What's happening
This bill requires local disaster preparedness plans in New York to include a public education component that considers linguistic and cultural needs.
Why it matters
Improves disaster preparedness for all communities. by ensuring that local emergency education efforts address the specific language and cultural backgrounds of residents, making information more accessible and actionable.
Helps close communication gaps. that can put non-English speakers and culturally diverse groups at greater risk during disasters, promoting greater equity in public safety.
Requires state-level oversight. (by Homeland Security and Emergency Services), which may standardize and improve the quality and effectiveness of public education on disaster prevention across New York.
May foster trust and cooperation. between local governments and communities that have historically been underserved or overlooked in emergency preparedness efforts, potentially leading to better outcomes in real crises.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Disaster Preparedness
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
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.
Teach Disaster Preparedness Locally
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1395
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring local disaster preparedness plans to include a public education component as part of disaster prevention
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 7 of section 23 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 3-a to read as follows:
(3-a) a public education component that shall be widely disseminated, as approved by the division of homeland security and emergency services pursuant to regulations promulgated by such division, and shall take into consideration the linguistic and cultural characteristics of the inhabitants;
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00215-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring local disaster preparedness plans to include a public education component as part of disaster prevention PURPOSE : This bill would require that disaster preparedness plans include a public education component.
Summary of provisions
Section One amends the executive law by adding a new subparagraph 3-a to subdivision 7 of § 23 to include a public education component that shall be widely disseminated as approved by the division of homeland security and emergency services pursuant to regulations promulgated by such division.
Justification
In order to effectively implement an evacuation plan, a vigorous and ongoing public education campaign is fundamental. The City of New York conducted a study to scientifically measure the awareness level among city residents. The New York City Hurricane Evacuation Study, Behavioral Analysis Findings, showed just how uninformed the residents of New York are when it comes to a weather-related evacuation. Most residents are unaware how to behave during a hurricane or an evacuation. At least 75% of the residents surveyed by the City's own Hurricane Evacuation Study said they were not aware of the evacuation zones. More than 85's of all New Yorkers had never seen "Ready New York", the Office of Emergency Management's official public handbook for surviving disasters.
It is clear that the majority of City residents, know little or nothing about the evacuation process, and that there is dire need for a systematic public education campaign. The public education component required by this bill would also consider non-English speaking populations who need to be adequately educated about the plan as well.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.5278/A.6766 Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs 2013-14:S.5201 2011-12: S.5261 2009-10: S.3923 2007-08: s.5590
Fiscal implications
To be determine.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 180 days after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.