What's happening
This bill requires public buildings in New York with multi-line phone systems to enable direct 911 dialing or display instructions if not possible.
Why it matters
Improves emergency response access. By requiring direct 911 dialing from multi-line phone systems in public buildings, the bill aims to reduce confusion and delays during emergencies, potentially saving lives by making it easier and faster to reach help.
Addresses technology gaps. The legislation covers a broad definition of multi-line systems—including VoIP, Centrex, PBX, and more—ensuring that both traditional and modern phone systems in public buildings are included, reflecting the diversity of telecommunications infrastructure.
Balances safety with cost concerns. Buildings that would need expensive hardware upgrades to comply are exempt from the direct-dialing requirement, but must provide clear, visible instructions on how to reach 911, maintaining a level of public safety without imposing significant financial burdens.
Standardizes emergency procedures. By mandating instructional stickers where direct 911 dialing isn't possible, the bill helps create a consistent emergency protocol across New York public buildings, reducing the risk that someone will be unable to reach emergency services in a crisis.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Direct 911 Dialing in Buildings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.48
- Returned to assembly
- Died in senate
- Referred to finance
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.367
- Reported
- Reported referred to ways and means
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to governmental operations
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.
Direct 911 Calls in Schools
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Thomas Croci
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
608
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, ARROYO, COOK, GOTTFRIED, GALEF, STECK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, HIKIND, HOOPER, MAGEE, SIMON -read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to direct dialing to public service answering points
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 717-a to read as follows:
§ 717-a. Direct dialing to public service answering points. 1. For purposes of this section, "public building" shall mean any building belonging to the state, county, town, village, school district or any other political or civil subdivision of state or local government.
2. For purposes of this section, "multi-line telephone system" shall mean any system comprised of common control units, telephone sets, control hardware and software, and adjunct systems which enables users to make and receive telephone calls using shared resources such as telephone network trunks or data link bandwidth. This term includes, but is not limited to, network-based and premises-based systems such as Centrex service, premises-based, hosted and cloud-based VoIP, as well as PBX, Hybrid and Key Telephone Systems, as classified by the FCC under Part 68 of its rules.
3. All public buildings which operate on a multi-line telephone system in this state must configure their multi-line telephone system hardware to allow any call to 911 on the system to be directly connected to a public service answering point.
4. The requirements of subdivision three of this section shall not apply to any public building operating on a multi-line telephone system that would be required to upgrade the hardware of their telephone network to meet said requirement. However, every telephone in any exempt public building operating on a multi-line telephone system shall place
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00843-01-7
A. 608 2
an instructional sticker on or immediately adjacent to each telephone informing users of the phone's inability to directly dial 911 and the procedures to follow to connect to a 911 public service answering point in case of an emergency.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.