Senate Bill S7122

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7122

SPONSOR: GAUGHRAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the applica-
tion of code and ordinance violation administrative adjudication

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would allow local governments the option to establish adminis-
trative tribunals for the enforcement of code and ordinance violations

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends subdivision 1 of section 380 of the General Municipal
law, expanding the authority of local governments across the state to
establish administrative tribunals for the enforcement of code and ordi-
nance violations. This expanded authority would be at local option.

Section two provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Currently, the cities of Syracuse and Yonkers, along with the Town of
Huntington, and those municipalities with populations between 300,000
and 350,000 people, have the authority to establish administrative
tribunals for the adjudication of local code and ordinance violations.

In light of recent changes to the discovery process for criminal
actions, it is important for all municipalities to have the flexibility
to handle these local, non-criminal, matters outside the parameters
contained in the criminal justice reform package.

This legislation would merely extend the authority to establish adminis-
trative tribunals to all municipalities, regardless of population,
across the state. Only code and ordinance violations would be adjudi-
cated through these tribunals. This added authority would be at local
option.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Legislation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the State and potential cost savings for local governments.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.