S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
868--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on People with Disabilities -- reference changed to the
Committee on Social Services -- recommitted to the Committee on Social
Services in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring super-
vising state and city agencies to provide an informational notice to
supportive housing tenants
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
131-cc to read as follows:
§ 131-CC. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TENANTS; REQUIRED INFORMATIONAL NOTICE.
1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE
FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "DWELLING UNIT" SHALL MEAN ANY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE OR PORTION
THEREOF WHICH IS OCCUPIED IN WHOLE OR IN PART AS THE HOME, RESIDENCE OR
SLEEPING PLACE OF ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS.
(B) "SUPERVISING AGENCIES" SHALL MEAN THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH,
WHICH MAY COORDINATE WITH THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE, THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE NEW
YORK STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, THE NEW YORK STATE
OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE NEW YORK CITY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT, THE NEW YORK CITY HIV/AIDS
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, AND THE NEW YORK CITY HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINIS-
TRATION TO DRAFT THE NOTICE.
(C) "SUPPORTIVE HOUSING" MEANS AFFORDABLE, PERMANENT, OR TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING WITH SUPPORT SERVICES FOR TENANTS.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02512-04-6
A. 868--A 2
(D) "TENANT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL OCCUPYING, OR INTENDING TO OCCUPY, A
DWELLING UNIT FOR THIRTY CONSECUTIVE DAYS OR MORE.
(E) "SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TENANT" MEANS ANY TENANT RESIDING IN A DWELL-
ING UNIT THAT IS FUNDED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, PURSUANT TO A CONTRACT
WITH ANY CITY OR STATE AGENCY TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND/OR
SERVICES. SUCH DEFINITION SHALL INCLUDE TENANTS OCCUPYING APARTMENTS
LEASED BY A NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY PURSUANT TO A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
CONTRACT, AND TO BOTH LICENSED AND UNLICENSED PROGRAMS.
2. SUPERVISING AGENCIES SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE EVERY SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING TENANT OR POTENTIAL TENANT AT THE TIME OF AN APPLICANT INTERVIEW
TO OBTAIN HOUSING, AT THE SIGNING OF AN INITIAL LEASE, AT EACH LEASE
RENEWAL AND UPON REQUEST AT ANY TIME, A NOTICE OF TENANT RIGHTS APPROVED
BY SUCH SUPERVISING AGENCY USING PLAIN AND SIMPLE LANGUAGE. SUCH NOTICE
SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND IN THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY
THE TENANT OR POTENTIAL TENANT. ANY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING LANDLORD OR
SUPERVISING AGENCY INITIATING AN EVICTION PROCEEDING SHALL BE REQUIRED
TO SERVE SUCH NOTICE TO ANY TENANT OR OCCUPANT WITH ANY NOTIFICATION OF
EVICTION, NOTICE OF TERMINATION, NOTICE TO CURE, OR NOTIFICATION OF
TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE. SUCH NOTICE SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
(A) WHETHER THE DWELLING UNIT IS SUBJECT TO STATE RENT STABILIZATION
LAWS OR PROTECTIONS UNDER ARTICLE SIX-A OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW AND IF
NOT, THE REASON FOR EXEMPTION FROM SUCH LAWS. FOR DWELLING UNITS THAT
ARE SUBJECT TO STATE RENT STABILIZATION LAWS, SUCH NOTICE SHALL ALSO
PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO OBTAIN A RENT HISTORY FROM THE DIVISION OF
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL;
(B) WHETHER THE DWELLING UNIT IS LOCATED IN A BUILDING THAT IS IN
RECEIPT OF A TAX EXEMPTION OR ABATEMENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
ABATEMENTS OR EXEMPTIONS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE-A
OR FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE-G OF THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW. IF THE BUILD-
ING IS IN RECEIPT OF AN EXEMPTION OR ABATEMENT, THE NOTICE SHALL INCLUDE
THE ABATEMENT OR EXEMPTION START AND END DATES;
(C) THAT A TENANT'S EVICTION MUST BE SOUGHT THROUGH A COURT PROCEEDING
WHEN REQUIRED BY SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED ELEVEN OR SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN
OF THE REAL PROPERTY ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS LAW, AND THAT A TENANT MAY
BRING SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE REAL PROPERTY
ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS LAW IF THEY ARE UNLAWFULLY EVICTED AND ANY RELE-
VANT PHONE NUMBERS THAT A TENANT MAY CONTACT FOR LEGAL ADVICE AND POSSI-
BLE LEGAL REPRESENTATION;
(D) THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO ENFORCE ANY APPLICABLE HOUSING MAINTENANCE
CODES, INFORMATION CONCERNING HOW TO REPORT VIOLATIONS OF SUCH CODES TO
THE LOCAL HOUSING AGENCY AND TO THE BUILDING OWNER, AND NAME AND CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR THE PERSON OR PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING APPLI-
CABLE HOUSING MAINTENANCE CODE STANDARDS AND RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES;
(E) THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO REQUEST REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND THE
