LAWS PASSED IN 2002
SMOKE FREE ACT OF 2002(Intro 256-A)
This legislation amends the 1995 Smoke-Free Air Act to make public
places including bars, nightclubs and restaurants and all places of
employment in New York City smoke-free. Officials agreed to some
exemptions: cigar bars, owner-operated bars, fraternal organizations,
and portions of outdoor cafes will still allow smoking. The law would
also allow for smoking in separate, enclosed rooms that employees do not
enter.
SPONSORING MEMBERS:
Council members Quinn, Oddo, Brewer, DeBlasio, Felder, Foster, Gerson,
Koppell, Martinez, Perkins, Sears, Serrano, Stewart, Vann, Comrie,
Lopez, Reyna, Vallone, Jr., Baez, Diaz, Provenzano, Recchia, Jr.,
Yassky, Davis, Gennaro and Liu.
COUNCIL VOTE:
42 for, 7 against, 2 abstain
Approved by council December 18, 2002
Signed by mayor December 30, 2002
YES: Tony Avella, Maria Baez, Charles Barron, Tracy Boyland, Gale
Brewer, Leroy Comrie, James Davis, Bill DeBlasio, Ruben Diaz, Erik
Dilan, Simcha Felder, Lewis Fidler, Helen Foster, James Gennaro, Alan
Gerson, Eric Gioia, Sarah Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Allan Jennings,
Melinda Katz, G. Oliver Koppell, Andrew LanzaJohn Liu, Miguel Martinez,
Gifford Miller, Eva Moskowitz, Michael Nelson, James Oddo, Bill Perkins,
Madeline Provenzano, Christine Quinn, Domenic Recchia, Joel Rivera,
Larry Seabrook, Helen Sears, Jose Serrano, Kendall Stewart, Peter
Vallone, Jr., Albert Vann, David Weprin, David Yassky.
NO: Joseph Addabbo, Jr., Dennis Gallagher, Martin Golden, Margarita
Lopez, Michael McMahon, Hiram Monserrate, Philip Reed.
ABSTAIN: Yvette Clarke, James Sanders.
ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH CARE INFORMATION (Intro 13)
This law requires that information about public health programs such as
Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus exist be published in at
least seven different languages -- English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian,
Yiddish, Korean, and Haitian-Creole.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: Council Members Eva Moskowitz, the Speaker (Council
Member Gifford Miller), Christine Quinn, Melinda Katz, John Liu, Philip
Reed, Joel Rivera, Gale Brewer, Yvette Clarke, Helen Sears, Kendall Stewart,
Albert Vann, Eric Gioia, Diana Reyna, David Weprin and James Oddo; also
Council Member Leroy Comrie
COUNCIL VOTE: 47 for, 2 against, 0 abstaining
Approved by council March 25, 2002
Signed by mayor April 2, 2002
YES: Joseph Addabbo, Jr., Tony Avella, Maria Baez, Charles Barron, Tracy
Boyland, Gale Brewer, Yvette Clarke, Leroy Comrie, James Davis, Bill
DeBlasio, Ruben Diaz, Erik Dilan, Simcha Felder, Lewis Fidler, Helen Foster,
James Gennaro, Alan Gerson, Eric Gioia, Robert Jackson, Allan Jennings,
Melinda Katz, G. Oliver Koppell, Andrew Lanza, John Liu, Margarita Lopez,
Miguel Martinez, Gifford Miller, Hiram Monserrate, Eva Moskowitz, Michael
Nelson, James Oddo, Bill Perkins, Christine Quinn, Domenic Recchia, Philip
Reed, Diana Reyna, Joel Rivera, Angel Rodriguez, James Sanders, Larry
Seabrook, Helen Sears, Jose Serrano, Kendall Stewart, Peter Vallone, Jr.,
Albert Vann, David Weprin, David Yassky.
NO: Dennis Gallagher, Martin Golden
ABSENT: Michael McMahon, Madeline Provenzano
REDUCE ANIMAL SHELTER OPERATIONS (Int. 234)
Animal shelters, like other city agencies, have to cope with major budget
cuts. This legislation reduces the time that city animal shelters can accept
animals from 24 to 12 hours per day. All plans for new shelters have also
been put on hold.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: Councilmember Christine Quinn (at the request of the
mayor).
