NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7903

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Judiciary Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 13, 2025	referred to judiciary

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8312
Current Committee:: Senate Judiciary
Law Section:: Real Property Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §227-c, RP L; amd §14, Pub Hous L

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the safe housing transfer for domestic violence victims act; ensures safe housing transfers for domestic violence victims in public and private housing; requires landlord response within seven days of a relocation request.

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7903

SPONSOR: BAILEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the real property law and the public housing law, in
relation to ensuring safe housing transfers for domestic violence
victims

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Provides domestic violence survivors living in affordable and public
housing the right to request emergency relocation to another unit owned
by the same landlord or public housing authority. This ensures continued
housing stability while prioritizing the safety of victims and prevent-
ing retaliation.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 provides for the title of the act "safe housing transfer for
domestic violence victims act."

Section 2 provides for legislative findings and intent.

Section 3 amends the Real Property Law § 227-c, renumbering subdivision
6 as subdivision 7. Real Property Law § 227-c is amended by adding a new
subdivision 6 to create a right for tenants who are victims of domestic
violence to request a transfer to another available unit within the same
landlord's portfolio and a reasonable geographic proximity. It further-
more: (1) allows landlords to prioritize these transfers over non-emer-
gency requests; (2) prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants
seeking relocation; (3) sets a 7-day deadline for landlords to respond
to transfer requests and provide available unit options; (4) provides
guidelines for equivalent and non-equivalent unit offerings and associ-
ated costs; (5) requires a written explanation to be provided if the
transfer request is denied; (6) enables a tenant to file a complaint if
a landlord violates these provisions.

Section 4 amends the Public Housing Law § 14 by adding two new subdivi-
sions 8 and 9 directing the commissioner to create rules and policies
supporting the establishment of similar emergency transfer rights for
tenants in public housing. It furthermore: (1) allows the request to be
oral or in writing; (2) requires public housing authorities to respond
to transfer requests within 7 days; (3) provides guidelines for equiv-
alent and non-equivalent unit offerings and associated costs; (4)
requires a written explanation to be provided if the transfer request is
denied.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In late October 2024, a 15-year-old named Michael Raimondi was murdered
in his home by his mother's boyfriend, Fernando Jimenez.  Michael's
brother, Matthew, and mother, Christina, were also shot that night'.
Since the shooting, Christina attempted to relocate apartments, which
the landlord was supportive of and willing to do. However, current law
made it impossible to do so. Therefore, the Raimondi family are forced
to continue living in the unit where the worst day of their lives
occurred.

In certain types of public housing, a domestic violence (DV) victim
requesting a transfer is not entitled to immediate priority transfer
unless there is a threat of imminent harm or a sexual assault has
occurred on the premises during the 90-calendar-day period preceding the
transfer request. Rather, the law requires that such requests for trans-
fer are considered in order of request along with other non-DV-related
transfers. This bill will enable DV victims to be considered as a prior-
ity during emergency transfers, even in the absence of the two above-
mentioned conditions, ensuring that their safety and well-being is put
first.

Ultimately, this bill would allow for landlords to prioritize relocation
victims of DV to another unit regardless of the determination of an
imminent threat. Furthermore, it would not require cumbersome documenta-
tion, but only a survivor's attestation that they are a DV victim, to be
presented together with an oral or written request for relocation2.

1. http://westchester.news12.com/somers-begins-to-heal-after triple-
shooting-vigil-announced-for-victims

2. The Paid Sick Leave Act (Labor Law § 196-b) offers a precedent for
this; the act requires domestic violence victims to provide an "oral or
written request" to obtain paid sick leave, and specifically prohibits
employers from requiring disclosure of confidential information relating
to absence of work due to domestic violence, a sexual offense, stalking,
or human trafficking as a condition of providing sick leave.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7903
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 13, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
 
 AN ACT to amend the real property law and the  public  housing  law,  in
   relation  to  ensuring  safe  housing  transfers for domestic violence
   victims

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "safe hous-
 ing transfer for domestic violence victims act".
   §  2.  Legislative  findings  and  intent.  The legislature finds that
 domestic violence victims face significant  barriers  to  securing  safe
 housing.    While  existing law permits early lease termination, victims
 often face challenges finding new affordable housing. This act seeks  to
 expand  protections  by allowing landlords of affordable housing proper-
 ties to offer safe relocation  options  to  domestic  violence  victims,
 ensuring housing stability while prioritizing victim safety.
   § 3. Subdivision 6 of section 227-c of the real property law is renum-
 bered subdivision 7 and a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
   6.  RIGHT  TO  RELOCATION  FOR  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS. (A) (I) ANY
 TENANT WHO IS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED  IN
 SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE-A OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, SHALL HAVE
 THE  RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRANSFER TO ANOTHER DWELLING UNIT OWNED OR OPER-
 ATED BY THE SAME LANDLORD  WITHIN  A  REASONABLE  GEOGRAPHIC  PROXIMITY,
 SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.
   (II)  LANDLORDS SHALL PRIORITIZE TRANSFER REQUESTS UNDER THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION OVER NON-EMERGENCY TENANT TRANSFERS AND VACANCIES  FOR  NEW  APPLI-
 CANTS.
   (III)  LANDLORDS  SHALL NOT RETALIATE AGAINST A TENANT WHO REQUESTS TO
 RELOCATE UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION BY TAKING  ANY  ADVERSE  ACTION  AGAINST
 SUCH  TENANT  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED TO, EVICTION, HARASSMENT, OR
 DENIAL OF LEASE RENEWAL.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11911-01-5

