What's happening
This bill establishes a program and funding to provide accessible electronic news and information services for blind and disabled New Yorkers.
Why it matters
Promotes information equality. By mandating year-to-year accessible electronic news services for the blind and disabled, the bill helps close the information gap, ensuring that a wider range of timely content—like newspapers, job listings, and guides—are available in usable formats.
Leverages and coordinates multiple funding sources. The law establishes a dedicated fund, drawing from the Targeted Accessibility Fund, the New York State Commission for the Blind, and grants/gifts, aiming to create a stable and sustainable financial base for these services.
Requires telecom industry participation. The bill directs the Public Service Commission to require telecom and cable companies serving the blind and disabled to contribute to the fund, expanding industry responsibility for ensuring information access.
Defines and standardizes access. The legislation provides clear definitions of who qualifies for services and the technological standards required (e.g., interstate access, online registration), setting a consistent framework for service delivery and oversight.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand News Access for Blind
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Print number 3274a
- Amend and recommit to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
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.
Expand Access for Blind Readers
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor J. Gary Pretlow
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3274--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, ADDABBO, AVELLA, CARLUCCI, COMRIE, GOLDEN, GRIFFO, HAMILTON, KENNEDY, MONTGOMERY, PERALTA, RANZENHOFER, SAVINO -read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications -- recommitted to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public service law and the state finance law, in relation to enacting the accessible electronic information act
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "accessible electronic information act".
§ 2. Legislative finding. The National Federation of the Blind established the NFB-NEWSLINE to increase the ability of visually impaired individuals to receive information provided by newspapers, magazines, journals and other print media which are traditionally unavailable in a limited electronic broadcast. Since 2002, this vital service has provided visually impaired New Yorkers with information on job listings, self-help magazines, do-it-yourself guides, political magazines, several newspapers, TV guide listings, and other literary necessities that all sighted New Yorkers have enjoyed. This legislation provides a stable means to bring NEWSLINE to New York.
§ 3. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 92-i to read as follows:
§ 92-i. Accessible electronic information; blind and disabled persons. 1. A qualified not-for-profit entity capable of providing such service shall provide an accessible electronic information service for eligible blind and disabled persons. This service shall be planned for continuation from year to year and make maximum use of federal, state, private and other funds available, including obtaining grant or in-kind support from appropriate programs and securing access to low-cost interstate rates for telecommunications by reimbursement or otherwise.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04231-02-8
S. 3274--A 2
2. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless otherwise indicated:
(a) "Accessible electronic information service" means news and other timely information (including newspapers) provided to eligible individuals from a multi-state service center, using high-speed computers and telecommunications technology for interstate acquisition of content and rapid distribution in a form appropriate for use by such individuals;
(b) "Blind and disabled persons" means those individuals who are eligible for library loan services through the Library of Congress and the State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped pursuant to 36 CFR 701.10(b);
(c) "Director" means the director of the selected not-for-profit entity;
(d) "Qualified entity" means a not-for-profit entity within this state capable of providing accessible electronic information services which:
(i) provides interstate access for eligible persons to read daily newspapers producing audio editions by computer, and
(ii) provides a means of program administration and reader registration on the internet.
§ 4. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-ee to read as follows:
§ 99-ee. Accessible electronic information service fund. 1. There is hereby established in the custody of the state comptroller a special revenue fund to be known as the "accessible electronic information service fund".
2. Funding for the accessible electronic information service fund shall be obtained from:
a. The Targeted Accessibility Fund, Inc., established by the public service commission in its "order and opinion 98-10" in an amount deemed appropriate for the purpose of providing electronic distribution of newspapers, periodicals, time sensitive materials, and other information which may be of benefit to the community; and
b. The New York state commission for the blind in an amount deemed appropriate by the commissioner for providing electronic distribution of newspapers, periodicals, time sensitive materials, and other information which may be of benefit to the community.
3. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests and depositing them into the accessible electronic information service fund according to law.
4. The accessible electronic information service fund shall be administered by the public service commission, in consultation with the director and the commissioner, in accordance with this section.
5. The public service commission shall require companies who provide telecommunication services to blind and disabled persons, as defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision two of section ninety-two-i of the public service law, including but not limited to, certified telecommunication carriers, cable television companies that offer telephone service, and other companies the public service commission deems to be a provider of telecommunication services, to contribute to the Targeted Accessibility Fund, Inc. for the purpose of increasing funding to comply with paragraph a of subdivision two of this section.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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 New Yorkers have disabilities (including blindness or visu- al impairment) that prevent them from using conventional print material.
Low cost interstate telecommunication rates make distribution of elec- tronic text-based information to blind or visually impaired New Yorkers both efficient and cost effective for the state. 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 informa- tion that is otherwise available in print, thereby reducing isolation and supporting full integration and equal access for such individuals.
Read the full memo (776 words)
The National Federation of the Blind established the NFB-NEWSLINE to increase the ability of visually impaired individuals to receive infor- mation provided by newspapers, magazines journals and other print media which are traditionally unavailable in a limited electronic broadcast.
Since 2002, this vital service has provided visually impaired New York- ers with information on job listings, self-help magazines, do-it-your- self guides, political magazines, several newspapers, TV guide listings, and other literary necessities that all sighted New Yorkers have enjoyed.
The intent of this legislation is provide a stable funding Source for NEWSLINE New York.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Short title - The Accessible Electronic Information Act
Section 2: Sets for the legislative findings.
Section 3: Amends the public service law by adding a new section 92-I states that the electronic information service, which is defined in the legislation, shall be provided by a qualified and registered not-for- profit organization. The service shall be intended for continuation from year to year and make maximum use of federal, state, private, and other funding available by obtaining grant or in-kind support from appropriate programs, and by securing access to low-cost interstate rates for tele- communications by reimbursement or otherwise.
This section also sets forth the definition of all major terms used in this act.
Section 4: amends the state finance law by added a new section 99-ee to establish a special revenue fund to administer the Accessible Electronic Information Act.
Section 5: This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become law; provided, however that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule of regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to made and completed on or before such effective date.
Justification
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 disabled persons. The technology, transcription meth- ods, and means of distribution used for these materials are labor inten- sive 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, announcements, and other time-sensi- tive materials, limits educational opportunities, and full participation in society by blind and disabled persons. This constraint can best be overcome through use of high-speed computer and telecommunication tech- nology, 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 telecom- munication technology.
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.
Providing stabilized funding is absolutely imperative to ensuring that this service can operate at maximum potential.
Legislation in other states
Several other states have introduced and/or enacted legislation concern- ing accessibility to electronic information. The states introducing and/or enacting such legislation include: Texas, California, Alabama, New Mexico, Georgia, Hawaii, South Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky, Oregon, Wisconsin, Vermont, Iowa, and Michigan.
Prior legislative history
2015-2016: S.1167A/A.369A - Amend and Recommit to Energy & Telecom 2013-2014: S.708A/A.2916A - Died in Energy & Telecom/Died in Corpo- rations 2011-2012: S.6392/A.9233 - Died in Energy & Telecom 2010-2011: S.1053/A.4161- Passed Both Houses. Veto Message No.58 2009-2010: S.2615A/A.2467- Finance/Rules 2008-2009: S.5960 Energy and Telecommunications; A.3108A Ways& Means 2006-2007: A.10172 Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2005-2006: A.1757A Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2004-2005: A.6464 Corporations, Authorities & Commissions
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have became a law, with provisions.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.