New York State Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D, Greenburgh) has proposed a new law that would require county health commissioners throughout the state to notify local officials in the event of a health emergency.
Abinanti, who previously served as a county legislator and passed similar legislation in Westchester County, said that the failure by Health Commissioners to give local officials sufficient notice of several sewage spills into the Hudson River highlighted the need for the law.
“There are gaps in the notification procedures,” Abinanti said. “When there is a threat to public health, all appropriate officials should be notified so they can implement the appropriate emergency response and warn the public as soon as possible.”
“Health Commissioner’s should immediately notify other county and local officials so that they can timely respond to public hazards,” Abinanti said. “The sooner the public is aware of the problem, the sooner they can take steps to protect themselves,”
