Council Bill to Prevent Unnecessary Burdens on Business
\nCouncil to Protect Seniors by Creating Emergency Alert System<\/p>\n
City Hall \u2013 At today\u2019s Stated meeting, the Council will vote on a bill that will change the City\u2019s rule-making process to ensure that future rules are not unduly burdensome and do not create unnecessarily high compliance costs for the affected City\u2019s industries. The bill will also require agency outreach and analysis to the community as part of the public comment phase of rule-making. The Council will also look at another bill that will create an emergency alert to help find missing seniors with Alzheimer\u2019s or other cognitive impairments. <\/p>\n
HELPING BUSINESSES
\nThe Council will vote on a bill that is intended to help improve the City\u2019s rule-making process as well as the regulatory environment for members of regulated communities, particularly small businesses. The rule-making process will be changed in an effort to ensure that, among other things, agency rules are not unduly burdensome, agencies conduct outreach to the regulated community, if one exists, new or modified rules are clear and easy to understand, cure periods are included in rules whenever possible and appropriate, and agencies promulgating rules carefully consider ways to prevent unreasonable compliance costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to help our City grow, we must streamline government processes and cut red tape,\u201d said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cThis bill is another step in breaking down barriers that often stand in the way and put unnecessary burdens on our business community. We want to do everything we can to empower each industry and each business to give them the opportunity to succeed. By stripping away unnecessary processes, this bill puts them one step closer to success.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rules are operating principles or orders created by an agency, generally under authority granted by the legislature. These administrative rules have the force and effect of law. The bill, which comes largely from the work of the Regulatory Review Panel and also incorporates principles first proposed by Council Minority Leader James Oddo, will require the Law Department and the Mayor\u2019s Office of Operations to review and analyze all proposed rules to avoid unnecessary burdens on business.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, the goal of our legislation is to help businesses who choose to locate in New York City grow, diversify, and prosper,\u201d said Council Minority Leader James Oddo. \u201cThis bill is but one step in that direction and will lead to a friendlier regulatory process for small businesses. Even the best intentioned rules and regulations can choke the entrepreneurial spirit that this economy so desperately needs today, and this bill hopes to inject common sense into what at times is a bureaucratic nightmare for too many small businesses and New Yorkers\u201d<\/p>\n
In doing so, the Law Department will be required to evaluate whether any rule is in conflict with other applicable rules and contains a statement of basis and purpose that clearly explains the rule.<\/p>\n
Then, the Mayor\u2019s Office of Operations will be required to analyze each proposed rule by the following criteria:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Whether such rule is understandable and written in plain language;
\n\u2022 How the drafting process of the rule considered ways to minimize compliance costs and avoid undue financial burdens for businesses
\n\u2022 Whether in changing a rule or establishing fines, if a person should be given an opportunity to correct a potential violation before an actual violation is issued by an inspector or agency.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the City\u2019s rule-making process would be further modified to require that agencies reach out to the regulated community or communities, if one exists, as part of their solicitation of public comments.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the most significant changes that will be brought about by the passage of this legislation is the requirement that agencies proactively reach out to the regulated community as part of their solicitation of public comments,\u201d said Council Member Gale Brewer, Chair of the Government Operations Committee. \u201cWith this requirement, we are changing the way the city makes rules by better involving those who will be most impacted. This is an important step toward a more customer service oriented approach to regulation. This, combined with the bill\u2019s other provisions, will help us to make appropriate regulations while, at the same time, ensuring that these regulations are not unduly burdensome or costly for small business owners.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis Council, under Speaker Quinn\u2019s leadership, is doing its part to protect and nurture the growth of small businesses in NYC,\u201d said Council Member Diana Reyna, Chair of the Small Business Committee. \u201cBy requiring outreach and a review of proposed rules, Councilmember Oddo\u2019s legislation will ensure that those who create jobs within our communities will get the chance to have their voices heard and that the regulatory burdens on them will be fair and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
PROTECTING SENIORS
\nToday, the Council will also vote on a bill that will help families find missing seniors suffering from Alzheimer\u2019s or other cognitive impairments by creating a \u201cSilver Alert\u201d Program.<\/p>\n
Researchers have found that 60 percent of people suffering from Alzheimer\u2019s will at some point wander off unknowingly. If they are not found within 24 hours, more than half of these individuals will turn up seriously injured or dead. That is why the Council will vote on the \u201cSilver Alert\u201d legislation, which is similar to the \u201cAmber Alert,\u201d in that it provides the public with information about missing seniors believed to be in imminent danger or harm. <\/p>\n
The city will be responsible for communicating information pertaining to the missing person to appropriate organizations, including media organizations, senior service providers, medical facilities, and community organizations. Information will be conveyed through any appropriate means, including email notifications, text messages, telephone calls, television broadcasts, or radio broadcasts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen someone is caring for a loved one with Alzheimer\u2019s or dementia, there\u2019s nothing more frightening than the thought that they might wander and be hurt,\u201d said Council Member Jessica Lappin, chair of the City Council Committee on Aging. \u201cSilver Alerts will give added safety to seniors and peace of mind to caregivers. It is another step toward our goal of making New York a truly age-friendly city.\u201d<\/p>\n
Based on the success of similar programs in 28 states, the legislation will create a \u201cSilver Alert\u201d system. This program will establish a system of communication that will inform the public when a senior citizen with certain cognitive impairments is reported missing to a law enforcement agency.<\/p>\n
EXTENDING HISTORIC GREENWICH VILLAGE
\nThe Council will vote to approve the extension of the Greenwich Village Historic District in order to preserve the low-rise historic nature of the neighborhood. For the second time in four years, the Greenwich Village Historic District will be increasing \u2013 this time to 2,320 buildings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a crucial next step in preserving the character and nature of Greenwich Village,\u201d said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cAs always, I\u2019ll continue to fight to keep the Village\u2019s historical and architectural heritage. I want to thank the Landmarks Preservation Commission and specifically Chair Robert Tierney for their work on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Council Bill to Prevent Unnecessary Burdens on Business
\nCouncil to Protect Seniors by Creating Emergency Alert System<\/p>\n
City Hall \u2013 At today\u2019s Stated meeting, the Council will vote on a bill that will change the City\u2019s rule-making process to ensure that future rules are not unduly burdensome and do not create unnecessarily high compliance costs for the affected City\u2019s industries.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n