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NY A08598

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/12/2024

Primary Sponsor

Clyde Vanel

Click for details

Origin

Assembly

2023-2024 General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Establishes a new housing court with jurisdiction over civil penalties for housing standard violations, lien enforcement, injunctions, property foreclosures, mechanic's liens, and receiver appointments for buildings with housing violations.

  • Housing court judges must be admitted to the bar for at least five years (with two years in active practice), appointed by the administrative judge, and serve full-time five-year terms based on performance and competency in housing law.

  • Requires housing court to establish an escrow account where tenants must deposit owed rent to appear in court, and mandates the court consolidate all pending actions for the same building and maintain jurisdiction until all violations are removed.

  • Provides free legal services to landlords owning 20 units or less who can prove a loss of at least 20 percent of rent payments in a calendar year, and prohibits mortgage foreclosures when rent issues are pending before the housing court.

  • Requires pro se clerk assistance for unrepresented parties and preserves the right to trial by jury; act takes effect 180 days after becoming law.

Legislative Description

Establishes a housing court for actions and proceedings involving the enforcement of state and local laws for the establishment and maintenance of housing standards; requires such court to establish an escrow account; provides that any landlord that owns twenty units or less shall be entitled to free legal services if such landlord can prove a loss of at least twenty percent of rent payments in a calendar year; makes related provisions.

Last Action

referred to judiciary

1/12/2024

Committee Referrals

Judiciary1/12/2024

Full Bill Text

No bill text available