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Who cares
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Sponsors
9 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported referred to rules
- Print number 2467b
- Amend and recommit to ways and means
- Print number 2467a
- Amend and recommit to ways and means
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Enacts the accessible electronic information act for blind and disabled persons; creates a new fund in the state finance law; authorizes a NFP to administer the program
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A2467B
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law and the state finance law, in relation to enacting the accessible electronic informa- tion act
Purpose or general idea of bill
Thousands of citizens in New York have disabilities (including blindness or visual impairment) that prevent them from using conventional print material. The state fulfills an important duty by providing books and magazines prepared in Braille, audio, and large-type formats made available to eligible blind and disa- bled persons. The technology, transcription methods, and means of distribution used for these materials are labor intensive and cannot support rapid dissemination to individuals in rural and urban areas throughout the state. Lack of direct and prompt access to information included in newspapers, magazines, newsletters, schedules, announce- ments, and other time-sensitive materials, limits educational opportu- nities, and full participation in society by blind and disabled persons. This constraint can best be overcome through use of high-speed computer and telecommunication technology, combined with customized software, providing a practical and cost-effective means to convert electronic text-based information into synthetic speech suitable for statewide distribution with modem telecommunication technology. Low cost inter- state telecommunication rates make distribution of electronic text-based information to eligible users both efficient and cost effective for the state. Federal funds have been used to develop the technology and infrastructure needed for statewide toll-free access to daily newspapers and other timely information of local, state, and national interest through a service known as NFB-NEWSLINE, providing an efficient and cost-effective means of reader registration, content acquisitions, and interstate telecommunications support. Use of this accessible electronic information service will improve the state's current efforts to meet the needs of blind and disabled citizens for access to information which is otherwise available in print, thereby reducing isolation and supporting full integration and equal access for such individuals. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "accessible electronic information act".
Read the full memo (824 words)
Summary of specific provisions
The national federation of the blind of New York shall provide an accessible electronic information service for eligible blind and disabled persons as defined in subdivision two of this section. This service shall be intended for continuation from year to year and make maximum use of federal and other kinds available by obtaining grant or in-kind support from appropriate programs and secur- ing access to low-cost interstate rates for telecommunications by reimbursement or otherwise. "Accessible electronic information service" means news and other timely information provided to eligible individuals from a multi-state service center, using high-speed computers and tele- communication technology for interstate acquisition of content and rapid distribution in a form suitable for use by such individuals. "Blind and disabled persons" means those individuals who are qualified for library loan services through the Library of Congress and the State Library for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped pursuant to: "Director' means the director of the national federation of the blind of New York. "Qualified entity" means the national federation of the blind of New York.
Justification
There is hereby recognized in the supervision of the state comptroller a special revenue fund to be known as the "accessible electronic information service fund". Such fund shall consist of the money transferred thereto from the accessible electronic information service fund by the comptroller pursuant to section ninety-nine-i of this article. Nothing enclosed herein shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or donation for the purposes of the access to justice fund as defined in this section and depositing them into the accessible electronic information service fund according to law. The accessible electronic information service fund shall be administered by the public service commission, in consultation with the Director of the National Federation of the Blind of New York, in agreement with this section. In order to support the program described in section ninety- two-g of the public service law, the public service commission shall require all local exchange telecommunications companies to impose a periodic surcharge on bills rendered to all local exchange telecommuni- cations company subscribers. The public service commission, in consulta- tion with the Director of the national federation of the blind of New York shall annually conclude the amount of the surcharge based on the amount of funding necessary to support the program described in section ninety-two-g of the public service law. The amount of the surcharge will be one cent per access line per month as determined by the Director of the national federation of the blind of New York in consultation with the public service commission. Local exchange telecommunications compa- nies shall forward the amount received from the surcharge to the direc- tor of the national federation of the blind of New York less any amount allowed for administration, in accordance with a schedule determined by the public service commission in consultation with such director.
Prior legislative history
None
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.