S 8898: Requires venues of public accommodation to maintain accessible parking in accordance with federal law; establishes penalties and enforcement mechanisms for the division of human rights and local governments.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8898  IN SENATE January 13, 2026 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring venues of public accommodation to maintain accessible parking in accordance with federal law The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares that accessible 2 parking is essential to ensuring equitable access to public accommo- 3 dations for individuals with disabilities. While federal law under the 4 Americans with Disabilities Act requires accessible parking, enforcement 5 at large venues has proven inconsistent. This legislation establishes 6 state oversight, annual certification, and a fair enforcement structure 7 to ensure consistent compliance without jeopardizing business licensure 8 unrelated to accessibility. 9 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 170-k to 10 read as follows: 11 § 170-k. Accessible parking compliance at public venues. 1. For 12 purposes of this section: 13 (a) "Venue" shall mean any arena, stadium, amphitheater, convention 14 center, or similar facility that: 15 (i) is located within the state of New York; 16 (ii) has a maximum occupancy of five hundred persons or more; and 17 (iii) hosts public performances, sporting events, concerts, exhibi- 18 tions, or other large public gatherings. 19 (b) "Accessible parking" shall mean off-street parking spaces and 20 related facilities that conform to the requirements of the 2010 Ameri- 21 cans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design including, 22 but not limited to size, signage, surfacing, van accessibility, and 23 route to entrance. 24 2. (a) Every venue shall provide and maintain accessible parking 25 facilities in compliance with federal standards. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD13508-02-6 
 S. 8898 2 1 (b) Accessible spaces shall be located on the shortest accessible 2 route from parking to the principal entrance, be properly signed and 3 striped, and be free of obstructions. 4 (c) Accessible spaces shall be made available at the same price or 5 lowest rate offered for any parking on the same date. 6 3. (a) Each venue shall submit to the division of human rights an 7 annual certification of accessible parking compliance. 8 (b) Such certification shall include: 9 (i) a diagram of designated accessible parking spaces and routes; 10 (ii) a signed attestation by a licensed architect, engineer, or certi- 11 fied accessibility specialist that such spaces conform to federal stand- 12 ards; and 13 (iii) any changes made during the preceding year affecting the avail- 14 ability or configuration of accessible parking. 15 4. (a) The division of human rights shall investigate alleged 16 violations of this section and may conduct random audits of no less than 17 five percent of certified venues annually. 18 (b) Any venue found to be in violation shall be subject to a civil 19 penalty as follows: 20 (i) not more than two thousand five hundred dollars for a first 21 offense; and 22 (ii) not more than five thousand dollars for each subsequent offense 23 occurring within a two-year period. 24 (c) Municipalities shall have concurrent authority to inspect venues 25 within their jurisdiction and issue corrective orders or civil fines not 26 to exceed two hundred fifty dollars per day for ongoing non-compliance 27 after thirty days' notice. 28 5. (a) The division shall maintain a publicly available online regis- 29 try of certified venues and their compliance status. 30 (b) Any person may file a complaint under this section without fear of 31 retaliation. Retaliation shall constitute an unlawful discriminatory 32 practice under article fifteen of this chapter. 33 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 34 it shall have become a law. The division of human rights shall promul- 35 gate any rules and regulations necessary to implement this act within 36 ninety days of its enactment.