  regard  to
    35  their  application  for license renewal provided that such applicant was
    36  qualified as an instructor at any time during the one  year  immediately
    37  preceding the scheduled date for such renewal.
    38    Approved  training  providers shall keep uniform records, for a period
    39  of six years, of attendance of licensees following a format approved  by
    40  the  commissioner  and such records shall be available for inspection by
    41  the commissioner at his or her request.    Approved  training  providers
    42  shall  be  responsible  for  the  security of all attendance records and
    43  certificates of completion; provided, however, that falsifying or  know-
    44  ingly  allowing  another  to  falsify such attendance records or certif-
    45  icates of completion shall constitute grounds for suspension or  revoca-
    46  tion of the approval required under this section.
    47    § 956. Powers of the commissioner.  1. The commissioner shall have the
    48  authority  to  inspect,  or  cause to be inspected, ongoing or completed
    49  conveyances projects and to conduct an investigation  thereof  upon  the
    50  commissioner's  own  initiation  or  upon  receipt of a complaint by any
    51  person or entity. However, nothing in this subdivision shall permit  the
    52  commissioner to enter a private residence.
    53    2.  If, upon receipt of a complaint alleging a violation of this arti-
    54  cle, the commissioner reasonable believes that such violation exists, he
    55  or she shall investigate as soon as practicable  to  determine  if  such
    56  violation  exists.  If  the commissioner determines that no violation or

        S. 1945--B                         10
 
     1  danger exists, the commissioner shall inform the complaining  person  or
     2  entity.
     3    3.  If,  upon  investigation,  the  commissioner  determines  that the
     4  alleged violation exists, the commissioner may deliver to such owner  or
     5  elevator  contractor  or  his  or  her agent or representative a written
     6  order to cure such violation and may order that their permit to work  on
     7  such  installation,  repair  or  maintenance  project shall be suspended
     8  until such violation is cured. Such order shall  specifically  enumerate
     9  the  violations which constitute the basis of the order to cure or order
    10  of suspension and shall specify the corrective action to be  taken.  The
    11  commissioner may allow the permit to toll during the time of such order.
    12    4.  Upon  receipt of a written notice from the elevator contractor, or
    13  his or her  agent  or  representative,  that  such  violation  has  been
    14  corrected,  the  commissioner  shall,  within ten days, issue a determi-
    15  nation as to whether such order to cure  has  been  satisfied  and  such
    16  order of suspension, if any, shall be lifted. If the commissioner deter-
    17  mines  that  the  order  to  cure  has  not been satisfied he or she may
    18  continue such order for a reasonable period of time upon the consent  of
    19  the  contractor,  or  his or her agent or representative. If the commis-
    20  sioner does not continue the order, or if the contractor, or his or  her
    21  agent  or  representative  does  not  consent  to such continuation, the
    22  contractor shall have the right to a hearing to determine if such  order
    23  shall  be lifted. Any entity or contractor who may be adversely affected
    24  by a notice, suspension, or determination issued under this section  may
    25  commence  a  proceeding  pursuant  to article seventy-eight of the civil
    26  practice law and rules.
    27    5. The commissioner may, after a notice and hearing, suspend or revoke
    28  a license issued under this  article  based  on  any  of  the  following
    29  violations:
    30    (a) any false statement as to a material matter in the application;
    31    (b) fraud, or misrepresentation, in securing a license;
    32    (c)  failure  to  notify the commissioner and the owner or lessee of a
    33  conveyance of any condition not in compliance with this article;
    34    (d) a violation of section nine hundred fifty-three of  this  article;
    35  or
    36    (e)  a finding by the commissioner that a contractor has violated this
    37  article or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder twice within  a
    38  period  of three years, or that a contractor has violated a provision of
    39  this article and such violation resulted in  a  serious  threat  to  the
    40  health  or safety of an individual or individuals. The commissioner may,
    41  in addition to ordering that such contractor's license be  revoked,  bar
    42  such  individual  from  being eligible to reapply for such license for a
    43  period not to exceed two years.
    44    6. The commissioner may, after notice and  hearing,  revoke  a  permit
    45  issued under this article based on any of the following violations:
    46    (a) any false statements or misrepresentation as to a material fact in
    47  the application, plans, or specifications on which the permit was based;
    48    (b)  any application which by omission or mistake fails to comply with
    49  the requirements of this article;
    50    (c) any failure to perform work in accordance with the  provisions  of
    51  the  application,  plans  or  specifications or with the requirements of
    52  this article or conditions of the permit;
    53    (d) a failure by the owner or elevator contractor to whom  the  permit
    54  was  issued  to comply with an order issued pursuant to subdivision four
    55  of this section; or

