File #: Int 1408-2025    Version: * Name: Study and report on burial capacity on Hart Island.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 10/9/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law in relation to a study and report on burial capacity on Hart Island
Sponsors: Diana I. Ayala
Council Member Sponsors: 1
Summary: This bill would require the commissioner of the Department of Social Services (DSS), in collaboration with the commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) and any other relevant New York City agency head, to conduct a study to analyze Hart Island’s capacity for future public burials under existing burial procedures. The agency heads would have to assess whether the procedures should be changed and develop recommendations if any changes are determined appropriate. Finally, the agency heads would have to submit to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council and post online a report containing the study findings and recommendations.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1408, 2. Int. No. 1408, 3. October 9, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1408

 

By Council Member Ayala

 

A Local Law in relation to a study and report on burial capacity on Hart Island

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Hart Island burial capacity study and report. a. Definitions. For purposes of this local law, the terms “agency” and “city” have the same meaning as set forth in section 1-112 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

b. Study. The commissioner of social services shall, in collaboration with the commissioner of parks and recreation and the head of any other relevant agency, conduct a study regarding burial capacity on Hart Island. Through such study, the commissioner of social services shall:

1. Identify current burial procedures on Hart Island that concern, at a minimum, areas on Hart Island that are currently used for burial, trench placement and dimensions, and the depth and placement of graves and caskets;

2. Analyze the capacity for future burials on Hart Island under such procedures;

3. Assess whether there should be changes in burial procedures on Hart Island, evaluating at a minimum the capacity for future burials analyzed under paragraph 2 of this subdivision, whether operational changes in current burial procedures on Hart Island should be pursued, whether there are areas on Hart Island that are not currently used for burial but could be suitable for burial, whether demolition of buildings or other changes in the use of land on Hart Island should be undertaken, whether any existing plans to improve public access to Hart Island present barriers to changes in burial procedures on Hart Island, and whether other locations in the city should be identified for public burials; and

4. If the commissioner of social services determines that there should be changes in burial procedures on Hart Island under paragraph 3 of this subdivision, develop recommendations pertaining to such changes and justifications for such recommendations.

c. Report. No later than 180 days after the effective date of this local law, the commissioner of social services, the commissioner of parks and recreation, and any other agency head participating in the study required under subdivision b of this section shall submit to the speaker of the council and the mayor, and post on their respective agency websites, a report on the findings and recommendations resulting from such study.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

EH

LS #19735

09/30/2025 5:15 PM