S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  2744

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 20, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Housing

AN  ACT to amend the multiple dwelling law, in relation to window guards
  on fire escape windows for multiple dwellings

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  Paragraph c of subdivision 1 of section 53 of the multiple
dwelling  law, as amended by chapter 814 of the laws of 1992, is amended
to read as follows:
  c. Access to any fire-escape shall  not  be  obstructed  by  sinks  or
kitchen  fixtures  or  in  any  other way. Iron bars, grilles, gates, or
other obstructing devices on any window giving access  to  [fire-escapes
or  to]  a  required  secondary means of egress shall be unlawful unless
such devices are of a type approved by the  board  of  appeals  and  are
installed  and maintained as prescribed by the board; provided, however,
that in a city having a population of one million or more, such  devices
shall  be  of a type approved, installed and maintained as prescribed by
the fire commissioner, or as previously approved and prescribed  by  the
board  of  standards  and  appeals  of  such  city,  except as otherwise
provided by said commissioner.
  S 2. Subdivision 1 of section 53  of  the  multiple  dwelling  law  is
amended by adding a new paragraph e to read as follows:
  E.  (1)  THE  OWNER,  LESSEE,  AGENT  OR  OTHER  PERSON WHO MANAGES OR
CONTROLS A MULTIPLE DWELLING  SHALL  PROVIDE,  INSTALL  AND  MAINTAIN  A
WINDOW  GUARD ON THE WINDOWS OF EACH APARTMENT IN WHICH A CHILD OR CHIL-
DREN TEN YEARS OF AGE OR UNDER RESIDE, AND ON THE WINDOWS,  IF  ANY,  IN
THE PUBLIC HALLS OF A MULTIPLE DWELLING IN WHICH SUCH CHILDREN RESIDE.
  (2) NO WINDOW GUARD SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH A PADLOCK, KEY LOCK, COMBI-
NATION  LOCK  OR  ANY  OTHER  LOCKING MECHANISM, EXCEPT THAT SUCH WINDOW
GUARDS MAY BE SECURED WITH A DEVICE THAT IS CAPABLE OF RELEASING IN SUCH
A MANNER THAT IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO SUCH FIRE ESCAPE IS NOT IMPEDED.  SUCH

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03624-01-5
              

A. 2744                             2

DEVICE SHALL MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE FIRE COMMISSIONER AND
SHALL BE APPROVED FOR USE BY THE FIRE COMMISSIONER.
  (3) ANY VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE A
CIVIL  VIOLATION  SUBJECT  TO  A  PENALTY  OF NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED
DOLLARS PER VIOLATION.
  S 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become  a
law.