        S. 1945--B                         11
 
     1    (e) a finding by the commissioner that an individual or contractor who
     2  has been issued a permit has violated any provision under  section  nine
     3  hundred fifty-three of this article.
     4    7. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subdivision, if the
     5  commissioner  finds,  after  notice  and hearing, that an individual has
     6  violated any provision of this article, he or she  may  impose  a  civil
     7  penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars for each such violation. Upon
     8  a second or subsequent violation within three years of the determination
     9  of a prior violation, the commissioner may impose a civil penalty not to
    10  exceed two thousand dollars.
    11    (b)  The penalty provided for in paragraph (a) of this subdivision may
    12  be increased to an amount not to exceed five  thousand  dollars  if  the
    13  violation  resulted  in  a  serious threat to the health or safety of an
    14  individual or individuals.
    15    8. Any entity or contractor who may be adversely affected by an  order
    16  issued  under this section may commence a proceeding pursuant to article
    17  seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules.
    18    9. The commissioner may bring an action in a court of competent juris-
    19  diction to enjoin any conduct that violates the provisions of this arti-
    20  cle.
    21    10. The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
    22  carry out and effectuate the provisions of this article.
    23    § 957. New York state elevator  safety  and  standards  board.  1.  An
    24  elevator  safety  and  standards  board is hereby created, to consist of
    25  nine members. The governor, the temporary president of the  senate,  and
    26  the speaker of the assembly shall each appoint three members. The gover-
    27  nor's  appointees  shall  be  comprised  of  a representative of a major
    28  elevator manufacturing company, a member of the  general  public  and  a
    29  building  owner,  manager  or representative; the temporary president of
    30  the senate's appointees shall be  comprised  of  an  elevator  servicing
    31  company, an elevator architectural designer or consultant, and an eleva-
    32  tor  inspector;  the  speaker  of  the  assembly's  appointees  shall be
    33  comprised of an elevator contractor employee labor  union,  an  elevator
    34  mechanic, and a fire marshal. The commissioners of health, labor, educa-
    35  tion,  and  economic  development or their designees shall be ex-officio
    36  members. The board shall meet on  an  as  needed  basis  to  advise  the
    37  commissioner  on  the  implementation  of  this article. The board shall
    38  elect a chairperson to serve for the term of their  appointment  to  the
    39  board.    The  board shall prepare an annual report for the governor and
    40  the legislature, copies of which shall be sent to the  commissioners  of
    41  health, education, economic development, and labor.
    42    2. The first member appointed by the governor, the temporary president
    43  of  the senate, and the speaker of the assembly shall have a term of one
    44  year; the second member appointed by each shall have a term of two years
    45  and the remaining members shall have a term of three years. Each of such
    46  appointed members shall hold office for the term for which  such  member
    47  was  appointed  and until his or her successor shall have been appointed
    48  or until he or she shall resign.  The term of office  of  all  successor
    49  members  shall be three years. The members shall serve without salary or
    50  compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in
    51  the performance of their duties.
    52    3. The board may consult with engineering  authorities  and  organiza-
    53  tions  concerned  with  standard  safety  codes,  rules  and regulations
    54  governing the operation, maintenance,  servicing,  construction,  alter-
    55  ation,  installation,  and  inspection  of conveyances and the adequate,

        S. 1945--B                         12
 
     1  reasonable, and necessary qualifications of elevator mechanics, contrac-
     2  tors, and inspectors.
     3    4. The duties of the board are as follows:
     4    (a)  assist  the  commissioner  and the department in establishing the
     5  state regulations for equipment covered by this article;
     6    (b) develop recommendations for  an  enforcement  program  which  will
     7  ensure  compliance  with the regulations and requirements promulgated by
     8  the commissioner pursuant to this article;
     9    (c) assist the commissioner in granting exceptions and variances  from
    10  the  literal  requirements  of  the applicable code and standards, regu-
    11  lations, and local legislation, in cases where such variances would  not
    12  jeopardize the public safety and welfare;
    13    (d)  assist  the  commissioner  in setting fee schedules for licenses,
    14  permits, and inspections. The fees shall reflect the  actual  costs  and
    15  expenses to conduct the duties as described in this article; and
    16    (e) assist the commissioner in any and all things necessary or conven-
    17  ient  to the commissioner's duty to carry out the purposes of this arti-
    18  cle.
    19    § 958. Exempt persons. This article shall not be construed to apply to
    20  the practice, conduct, activities, or services by a person  licensed  to
    21  practice  architecture within this state pursuant to article one hundred
    22  forty-seven of the education law or engineering within this state pursu-
    23  ant to article one hundred forty-five of the education law.
    24    § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section  97-pppp
    25  to read as follows:
    26    §  97-pppp.  Elevator  and related conveyances safety program account.
    27  1. There is hereby established in the custody of the  state  comptroller
    28  the elevator and related conveyances safety program account.
    29    2.  Such  fund  shall  consist  of  moneys  collected  pursuant to the
    30  provisions of article thirty-three of the labor law.
    31    3. Moneys of the fund shall be available to the commissioner of  labor
    32  for  purposes  of  offsetting  the costs incurred by the commissioner of
    33  labor for the administration of article thirty-three of the  labor  law,
    34  including  the administration of elevator and related conveyances safety
    35  programs, the administration of licenses and permits, and  the  adminis-
    36  tration  of certificates of operation as set forth in such article thir-
    37  ty-three.
    38    4. The moneys shall be paid out of the fund on the audit  and  warrant
    39  of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner
    40  or his or her designee.
    41    5.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions of any general or special law, no
    42  moneys shall be available from the fund until  a  certificate  of  allo-
    43  cation  and  a  schedule  of amounts to be available therefor shall have
    44  been issued by the director of the budget, and a copy  of  such  certif-
    45  icate  filed  with the comptroller. Such certificate may be amended from
    46  time to time by the director of the budget  and  a  copy  of  each  such
    47  amendment shall be filed with the comptroller.
    48    § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
    49  it shall have become a law, provided, however, that effective immediate-
    50  ly,  the  addition,  amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations
    51  necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date,  and
    52  the  appointment  of  the  New  York state elevator safety and standards
    53  board, are authorized and directed to be established, made and completed
    54  on or before such effective date.
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