NY A11452

Creates the Office of the Cooperative and Condominium Ombudsman within the Department of Law, to be headed by an ombudsman appointed by the Attorney General who must be an attorney with extensive experience in real estate, cooperative and condominium law, and alternative dispute resolution.

Office shall educate residents and board members on legal rights and responsibilities, provide alternative dispute resolution services including mediation and arbitration, monitor cooperative and condominium elections, and refer complaints to law enforcement agencies as appropriate.

Establishes the Office of the Cooperative and Condominium Ombudsman Fund as a special fund in the State Comptroller's custody, to be allocated and expended by the Department of Law for staffing and administration of the office.

Appropriates $200,000 from the general fund for the office's operations, with the office to maintain a principal office in New York City and satellite offices in other locations with significant cooperative or condominium housing concentrations.

Takes effect January 1, 2011, with the ombudsman to be appointed no later than May 1, 2011.