S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5330
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 27, 2009
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Introduced by Sen. MORAHAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and
Community Development
AN ACT to amend the multiple dwelling law, in relation to landlord
checks of the state sex offender registry and notification of certain
tenants
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The multiple dwelling law is amended by adding a new
section 301-a to read as follows:
S 301-A. SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY CHECK. 1. LANDLORDS OF MULTIPLE DWELL-
INGS SHALL, WITHIN THE FIRST SIXTY DAYS FOLLOWING: A. EXECUTION OF A
LEASE WITH A NEW TENANT; OR B. NOTICE OF OCCUPANCY BY A THIRD PARTY OR
ADULT OCCUPANT IN INTEREST TO A LEASED UNIT, PERFORM A CHECK OF SUCH NEW
TENANT, SUBTENANT OR ADULT OCCUPANT IN THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY MAIN-
TAINED BY THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES PURSUANT TO SECTION
ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT-B OF THE CORRECTION LAW. LANDLORD ACCESS TO THE
REGISTRY SHALL BE THROUGH THE "900" TELEPHONE NUMBER MAINTAINED BY THE
DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, AND ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR ACCESS AS SPECIFIED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT-P OF THE
CORRECTION LAW OR THROUGH THE INTERNET SITE MAINTAINED BY THE DIVISION
OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES.
2. IF SUCH NEW TENANT, SUBTENANT OR ADULT OCCUPANT IS LISTED IN THE
REGISTRY AS A SEX OFFENDER, THE LANDLORD SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTIFICA-
TION OF SUCH FINDING TO BUILDING TENANTS.
3. ALL LEASES OFFERED TO TENANTS IN MULTIPLE DWELLINGS SHALL CONTAIN A
NOTICE, CONSPICUOUSLY SET FORTH THEREIN, ADVISING TENANTS OF THE
REQUIREMENTS OF SUBDIVISIONS ONE AND TWO OF THIS SECTION.
4. NO LANDLORD SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ANY CIVIL OR CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR
DAMAGES FOR ANY DISCRETIONARY DECISION TO RELEASE RELEVANT INFORMATION
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION OR FOR FAILING TO RELEASE RELEVANT INFORMATION
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11530-01-9
S. 5330 2
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, UNLESS IT IS SHOWN THAT SUCH LANDLORD ACTED
WITH GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR IN BAD FAITH.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law and shall apply to leases or subleases
entered into on or after such date.