COUNCIL VOTE: 50 for, 0 against
Passed by council June 21, 2002
Signed by mayor July 1, 2002
ABSENT: Eva Moskowitz
NEW DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE (Intro 227A)
This bill combines the city agencies -- the Department of Health and the
Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services --
and creates a new name for the new agencies: the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene. Proponents said the new name better reflects the mission of
the city's heath programs.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: Council members Bill Perkins, Simcha Felder and Maria
Baez (by request of the mayor); also Kendall Stewart.
COUNCIL VOTE: 48 for, 0 against
Passed by council July 10, 2002
Signed by the mayor July 29, 2002
ABSENT: Helen Foster, Martin Golden, Christine Quinn
BILLS PENDING
DISCOUNT ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS (Intro 75)
This legislation would require that city hospitals and health facilities
only purchase prescription drugs from companies that agree to provide at
least a 25 percent discount on prescription drugs to low-income seniors and
Medicare recipients. (Read more about
this issue in Gotham Gazette).
SPONSORING MEMBERS: Council Members Diaz, Boyland, DeBlasio, Foster, Jackson, Koppell,
Monserrate, Rivera, Rodriguez, Serrano, Stewart and Golden; also Council
Member Gerson
Click here
for the status of this bill
DEFIBRILLATORS IN PUBLIC SPACES (Intro 86, 131)
Defibrillators are handheld devices that deliver an electronic shock to
patients experiencing cardiac arrest. Intro 86 would require the city to
have defibrillators in major transit stations, public beaches, shopping
centers, and sporting facilities.
Intro 131 would require all
police and fire department vehicles to carry them. (Read more about
this
issue in Gotham
Gazette).
SPONSORING MEMBERS: Council members James Oddo, Philip Reed, Martin Golden,
Andrew Lanza, Dennis Gallagher, Maria Baez, Charles Barron, Leroy Comrie,
James Davis, Bill DeBlasio, Eric Gioia, Oliver Koppell, Michael McMahon,
Miguel Martinez, Eva Moskowitz, Michael Nelson, Christine Quinn, Diana
Reyna, Joel Rivera, James Sanders, Jose Serrano, Peter Vallone, Alan Gerson,
Gale Brewer and the Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum); also council member
Madeline Provenzano
Click here
for the status of this bill
BUFFER ZONE FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES (INTRO 169)
This bill prevents demonstrations within fifteen feet of the entrance or
exit of a reproductive health care facility.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: Introduced by Council Members Margarita Lopez, Christine
Quinn, Gale Brewer, Leroy Comrie, Bill DeBlasio, Helen Foster, Alan Gerson,
Bill Perkins, Philip Reed, James Sanders, Jose Serrano and David Yassky;
also council members Yvette Clarke, Robert Jackson, Oliver Koppell and Angel
Rodriguez.
Click here
for the status of this bill
SCREENING HOME CARE SERVICES PERSONNEL (INTRO 214)
This legislation adds people who work in home health care service to the
health care personnel required to have background checks. Screenings would
involve fingerprinting, a review of criminal convictions or domestic abuse,
and information from the applicants past employers.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: By council members Miguel Martinez, Maria Baez, Ruben
Diaz, Alan Gerson, Robert Jackson, Melinda Katz, Oliver Koppell, Hiram
Monserrate, Diana Reyna, Joel Rivera and Kendall Stewart.
Click here
for the status of this bill
WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACKS AND PUBLIC HEALTH (INTRO 165)
This bill would require a report on the health effects of the World Trade
Center attacks on people who work or live below 14th Street to be submitted
to the City Council and mayor twice a year.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: By council members Alan Gerson, Tony Avella, Leroy
Comrie, Oliver Koppell, Miguel Martinez, Michael Nelson, Jose Serrano,
Albert Vann and David Weprin; also council members Yvette Clarke, Christine
Quinn and Robert Jackson
Click here
for the status of this bill