PROCESS FOR REQUESTING SUCH ACCOMMODATIONS, THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE FIFTEEN OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW
AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND THE PROCEDURE
FOR REPORTING CASES OF DISCRIMINATION TO THE NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS;
(F) THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO RECEIPTS FOR PAYMENTS MADE IN EXCHANGE FOR
OCCUPANCY PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE-E OF THE REAL
PROPERTY LAW AND THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO RECEIVE A COPY ON THE OVERLEASE
IF SUCH HOUSING PROVIDER IS SUBLEASING IN ADDITION TO THE SUBLEASE;
(G) THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO LIVE WITH FAMILY AND/OR ONE ADDITIONAL OCCU-
PANT IN A DWELLING UNIT PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE-F OF
A. 868--A 3
THE REAL PROPERTY LAW, THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO FORM, JOIN OR PARTICIPATE
IN A TENANT GROUP PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY OF THE REAL
PROPERTY LAW;
(H) WHETHER THE DWELLING UNIT IS SUBJECT TO 14 NYCRR SECTION 595, AND
IF SO, THE TENANT'S RIGHTS PURSUANT TO SUCH SECTION;
(I) THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM HARASSMENT, AND WHAT CONSTI-
TUTES AS TENANT HARASSMENT UNDER SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE-D OF
THE REAL PROPERTY LAW;
(J) THE BUILDING'S REGULATORY SCHEME, INCLUDING:
(I) EACH FUNDING STREAM USED TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES, SUBSIDIZE
RENTS, OR UNDERWRITE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DWELLING UNIT OR PROPERTY
AND THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE AGENCY AFFILIATED WITH SUCH FUNDING
STREAM;
(II) THE NAME OR NAMES OF THE PROGRAM OR PROGRAMS PURSUANT TO WHICH
THE TENANT IS OCCUPYING THE DWELLING UNIT;
(III) THE NAME OF THE SUPERVISING AGENCY ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM
AND/OR PROVIDING SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPHS (I)
AND (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH;
(IV) THE GRIEVANCE POLICY OR PROCEDURE TO REGISTER AND HEAR TENANT
COMPLAINTS;
(V) ANY APPLICABLE STATE, LOCAL OR FEDERAL REGULATIONS;
(VI) CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE SUPERVISING AGENCY PURSUANT TO
SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH;
(VII) THE TOTAL RENT, TENANT RENT AND AGENCY SUBSIDY AMOUNTS; AND
(VIII) THE MANNER IN WHICH RENT SHALL BE PAID;
(K) THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO BE PROVIDED ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES IF
FACING EVICTION IN HOUSING COURT AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT TENANT'S RIGHTS
AND PROCEDURES AND AGENCY RESOURCES FOR EVICTION PREVENTION;
(L) ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO TENANT'S RIGHTS PROVIDED IN
WRITING OR RELAYED ORALLY TO A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING APPLICANT DURING AN
INTERVIEW WITH SUCH SUPERVISING AGENCIES; AND
(M) CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE APPROPRIATE SUPERVISING AGENCIES FOR
TENANTS TO SUBMIT COMPLAINTS INCLUDING VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION.
3. SUPERVISING AGENCIES SHALL DRAFT THE NOTICE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE
OF THIS SECTION.
4. SUPERVISING AGENCIES SHALL RECEIVE, INVESTIGATE, AND RESPOND TO
COMPLAINTS CONCERNING VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION. ALL COMPLAINTS AND
RESPONSES RECEIVED BY ANY SUPERVISING AGENCIES SHALL BE COMPILED AND
POSTED ON THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH'S WEBSITE AND SHALL INCLUDE THE
DATE THE COMPLAINT WAS SUBMITTED, ANY RESULTS OF THE COMPLAINT, AND THE
DATE OF THE CONCLUSION OF ANY INVESTIGATION RESULTING FROM THE
COMPLAINT. ALL COMPLAINTS AND RESPONSES SHALL BE POSTED ON THE OFFICE
OF MENTAL HEALTH'S WEBSITE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS.
5. THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, IN COLLABORATION WITH SUPERVISING
AGENCIES, SHALL CREATE AN ONLINE PORTAL AND TELEPHONE HOTLINE WHERE
TENANTS CAN REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL COPY OF SUCH TENANT'S BILL OF RIGHTS
AT ANY TIME.
§ 2. The real property law is amended by adding a new section 231-d to
read as follows:
§ 231-D. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BILL OF RIGHTS NOTICE. 1. ANY LANDLORD, AS
DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THIS CHAP-
TER, OF A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BUILDING AS DEFINED BY SECTION ONE HUNDRED
THIRTY-ONE-CC OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, SHALL APPEND TO OR INCORPORATE
ANY INITIAL LEASE, RENEWAL LEASE, NOTICE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH
(A) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX-C OF THIS ARTI-
A. 868--A 4
CLE, NOTICE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION SEVEN
HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THE REAL PROPERTY ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS LAW, OR
PETITION PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE OF THE REAL PROPER-
TY ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS LAW, THE NOTICE AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION ONE
HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-CC OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW AND APPROVED BY THE
PERTINENT SUPERVISING AGENCY AS DESCRIBED IN THAT SECTION.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law.