Bill Text: NY S04644 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides for standards for fire hydrant systems; provides for periodic tests of such systems; requires records of such tests be maintained for a period of ten years.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-16 - referred to governmental operations [S04644 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-S04644-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4644 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 13, 2023 ___________ Introduced by Sens. KENNEDY, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered print- ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to standards for fire hydrant systems; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 378 of the executive law is amended by adding two 2 new subdivisions 20 and 21 to read as follows: 3 20. a. Standards for fire hydrant systems shall require: 4 (i) periodic fire hydrant tests, fire hydrant flushing, and fire 5 hydrant water flow tests as required by the designated local official or 6 contracted designee according to the standards and guidance established 7 by the national fire protection association; 8 (ii) provided, however, each fire hydrant shall be flushed annually, 9 and fire hydrant water flow tests shall be conducted a minimum of once 10 per five years; and 11 (iii) records of fire hydrant tests, fire hydrant flushing, and fire 12 hydrant water flow tests performed on each fire hydrant shall be main- 13 tained for a period of at least ten years by the local authority respon- 14 sible for conducting such inspections. 15 b. For the purposes of this section, a fire hydrant system shall be 16 defined as a system of pipes and valves situated and maintained for 17 firefighting purposes delivering a water supply with sufficient pressure 18 and flow with a connection point by which firefighters can access it 19 without restriction as to the use for that purpose. The location is such 20 that it is accessible for immediate use of the fire authority at all 21 times. 22 21. The department of public service shall transmit a request for 23 information to each water-works corporation serving fifty thousand or EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD09354-01-3S. 4644 2 1 more water users, water authority within the state, and municipal public 2 works department requesting any and all information related to fire 3 hydrant maintenance, servicing, testing, and replacement. 4 a. The department of public service shall seek from each water-works 5 corporation serving fifty thousand or more water users, water authority, 6 and municipal public works department the following information: 7 (i) all invoices associated with maintenance, servicing, inspection, 8 or repair of fire hydrants for a period of at least one year; and 9 (ii) all records associated with the maintenance, servicing, 10 inspection, or repair of fire hydrants for a period of at least one 11 year. 12 b. Each water-works corporation serving fifty thousand or more water 13 users, water authority, or municipal public works department that 14 receives a request for information from the department of public service 15 pursuant to this subdivision shall cooperate fully with such department, 16 provide such information in a timely manner, and comply with any other 17 requests and requirements deemed appropriate by such department. 18 c. The department of public service shall issue a report within twelve 19 months of the effective date of this subdivision on information 20 collected from each water authority and public works department regard- 21 ing fire hydrant maintenance, servicing, inspection, or repair. Such a 22 report shall include a comprehensive analysis of the frequency of each 23 authority's or public works department's maintenance and inspection of 24 fire hydrants. The department of public service shall include any recom- 25 mendations that would achieve a more uniform period of hydrant mainte- 26 nance and inspection. Such department shall include in the report the 27 identity of any water-works corporation serving fifty thousand or more 28 water users, water authority, or municipal public works department that 29 received a request for information from the department but did not 30 provide information in a timely or complete manner. If a water-works 31 corporation serving fifty thousand or more water users, water authority, 32 or municipal public works department is not responsible for maintaining 33 and inspecting fire hydrants, a statement indicating no responsibility 34 to inspect shall be transmitted to the department of public service in 35 response to any request for information. Such department shall post a 36 copy of the full report to the governor, the temporary president of the 37 senate, the speaker of the assembly, and each member of the legislature. 38 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the 39 provisions of subdivision 21 of section 378 of the executive law, as 40 added by section one of this act, shall expire and be deemed repealed on 41 the one hundred twentieth day after the department of public service has 42 submitted its completed report provided, further, that the department of 43 public service shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission 44 upon the occurrence of the submission of the completed report in order 45 that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data 46 base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furth- 47 erance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative 48 law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
