Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Lawmakers agree on framework for extension of rent regulations

ALBANY, N.Y. (WABC) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced that lawmakers had reached agreement on a framework for a four-year extension of rent regulations for more than two million tenants and for property tax rebates for homeowners upstate and on Long Island.

"We have a framework of an agreement," he said. "It is robust and includes continued education reforms, cuts taxes, and protects tenants."

The deal includes a one-year extension of mayoral control of New York City public schools and would provide $250 million in state aid to private schools.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan joined Cuomo for the announcement. The legislative leaders still have to get approval from their respective conferences.

Heastie expects the Assembly's majority Democrats to approve extending rent control for four years. He and Cuomo say it will tighten tenant protections.

The agreement likewise continues the property tax cap.

"This is a major step forward of in terms of tax policy, $1.3 billion tax cut," Cuomo said. "This is a major step forward in terms of tenant protection."

Additionally, there was no agreement on a special prosecutor law for investigating police cases, so Cuomo will appoint Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to be special prosecutor for police incidents for one year.

There was also no agreement on Raise the Age, which could take 16- and 17-year old inmates out of prison, so Cuomo said he will take them out of state prison on executive action.

"The executive will on its own raise the age of people in state prison," he said. "Right now, 16- and 17-year-olds are going to state prisons, and I think that in an intolerable situation. So by executive action, we will take 16- and 17-year-olds out of state prisons and put them in separate facilities."

The Legislature, which was scheduled to adjourn for the year last week, was instead scheduled to return to Albany later Tuesday to work on unfinished issues.

For more information on tenants rights in New York City, please visit: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/renters/tenants-rights.page