Requires that the state system for warning populations who are or may be endangered includes audible alerts for all announcements to ensure that information is accessible to visually impaired individuals.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5823
SPONSOR: Dilan TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to ensuring public safety
announcements are accessible to visually impaired individuals
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The bill enhances New York emergency alert systems by ensuring there is
also, audible alerts, making critical information accessible to visually
impaired individuals.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill mandates that emergency warning systems incorpo-
rate audible alerts to accommodate visually impaired individuals.
Section 2 sets an effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The recent 4,8-magnitude earthquake in New Jersey felt across New York,
challenged the effectiveness of our current public safety announcement
system. New York predominantly relies on text-based alerts sent via
mobile devices; however, with approximately 418,500 visually impaired
residents in the state, it is imperative that public safety announce-
ments are accessible to all citizens to proactively. enhance safety.
This legislation mandates the inclusion of audible alerts in public
safety announcements to ensure that information is accessible to visual-
ly impaired individuals. It requires the deployment of voice-based
messages alongside traditional alerts, ensuring that vital emergency
information reaches all residents, irrespective of their visual capabil-
ities. By expanding alert systems to include audible notifications, New
York would take a proactive approach to public safety, ensuring that all
residents have immediate access to crucial emergency information.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5823
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 20, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DILAN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to ensuring public safety
announcements are accessible to visually impaired individuals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subparagraph 3 of paragraph b of subdivision 3 of section
2 22 of the executive law, as amended by section 3 of part B of chapter 56
3 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
4 (3) a system for warning populations who are or may be endangered,
5 such system shall include audible alerts for all announcements to ensure
6 that information is accessible to visually impaired individuals;
7 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
8 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09840-01-5
