What's happening
This bill creates a pilot program to install blue light emergency phones in one park per borough in New York City and requires a study on their impact on public safety.
Why it matters
Direct connection to emergency services. The bill requires that blue light phones automatically dial 9-1-1 and connect directly to the local police precinct, potentially reducing response times in emergencies and offering a lifeline for people in distress who may not have access to a cell phone.
Equity in public safety resources. By mandating installation in one park per borough, the program aims for geographic equity, ensuring that each part of the city—regardless of income level or neighborhood—has access to this new safety measure.
Data-driven policy decisions. The mandated study will assess whether the presence of blue light phones actually impacts public safety outcomes compared to parks without them, providing evidence for future investments or expansion of the program.
Potential for broader legislative action. The requirement to deliver findings and legislative recommendations to top city and state officials means the pilot could shape broader policy on park security citywide, depending on study results.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Install Park Emergency Phones
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3685
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating the blue light emergency phones pilot program and to direct the commissioner of parks and recreation to study and report upon the use of such program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 18-148 to read as follows:
§ 18-148 Blue light emergency phones pilot program. In one park, operated by or under the jurisdiction of the department, in each of the five boroughs, the department shall implement a blue light emergency phones pilot program for the purpose of public safety. Under such program, the department shall install blue lighted emergency phones that, when used, shall automatically dial 9-1-1 and ring directly to the precinct of the police department.
§ 2. The commissioner of parks and recreation shall cause a study to be performed to analyze how the implementation of blue light emergency phones pilot program in parks impacts public safety compared to parks without such a program.
§ 3. On or before three hundred sixty-five days after all five locations identified for the blue light emergency phones pilot program have become operational, the commissioner of parks and recreation shall complete the study conducted pursuant to section two of this act and shall thereafter deliver a copy of the findings of the study and any legislative recommendations he or she deems to be necessary to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and the mayor of the city of New York.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08172-01-7
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.