Int. No. 1408-A
By Council Members Ayala, Farías, Gennaro and Louis
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 agency identified by the mayor, conduct a study regarding burial capacity on Hart Island. In conducting such study, the commissioner of social services shall solicit input and feedback from family members of those buried at 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 such procedures on Hart Island to increase burial capacity, whether there are areas on Hart Island that are not currently used for burial but could be suitable for burial, whether the demolition of buildings or other changes in land use would affect burial capacity on Hart Island, whether legislation or other regulatory action would be required to effectuate any such demolition or change, whether such changes in burial procedures would conflict with any relevant plan or study relating to Hart Island developed by the department of parks and recreation or another relevant agency, and whether other locations in the city should be identified for public burials; and
4. If, pursuant to paragraph 3 of this subdivision, the commissioner of social services determines that changes in such procedures would increase burial capacity on Hart Island, develop recommendations for such changes and provide justification for how such recommendations would increase burial capacity.
c. Report. No later than June 15, 2027, the commissioner of social services shall submit to the speaker of the council and the mayor a report on the findings and recommendations resulting from the study conducted pursuant this local law. Such report shall also be posted on the websites of the department of social services, the department of parks and recreation, and any other agency identified by the mayor pursuant to this local law.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
EH/ACK
LS #19735
11/3/2025 3:06pm