 S. 7903                             2
 
   (B) A TENANT REQUESTING RELOCATION UNDER  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  SUBMIT
 SUCH REQUEST FOR RELOCATION TO THE LANDLORD ORALLY OR IN WRITING.
   (C)  (I) A LANDLORD SHALL RESPOND TO A RELOCATION REQUEST SUBMITTED IN
 ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBDIVISION WITHIN SEVEN  DAYS  OF  RECEIVING  SUCH
 REQUEST  AND  SHALL INCLUDE A LIST OF AVAILABLE DWELLING UNITS AND THEIR
 FAIR MARKET VALUE RENT.
   (A) FOR EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNITS, THE LANDLORD SHALL OFFER SUCH UNITS
 WITHOUT REQUIRING ADDITIONAL SECURITY  DEPOSITS,  APPLICATION  FEES,  OR
 INCREASED RENT BEYOND THE STANDARD ALLOWABLE RENT FOR THE NEW UNITS.
   (B)  FOR  DWELLING  UNITS  WHICH  ARE  NOT  EQUIVALENT TO THE TENANT'S
 CURRENT UNIT, THE LANDLORD SHALL OFFER SUCH UNITS AT FAIR  MARKET  VALUE
 INCLUDING  ANY ADDITIONAL SECURITY DEPOSITS NECESSARY; HOWEVER, NO ADDI-
 TIONAL APPLICATION FEES SHALL BE CHARGED.
   (II) WHERE A LANDLORD DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER AVAILABLE DWELLING UNITS
 WITHIN THEIR HOUSING PORTFOLIO, THE LANDLORD MAY DENY THE REQUEST WITHIN
 SEVEN DAYS OF RECEIVING SUCH REQUEST AND SHALL INCLUDE A WRITTEN  EXPLA-
 NATION FOR SUCH DENIAL AND REFERENCES TO ALTERNATIVE HOUSING RESOURCES.
   (D)  WHEN  A  LANDLORD  VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION, A
 TENANT MAY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE DIVISION OF HOUSING  AND  COMMUNITY
 RENEWAL  WHO SHALL INVESTIGATE SUCH COMPLAINT AND ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS
 OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   § 4. Section 14 of the public housing law is amended by adding two new
 subdivisions 8 and 9 to read as follows:
   8. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS, RULES  AND  POLICIES
 WHICH  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  RIGHTS  OF TENANTS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
 VIOLENCE, AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION FOUR  HUNDRED  FIFTY-NINE-A
 OF  THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, TO REQUEST AN EMERGENCY TRANSFER TO ANOTHER
 DWELLING UNIT OPERATED BY  THE  SAME  OR  A  COMPARABLE  PUBLIC  HOUSING
 PROJECT.
   (A)  A  TENANT  REQUESTING EMERGENCY TRANSFER UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL
 SUBMIT SUCH REQUEST TO THEIR PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT ORALLY OR  IN  WRIT-
 ING.
   (B)  (I) A PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT SHALL RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY TRANS-
 FER REQUEST SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBDIVISION  WITHIN  SEVEN
 DAYS  OF  RECEIVING  SUCH  REQUEST AND SHALL INCLUDE A LIST OF AVAILABLE
 DWELLING UNITS AND THEIR FAIR MARKET VALUE RENT.
   (A) FOR EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNITS, THE PUBLIC  HOUSING  PROJECT  SHALL
 OFFER  SUCH UNITS WITHOUT REQUIRING ADDITIONAL SECURITY DEPOSITS, APPLI-
 CATION FEES, OR INCREASED RENT BEYOND THE STANDARD  ALLOWABLE  RENT  FOR
 THE NEW UNITS.
   (B)  FOR  DWELLING  UNITS  WHICH  ARE  NOT  EQUIVALENT TO THE TENANT'S
 CURRENT UNIT, THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT SHALL OFFER SUCH UNITS AT  FAIR
 MARKET  VALUE  INCLUDING  ANY  ADDITIONAL  SECURITY  DEPOSITS NECESSARY;
 HOWEVER, NO ADDITIONAL APPLICATION FEES SHALL BE CHARGED.
   (II) WHERE A PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER  AVAILABLE
 DWELLING  UNITS  WITHIN  THEIR  HOUSING  PORTFOLIO,  THE  PUBLIC HOUSING
 PROJECT MAY DENY THE REQUEST WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF RECEIVING SUCH REQUEST
 AND SHALL INCLUDE A WRITTEN EXPLANATION FOR SUCH DENIAL  AND  REFERENCES
 TO COMPARABLE PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS.
   9.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS, RULES AND POLICIES
 WHICH PROVIDE FOR THE RIGHTS OF TENANTS  WHO  ARE  VICTIMS  OF  DOMESTIC
 VIOLENCE,  AS  SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE-A
 OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, UNDER SECTION TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN-C  OF
 THE REAL PROPERTY LAW.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S7903

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Judiciary Committee

Actions

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Jamaal T. Bailey

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Judiciary Committee

Actions

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7903 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments