Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell) announced today that legislation she wrote to help protect tenants from pollution passed the both the Assembly and Senate. The bill (A.2742) would require landlords to disclose vapor intrusion problems to their tenants.

“The health risks that Endicott residents face from vapor intrusion are real and need to be known,” Lupardo said. “This legislation is necessary to close the current gaps in the law that have allowed landlords to leave renters uninformed of known or suspected environmental contamination.”

While there are requirements to inform property owners of certain environmental threats, there is no system in place to protect renters. In Endicott, Hillcrest and other areas across the state, renters have been unknowingly exposed to potential carcinogens, such as Trichloroethylene (TCE), even though landlords were notified about the contamination.

Now that the bill has passed both chambers, it will be sent to Governor Spitzer for his consideration. The legislation was passed last year as well, but was vetoed (No. 342) by former Governor Pataki.