N.Y.C. Admin. Code § L.L. 2005/063: L.L. 2005/063

Enactment date: 7/11/2005

Int. No. 127-B

By Council Members Quinn, DeBlasio, Reyna, Palma, Avella, Boyland, Brewer, Fidler, Gioia, Jackson, James, Martinez, Reed, Sanders, Gennaro, Liu, Clarke, Sears, Stewart, Weprin, Moskowitz, Seabrook, and The Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum)

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of health and mental hygiene to track and report deaths of homeless persons in the city of New York.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Declaration of legislative findings and intent. According to the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the number of homeless New Yorkers residing in shelters each night reached the highest point in New York City history in November of 2003. Although the City has seen a recent decline in this population, there are approximately 35,000 homeless men, women and children residing in the shelter system, including approximately 14,000 children. While the City continues in its efforts to reduce street homelessness through the use of outreach teams and drop-in centers, recent estimates are that approximately 4,400 New Yorkers are sleeping on the streets, in parks and on the subways. While deaths take place each year within the homeless population, currently the City has no way of knowing exactly how many such deaths occur, where they occur, or the causes behind them. The Council finds that in order to more effectively protect these vulnerable residents, the City needs legislation requiring the periodic gathering of information regarding their deaths. Tracking and reporting these deaths will help the City better understand the challenges faced by homeless persons in New York City, and assist in the creation of policies and programs designed to safeguard such persons and prevent future unnecessary deaths.

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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

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§ 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or other portion of this local law, including any requirement imposed pursuant to it, is for any reason declared unconstitutional or invalid, in whole or in part, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed severable, and such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this local law, which remaining portions shall continue in full force and effect.

§ 4. Effective date. This local law shall take effect immediately after its enactment into law and shall be deemed repealed on January 30, 2012.