Establishes a deaf and hard of hearing outreach program to facilitate communication between deaf and hard of hearing individuals and law enforcement personnel.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5146
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 19, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a deaf
and hard of hearing outreach program to facilitate communication
between law enforcement and deaf and hard of hearing individuals
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 837-y
2 to read as follows:
3 § 837-y. Deaf and hard of hearing outreach program. 1. As used in this
4 section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
5 (a) "Deaf and hard of hearing" shall mean a person who has partial or
6 complete loss of hearing, including individuals who are deaf-blind.
7 (b) "Visor communication card" shall mean such identification as
8 issued by the division which identifies the driver as deaf and hard of
9 hearing, as defined in this section, and which details the appropriate
10 procedures for assisting a deaf and hard of hearing driver during a
11 traffic stop as promulgated by the division pursuant to this section.
12 2. The division shall develop and maintain visor communication cards
13 for the purpose of improving communication between law enforcement and
14 deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Any person residing in this state
15 shall, upon request, be issued a visor communication of a design
16 approved by the commissioner. Application for such visor communication
17 card shall be filed with the division in such form and detail as the
18 commissioner shall prescribe.
19 3. The division shall make available an electronic version of the
20 visor communication card on their website. The division shall dissem-
21 inate for the purpose of posting such electronic version to law enforce-
22 ment agencies and other state agencies where the public may obtain
23 information regarding motor vehicle registration and licenses.
24 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05986-01-5
