STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7387
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a deaf
and hard of hearing outreach program to facilitate communication
between hearing-impaired persons and law enforcement personnel
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-s
2 to read as follows:
3 § 837-s. 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 person" shall mean any person who, because of hearing loss,
6 is not able to discriminate speech when spoken in a normal conversa-
7 tional tone regardless of the use of amplification devices; and
8 (b) "Hard of hearing person" shall mean any person who, because of
9 hearing loss, has a diminished capacity to discriminate speech when
10 spoken in a normal conversational tone.
11 (c) "Visor communication card" shall mean such identification as
12 issued by the division which identifies the driver as deaf or hard of
13 hearing, as defined in this section, and which details the appropriate
14 procedures for assisting a deaf or hard of hearing driver during a traf-
15 fic stop as promulgated by the division pursuant to this section.
16 2. The division shall develop and maintain visor communication cards
17 for the purpose of improving communication between law enforcement and
18 deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Any person residing in this state
19 shall, upon request, be issued a visor communication of a design
20 approved by the commissioner. Application for such visor communication
21 card shall be filed with the division in such form and detail as the
22 commissioner shall prescribe.
23 3. The division shall make available an electronic version of the
24 visor communication card on their website. The division shall dissem-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10327-01-5
A. 7387 2
1 inate for the purpose of posting such electronic version to law enforce-
2 ment agencies and other state agencies where the public may obtain
3 information regarding motor vehicle registration and licenses.
4 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
