What's happening
This bill requires New York cities with populations over 95,000 to study and report on their disaster preparedness, especially regarding power grid emergencies.
Why it matters
Focuses on real-world readiness by requiring large cities to identify gaps and weaknesses. not just what works, but specifically where their disaster response (especially for power grid emergencies) is “inefficient, ineffectual, or otherwise inadequate,” which could drive targeted improvements.
Includes critical infrastructure and services in the review. , such as hospitals’ ability to care for and evacuate patients, the resilience of computer systems, sufficiency of backup power, and the preparedness of first responders and law enforcement, highlighting the interconnectedness of emergency response systems.
Mandates formal cooperation between cities and state emergency authorities. , ensuring insight and involvement from both the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the Office of Emergency Management, which may improve coordination and resource allocation in future crises.
Requires public accountability by mandating a report to state leadership within a year. , potentially increasing transparency and urgency for cities to address vulnerabilities before a major disaster occurs, and providing lawmakers with data to inform statewide emergency planning or funding decisions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Cities Study Disaster Readiness
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2218
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. WEPRIN -read once and referred to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT in relation to authorizing and directing certain cities in this state to conduct a study on the preparedness and readiness of such city to react and respond to certain disasters
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Every city in this state with a population of ninety-five thousand or more shall, in cooperation with the commissioner and the director, be authorized and directed to conduct a study on the preparedness and readiness of such city to react and respond to a disaster, whether natural or man made, affecting that portion of the state's power grid located within such city. In conducting such study, each city shall analyze:
1. the ability of such city to maintain vital services throughout such city;
2. the ability of hospitals located within such city to provide services to patients, including the transport or evacuation of patients to other facilities;
3. the ability to maintain the integrity of computer systems operated by institutions located within such city;
4. the sufficiency of backup power generating systems;
5. the preparedness and readiness of first responders for immediate deployment to help people in need;
6. the preparedness and readiness of law enforcement; and
7. any further analysis that the commissioner or the director deems relevant and necessary.
§ 2. When conducting a study required by section one of this act, each such city shall, as its primary focus, determine those areas in which the ability of such city to react and respond to such a disaster is inefficient, ineffectual or otherwise inadequate.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07772-01-7
A. 2218 2
§ 3. Each city required to conduct a study pursuant to this act shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature setting forth its analysis and the determinations made as a result of such study within one year of the effective date of this act.
§ 4. For purposes of this act the term "commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services and the term "director" shall mean the director of the office of emergency management within such division.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.