New York S 3686: Establishes the bureau of the senior tenants' advocate in the state office for the aging

Bill Text

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S03686 Summary:

BILL NOS03686 

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SAME ASSAME AS A04191

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SPONSORCOMRIE

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §226, Eld L

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Establishes the bureau of the senior tenants' advocate within the state office for the aging; provides that the senior tenants' advocate shall assist senior citizen tenants in resolving complaints they may have with the New York state division of housing and community renewal, landlord disputes, rent increases, and other housing related matters; provides that the governor shall appoint the senior tenants' advocate.

Go to top S03686 Actions:

BILL NOS03686 

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01/29/2025REFERRED TO AGING

01/07/2026REFERRED TO AGING

Go to topS03686 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS03686 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS03686 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 3686

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 January 29, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging

 AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing the bureau of
 the senior tenants' advocate in the state office for the aging

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 226 to
 2 read as follows:
 3 § 226. Senior tenants' advocate. 1. Bureau established. There is here-
 4 by established within the office for the aging a bureau of the senior
 5 tenants' advocate for the purpose of assisting senior tenants in resolv-
 6 ing complaints they may have with the New York state division of housing
 7 and community renewal, landlord disputes, rent increases, and other
 8 housing related matters.
 9 2. Appointment of senior tenants' advocate. The governor shall appoint
 10 a state senior tenants' advocate to administer and supervise the bureau
 11 of the senior tenants' advocate. The senior tenants' advocate shall:
 12 (a) be an employee of the office for the aging;
 13 (b) be selected from among individuals with expertise and experience
 14 in landlord and tenant law and with other qualifications appropriate for
 15 the position;
 16 (c) have the authority to appoint one or more authorized represen-
 17 tatives to assist the senior tenants' advocate in the performance of
 18 such tenants' advocate's duties under this section and, if necessary,
 19 perform the duties of the senior tenants' advocate on their behalf; and
 20 (d) report directly to the director of the office for the aging.
 21 3. Duties of the senior tenants' advocate. The senior tenants' advo-
 22 cate shall:
 23 (a) identify and assist in the resolution of complaints that are made
 24 by, or on behalf of, senior tenants in this state and that relate to
 25 actions, inactions, or decisions that may adversely affect the housing

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD05228-01-5

 S. 3686 2

 1 and residency rights of such senior tenants, in accordance with proce-
 2 dures established by the senior tenants' advocate by making referrals to
 3 the appropriate agency or agencies that may best address the complaints
 4 of the senior citizen tenants;
 5 (b) provide information regarding programs and agencies that can
 6 assist senior tenants in resolving their complaints;
 7 (c) analyze and monitor the development and implementation of federal,
 8 state, and local laws, regulations, or policies with respect to the
 9 adequacy of housing matters for senior tenants within the state; and
 10 (d) carry out such other activities as the senior tenants' advocate
 11 determines to be appropriate pursuant to pertinent state laws and regu-
 12 lations.
 13 4. Review of complaint. Upon receipt of a complaint, the senior
 14 tenants' advocate shall determine immediately which agency would be most
 15 appropriate for the purposes of forwarding such complaint. The senior
 16 tenants' advocate shall then forward the complaint and inform the tenant
 17 making the complaint where such complaint was forwarded.
 18 5. Records. The senior tenants' advocate shall maintain such records
 19 as are determined necessary by th