Enacts the "public housing safety and security act"; grants the division of housing and community renewal the authority to issue grants to public housing authorities or agencies for use in improving security in public housing projects; provides eligible activities for such grants; requires periodic safety inspections and an annual report.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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2320
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RODRIGUEZ, CRESPO, MOSLEY, WALKER, PICHARDO --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, SIMON -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the public housing law, in relation to enacting the
"public housing safety and security act of 2019"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public housing law is amended by adding a new article
2 12-A to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 12-A
4 PUBLIC HOUSING SAFETY AND SECURITY
5 Section 310. Short title.
6 311. Legislative findings.
7 312. Authority to issue grants.
8 313. Eligible activities.
9 314. Applications.
10 315. Periodic safety inspections.
11 316. Annual report.
12 § 310. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as
13 the "public housing safety and security act of 2019".
14 § 311. Legislative findings. 1. (a) The state has a duty to provide
15 public housing that is decent, safe, secure and free from crime;
16 (b) Those who live in public housing projects in many areas of this
17 state suffer from rampant crime, including break-ins, larceny, robbery,
18 burglary and rape;
19 (c) Gang activity is increasingly imposing a reign of terror on public
20 housing tenants; the increase in drug-related crime not only leads to
21 murders, muggings, and other forms of violence against tenants, but also
22 to a deterioration of the physical environment that requires substantial
23 government expenditures; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07237-01-9
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1 (d) Local law enforcement authorities often lack the resources to deal
2 with the constant surveillance and patrolling in public housing partic-
3 ularly in light of the recent reductions in federal aid to cities.
4 2. Recent events at certain housing projects demonstrate that these
5 issues are serious, pressing and in need of immediate attention.
6 § 312. Authority to issue grants. The division, in accordance with the
7 provisions of this article, may issue grants to public housing authori-
8 ties or agencies for use in improving security in public housing
9 projects.
10 § 313. Eligible activities. A public housing authority or agency may
11 use a grant under this article for:
12 1. the employment of security personnel in public housing projects;
13 2. reimbursement of local law enforcement agencies for additional
14 security and protective services for public housing projects;
15 3. physical improvements in public housing projects which are specif-
16 ically designed to enhance security;
17 4. training, communications equipment, and other related equipment for
18 use by voluntary public housing tenant patrols acting in cooperation
19 with local law enforcement officials;
20 5. providing funding to nonprofit public housing resident management
21 corporations and tenant councils to develop security programs involving
22 site residents; and
23 6. purchase and installation of cameras throughout public areas of
24 public housing buildings.
25 § 314. Applications. 1. To receive a grant under this article, a
26 public housing authority or agency shall submit an application to the
27 commissioner at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such addi-
28 tional information as the commissioner may reasonably require. Such
29 application shall include, but not be limited to, a plan for addressing
30 security concerns/issues at the requesting public authority or agency.
31 2. The commissioner shall approve applications under this article
32 based upon:
33 (a) the extent of the crime problem in the facilities of the public
34 housing project;
35 (b) the quality of the plan of the public housing authority or agency
36 to address security concerns in the public housing project or projects;
37 (c) the capability of the public housing authority or agency to carry
38 out the plan; and
39 (d) the extent to which the local government and local community
40 support the anti-crime activities of the public housing authority or
41 agency.
42 § 315. Periodic safety inspections. Periodic safety inspections by
43 division agents or employees of public housing units are required. Such
44 inspections shall occur twice per year and ensure that public housing
45 units comport with (1) lead paint regulations; (2) have sufficient and
46 operational locking doors; (3) entrances and doorways into and out of
47 buildings are secure and structurally sound; (4) windows in public areas
48 have adequate locking devices that work; and (5) such other and further
49 inspection as is deemed necessary by the division. The agency shall
50 develop regulations sufficient to effect inspections pursuant to this
51 section.
52 § 316. Annual report. The division shall submit an annual report to
53 the governor, temporary president of the senate, speaker of the assem-
54 bly, minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assem-
55 bly, including, but not limited to, outlining the state of safety and
56 security at public housing units throughout the state; specific build-
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1 ings that have failed division inspection; violations; and number of
2 crimes that have occurred at each project.
3 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
4 it shall have become a law.