NY A06615

Creates the office of the cooperative and condominium ombudsperson within the Department of Law, appointed by the Attorney General, to serve cooperatives and condominiums in New York State.

Ombudsperson must be an attorney with extensive experience in real estate, cooperative and condominium law, and alternative dispute resolution.

Office functions include educating residents on legal rights, providing mediation and arbitration services, monitoring elections, and coordinating with courts and state agencies on cooperative and condominium disputes.

Imposes an annual fee of $6 per residential unit on cooperative housing corporations and homeowners associations, with revenue deposited into a dedicated fund for the ombudsperson office operations.

Establishes the "office of the cooperative and condominium ombudsperson fund" as a special fund under the State Comptroller to finance office staffing and administration.