Assembly Bill A2490

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2490
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 17, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. RA -- read once and referred to the Committee on
   Aging
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   senior   housing   accessibility  study  group;  and  to  repeal  such
   provisions upon the expiration thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 373-c
 to read as follows:
   § 373-C. SENIOR HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY STUDY GROUP. 1. THERE  SHALL  BE
 ESTABLISHED A SENIOR HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY STUDY GROUP. SUCH STUDY GROUP
 SHALL  CONSIST OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF BUILDING STANDARDS AND
 CODES, OR SUCH DIRECTOR'S DESIGNEE, WHO SHALL ALSO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF
 THE GROUP, THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, OR SUCH COMMISSIONER'S  DESIGNEE,
 THE  DIRECTOR  OF THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING, OR SUCH DIRECTOR'S DESIGNEE,
 THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF HOMES AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL, OR SUCH
 COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE, AND THREE MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVER-
 NOR, ONE OF WHOM SHALL REPRESENT AND HAVE EXPERIENCE  WITH  THE  HOUSING
 CONSTRUCTION  INDUSTRY,  ONE OF WHOM SHALL REPRESENT AND HAVE EXPERIENCE
 AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE DISABLED COMMUNITY, AND ONE OF WHOM SHALL  BE  AN
 ARCHITECT  LICENSED  IN  THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE MEMBERS OF THE STUDY
 GROUP SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR  SERVICES,  BUT  SHALL  BE
 ALLOWED  THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE
 OF THEIR DUTIES PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. SUCH STUDY GROUP  MAY  CONDUCT
 ANY  HEARINGS  OR  TAKE  ANY WRITTEN TESTIMONY AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY AND
 SHALL TAKE ALL OTHER STEPS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE A THOROUGH  ANALYSIS  OF
 ALL ISSUES RELATED TO SENIOR HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY.
   2.  THE SENIOR HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY STUDY GROUP SHALL EXAMINE, EVALU-
 ATE, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AMENDING THE NEW  YORK  STATE  UNIFORM
 FIRE  PREVENTION  AND BUILDING CODE TO IMPROVE AND ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY
 REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL NEWLY CONSTRUCTED  OR  SUBSTANTIALLY  RECONSTRUCTED
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05741-01-5
              

 A. 2490                             2
 
 SENIOR  HOUSING  DEVELOPMENTS.  SUCH ENHANCEMENTS MAY INCLUDE, BUT SHALL
 NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) INSTALLING RAMPS FOR ALL FIRST-FLOOR ENTRANCES AT THE FRONT, REAR,
 OR SIDE OF EACH BUILDING;
   (B)  REQUIRING  THAT ALL SECOND-FLOOR UNITS HAVE STAIRCASES SUFFICIENT
 TO ALLOW THE INSTALLATION OF CHAIR GLIDES, IF NECESSARY, FOR RESIDENT OR
 OWNER USE;
   (C) REQUIRING THAT ALL RESIDENTIAL FULL BATHROOMS SHOULD  FULFILL  ALL
 REQUIREMENTS  FOR  ACCESSIBILITY  PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL AMERICANS WITH
 DISABILITIES ACT (ADA);
   (D) REQUIRING THAT ALL RECREATION FACILITIES ARE MADE FULLY  COMPLIANT
 WITH  ADA SPECIFICATIONS AND ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL RESIDENTS. THIS SHALL
 INCLUDE SWIMMING POOLS WITH COMPLIANT RAMP GRADING AND RAILS, ACCESSIBLE
 GATES, AND CONTRASTING STRIPING FOR THOSE WITH LIMITED VISION;
   (E) REQUIRE THE INSTALLATION OF ADA COMPLIANT DOOR ACTUATORS FOR ENTRY
 AND EXIT DOORS AND BATHROOMS IN CLUBHOUSES AND RECREATION CENTERS;
   (F) REQUIRE THAT ALL PUBLIC UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE MAILBOXES AND
 LOCATIONS SHALL BE FULLY ACCESSIBLE, WITH CURB CUT  RAMPS  ENSURING  THE
 SHORTEST  PATH  OF  TRAVEL  FROM  ALL UNITS, AND APPROPRIATE LANDINGS TO
 ALLOW FOR TURNAROUND SPACE; AND
   (G) REQUIRE THAT ALL RESIDENT PARKING SPACES SHALL HAVE A MINIMUM OF A
 THIRTY-INCH ACCESS AISLE TO ENSURE EASE OF FUNCTION ACCESS TO A PERSON'S
 VEHICLE. THIS REQUIREMENT SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ALL VISITOR AND ACCES-
 SIBLE PARKING SPACES  REQUIRED  BY  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  UNIFORM  FIRE
 PREVENTION AND BUILDING CODE FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
   3.  THE SENIOR HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY STUDY GROUP SHALL ISSUE ITS FINAL
 RECOMMENDATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION  NO  LATER  THAN  THIRTY
 DAYS  PRIOR  TO  THE  EXPIRATION OF THIS SECTION. SUCH STUDY GROUP SHALL
 ISSUE SUCH REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY,  THE
 MINORITY  LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
 AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
 deemed repealed one year after it shall have become a law.