Authorizes the chief executive of a responding law enforcement agency to designate an area within a municipality as an active recovery zone in response to certain natural or man-made disasters or emergencies; limits access to such zones to residents and other affected persons, first responders, and certain authorized personnel; imposes a penalty of a class B misdemeanor for knowing unauthorized access to such zones; makes related provisions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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10915
IN ASSEMBLY
April 8, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BUTTENSCHON -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to authorizing the desig-
nation of active recovery zones within municipalities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 24-a
2 to read as follows:
3 § 24-a. Active recovery zones; local emergencies. 1. For the purposes
4 of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
5 (a) "Active recovery zone" shall mean an area within a municipality
6 designated as such pursuant to subdivision two of this section.
7 (b) "Municipality" shall mean a county, city, town or village.
8 (c) "Affected persons" shall mean any person who has or currently is
9 experiencing any event designated by the chief executive of the respond-
10 ing law enforcement agency pursuant to subdivision two of this section.
11 2. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or ordinance to the
12 contrary, in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, rioting,
13 catastrophe, act of terrorism, or similar public emergency within the
14 territorial limits of any municipality, or in the event of reasonable
15 apprehension of immediate danger thereof, the chief executive of the
16 responding law enforcement agency may designate any area within such
17 municipality as an active recovery zone within which residents of such
18 active recovery zone and other affected persons shall be afforded
19 protections from harassment from media, the general public, and any
20 other individuals as designated by such chief executive that pose a
21 demonstrable risk of intrusion, community disruption, or re-traumatiza-
22 tion to the residents of such active recovery zone or other affected
23 persons. Such proclamation shall remain in effect for a period not to
24 exceed thirty days or until rescinded by such chief executive, whichever
25 occurs first. Such chief executive may issue additional proclamations
26 to extend the status of such active recovery zone for additional periods
27 not to exceed thirty days. Following such proclamation and during the
28 continuance of such active recovery zone, such chief executive may
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13584-02-5
A. 10915 2
1 promulgate local emergency orders to protect life and property or to
2 bring the emergency situation under control. Such orders may, within the
3 area designated as the active recovery zone, provide for, but shall not
4 be limited to:
5 (a) the designation of specific zones within which the occupancy and
6 use of buildings and the ingress and egress of vehicles and persons may
7 be prohibited or regulated;
8 (b) the prohibition and control of the presence of persons on public
9 streets and places; and
10 (c) increases community policing and other efforts to enforce the
11 protection of such active recovery zone.
12 3. Access to an active recovery zone shall be limited to residents
13 thereof, first responders, and personnel authorized by the chief execu-
14 tive of the responding law enforcement agency.
15 4. Following the designation of an active recovery zone within a muni-
16 cipality, the chief executive of the responding law enforcement agency
17 shall cause such active recovery zone to be clearly partitioned, with
18 public postings made along the perimeter clearly stating the following
19 language:
20 "ACTIVE RECOVERY ZONE - ACCESS RESTRICTED.
21 RESPECT PRIVACY."
22 5. Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of subdivision
23 three of this section by unlawfully entering an active recovery zone
24 shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
25 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
