Int. No. 2152
By Council Members Eugene, Gibson, Rivera, Louis, Rosenthal, Salamanca, Kallos and Adams
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to providing internet access to shelter residents
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 3 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-324 to read as follows:
§ 21-324 Internet access. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Broadband. The term “broadband” means any high-speed internet access that is always on.
Internet access. The term “internet access” means the ability to connect to the internet using computers or other devices and to access services such as email or the world wide web.
Wi-fi. The term “wi-fi” means wireless networking technology that enables the user to access or connect to a network using radio waves.
b. Not later than August 1, 2020, the department shall post on its website and submit to the mayor and to the speaker of the council a report on the shelters, as defined in section 21-317, and the temporary shelters, as defined in section 21-118, that provide residents internet access or access to computers. The report shall include, at minimum:
1. The total number of shelters and temporary shelters that provide residents access to computers, and of such shelters and temporary shelters, the number of computers available at each shelter and temporary shelter;
2. The total number of shelters and temporary shelters that provide residents internet access via broadband or wi-fi, or its equivalent, a description of the broadband or wi-fi available to such residents and whether there are any limitations or restrictions on such access;
3. The total number of shelters that house families with pre-school aged children or school-aged children;
4. The total number of temporary shelters that house pre-school aged children or school-aged children; and
5. The total number of shelters and temporary shelters that do not provide computer or internet access to the residents, and of such shelters and temporary shelters identified in this subdivision, the number of such shelters and temporary shelters that house pre-school aged children or school-aged children.
c. Not later than September 1, 2020, the department shall develop a plan to help ensure that all shelters and temporary shelters provide, at no cost to residents, internet access and access to computers with internet access.
d. The department shall require that all shelters and temporary shelters provide, at no cost to residents, internet access and access to computers with internet access by no later than September 1, 2021.
e. No information that is required to be reported pursuant to this section shall be reported in a manner that would violate any applicable provision of federal, state or local law relating to the privacy of information respecting individuals in shelters or temporary shelters.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
JSA
LS #14450, 14521, 14526, 14538, 14658, 15195
6/18/2020