New York, NY – Speaker Adrienne Adams and the New York City Council celebrated several of its bills being signed into law today. These included two legislative packages focused on addressing pay disparities across the municipal workforce and improving the accessibility of buildings and homeless shelters for New Yorkers with disabilities, respectively. The final bill signed into law requires quarterly reporting on family homelessness. 

“Addressing pay disparities within our workforce has been a top priority for this Council,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Now signed into law, our Pay Equity package will provide crucial data and insights into pay disparities based on gender, race, and ethnicity in our municipal workforce, and help improve practices that promote diversity and pay equity. I’m also proud of the Council’s legislative efforts to make our city more accessible for all New Yorkers, including residents of homeless shelters, and increase transparency about homelessness. We will continue to focus on enacting solutions that eliminate long-standing inequities facing our communities.” 

The bills in the pay equity package would provide key data and analysis on inequity (particularly across race and gender) among City employees and enact practices that help confront occupational segregation and promote pay equity. The package also includes bills requiring each city agency and department that requires job applicants to take a civil service exam to report on data related to those exams in order to evaluate and expand diverse recruitment and retention within city government and expanding the Pay Equity Law of 2019 by Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) providing and collecting additional employment and pay data to the Council.

The legislative package contains the following:

Introduction 515-A, sponsored by Speaker Adrienne Adams, would require city agencies to conduct an analysis of compensation data and measures to address pay disparity and occupational segregation, diversity and inclusion training, and schedule and workplace accommodations. The head of each agency would be required to submit an annual report on staff retention, promotion, termination and resignation, with accompanying compensation information. Finally, this legislation requires DCAS to contract with a private sector expert to conduct a 3-year pay equity analysis on a minimum number of civil service titles. The analysis would examine civil service titles with the largest gender and racial or ethnic demographic difference from the demographic found in New York City. 

Introduction 527-A, sponsored by Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, would require each city agency and department that requires job applicants to take a civil service exam to report on data related to those exams in order to evaluate and expand diverse recruitment and retention within city government. It would also require reporting on the agencies and departments’ training programs to evaluate recruitment efforts across government. DCAS would be tasked with coordinating the data collection and reporting to the Council. 

Introduction 541-A, sponsored by Council Member Farah Louis, would expand the existing Pay Equity Law, Local Law 18/2019, by requiring the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to collect and provide additional employment and pay data to the Council. It would capture more of the city workforce and provide year-round access to pay and employment data, so the Council can provide more robust oversight at its discretion. 

“As a member of the New York City Council, I am proud to see that our city is making progress on our pay equity journey, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to address the pervasive issue of pay disparities, particularly for women of color. Advancing pay equity and diversity in our municipal workforce is a top priority for both the Council and this administration,” said Council Member Louis. “We believe that equal pay for equal work is not only a moral imperative, but a fundamental cornerstone of a just society. I applaud Mayor Adams’ commitment to creating a legacy of more equitable pay in New York City Government.”

The bill package to improve accessibility for New Yorkers with disabilities includes legislation that creates an advisory board on the accessibility of homeless shelters and improves the accessibility of buildings and housing developments. 

Introduction 92-A, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, would create an advisory board to advise the Mayor and the City Council on accessibility issues in relation to City shelters. The board would meet quarterly and include people who live with a disability and currently reside in or previously lived in a homeless shelter. The advisory board would provide an annual report of its review and recommendations. 

Introduction 141-A, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, would require signage indicating the location and use of power and low-energy power operated doors in accordance with the Building Code. 

Introduction 375-A sponsored by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, requires the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to report every three years to the Mayor and City Council the number of affordable housing units marked for people with disabilities that are actually rented to persons with disabilities. 

Introduction 676-A, sponsored by Council Member Crystal Hudson, would mandate that new construction housing projects that receive City-financial assistance must have all units adhere to Universal Design, a housing design approach that addresses barriers faced by individuals with disabilities, older adults and youth. 

“These bills will ensure better accessibility requirements and make sure that the city has the tools it needs to provide resources for all New Yorkers,” said Deputy Speaker Ayala. “As a city, we should strive to improve conditions for people with all abilities, and this is a step in the right direction.” 

The legislation on family homelessness, Introduction 421-A sponsored by Council Member Kevin Riley, will require the Department of Homeless Services to provide quarterly reports on family homelessness. The reports will include the total number of families with children living within the shelter system, their average length of stay, how many families have transitioned to permanent housing, and data related to school enrollment and attendance for youth in shelters.

“As Co-Chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, I am honored to stand alongside Mayor Eric Adams, Speaker Adrienne Adams and my colleagues to sign into law New York City Council legislation that addresses pay equity, accessibility and homelessness in our city,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “My bill, Intro. 421-A, requires further insight to address the needs of families with children in our NYC shelter system. By mandating the Department of Homeless Services to provide monthly reporting on the total number of families with children living in the shelter system, their average length of stay, how many families have transitioned to permanent housing and data related to school enrollment, we can further develop data transparency and empower the City to provide comprehensive support and services that uplift vulnerable New York families facing homelessness. It is a priority of this historic City Council to pass legislation that aims for a true means of equity and inclusion. I am looking forward to continuing the collaborative work with my colleagues to serve and protect all New Yorkers.”

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