The New York State Senate

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

                                  1287

                       2017-2018 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             January 9, 2017
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. AVELLA, LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and
  when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities

AN ACT establishing the "New York city construction safety task force"

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

  Section 1.   Legislative findings. The legislature  hereby  finds  and
declares  that  the  health  and  safety of the population living in and
around the many construction projects within the densely populated  city
of  New  York  is  a matter of state concern as pressure mounts to build
more and more while completing projects in the shortest  time  possible.
Construction  is  the  most  dangerous occupation, with death rates four
times  the  average  for  other  workers  and  conditions  adjacent   to
construction  sites  dangerous  to the public. Recent construction acci-
dents involving cranes, for example, have  killed  construction  workers
and  members  of  the  public,  and  have resulted or will result in the
expenditure of state resources for emergency  services,  court  adminis-
tration  and  infrastructure repair.  Additionally, two senior buildings
department officials were recently charged  with  various  state  crimes
related  to  their failure to perform their duties and to protect public
safety. Construction safety in the city of New York is covered by feder-
al, state and local statutes, regulations and agencies and can  only  be
achieved  through proper coordination and cooperation among the federal,
state and local government. Testimony  at  a  2008  legislative  hearing
focused  on  safety problems in the New York City construction industry,
including the lack of coordination, cooperation and joint planning among
and between participants in the construction industry in the City of New
York, including workers, industry, safety advocacy organizations and the
federal, state and local government. The establishment of a construction
safety task force with membership from these various  constituencies  is
essential to accomplishing the state's concern that the health and safe-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00590-01-7

S. 1287                             2

ty of the population living in and around the many construction projects
within the densely populated city of New York be protected.
  §  2.  There  is hereby created the "New York city construction safety
task force" to advise the city  on  issues  related  to  safety  in  the
construction  industry  in New York city and to propose changes in rules
and regulations, licensing requirements, enforcement, training  and  any
other issue concerning safety in the construction industry.
  §  3.  Such  task  force  shall  consist of not less than thirty-eight
members as follows:  (a) the mayor or the  mayor's  designee  who  shall
serve as chair, the commissioners of the departments of Buildings, Hous-
ing Preservation & Development, Environmental Protection, Fire, Investi-
gation,  Health  and  Mental  Hygiene  and  City Planning; (b) the state
commissioner of labor and two other representatives from the  department
of  labor;  (c)  ten  representatives  from New York state AFL-CIO labor
unions representing  construction  industry  workers  appointed  by  the
mayor;  (d)  ten  representatives  from building owners, contractors and
industry trade groups appointed by the mayor;  (e)  two  representatives
from  immigrant  advocacy  organizations appointed by the mayor; (f) two
representatives from workplace safety advocacy  organizations  appointed
by  the mayor; and (g) three representatives from the New York City AFL-
CIO Building and Construction Trade  Council.    The  mayor  shall  also
invite  representatives from the federal Occupational Safety  and Health
Administration to serve on the task force.
  § 4. Such task force shall meet  at  least  quarterly  and  produce  a
report  at  least annually to the mayor of the city of New York, the New
York city council, governor, temporary president of the senate,  speaker
of  the  assembly, minority leader of the senate and the minority leader
of the assembly.   Such report shall include, but  not  be  limited  to,
statistics  on  accidents  and injuries occurring on construction sites.
Such statistics shall be compiled by county and by size of project.
  § 5. The members of the task force shall serve  without  compensation,
except  that  they  shall be allowed their necessary and actual expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties under this act.
  § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.