What's happening
This bill requires public places in New York with televisions to enable closed captioning upon request during business hours.
Why it matters
Expands accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. , ensuring they can fully participate in public life by accessing televised information and entertainment in public spaces.
Places a clear, actionable responsibility on businesses. Owners and operators of public accommodations must enable closed captioning on request, making them more aware of accessibility needs and potentially encouraging broader cultural inclusivity.
Includes practical exemptions. such as when TVs cannot provide captions or when multiple TVs are on the same channel—balancing accessibility with reasonable accommodations for businesses.
Establishes a legal definition of “closed captioning” and “public area”. , providing clarity for both businesses and patrons regarding compliance and expectations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Captions on Public TVs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
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.
Closed Captioning On Request
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3717
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 26, 2017
Introduced by Sens. LARKIN, AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to requiring places of public accommodation, resort or amusement that operate televisions during regular hours of operation to provide closed captioning on certain televisions upon request
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section 79-o to read as follows:
§ 79-o. Closed captioning in places of public accommodation, resort or amusement. 1. A place of public accommodation, resort or amusement, as defined in subdivision nine of section two hundred ninety-two of the executive law, shall upon request be required to have closed captioning enabled on all televisions that are located in the public area of such establishment during regular hours of business. The regular hours of business of the place of public accommodation, resort or amusement shall be the hours of operation as posted in such establishment.
2. The provisions of this section shall not apply if:
(a) no televisions in the public area of the place of public accommodation, resort or amusement are capable of providing closed captioning; or
(b) in the event that two televisions in the public area of the place of public accommodation, resort or amusement have the same channel being broadcast, only one of the televisions shall be subject to this section.
3. As used in this section:
(a) "closed captioning" shall mean a feature on a television that when activated will visually display a transcription of the audio portion of video programming; and
(b) "public area" shall mean the section of a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement that is open to the general public.
§ 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04004-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil rights law, in relation to requiring places of public accommodation, resort or amusement that operate televisions during regular hours of operation to provide closed captioning on certain televisions upon request
Purpose
This bill will require, upon request, places of public accommodation to enable closed captioning on televisions in public areas to assist persons who are hard of hearing.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends the civil rights law by adding a new section 79-o as it relates to requiring closed captioning, upon request, in places of public accommodation during the hours of operation. It provides for exemptions if the televisions in the public area are not capable of closed captioning or if two televisions are broadcasting the same channel than only one television is subject to the requirement.
Section two of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
Closed captioning is a television feature that displays visual transcription of the audio of the program. It is also a useful assistive technology for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. In places of public accommodations, deaf or hard of hearing individuals are unable to determine what is being broadcasted because there is no closed captioning. In times of emergencies such as Superstorm Sandy, it is even more important to ensure that televisions are equipped to communicate to everyone. This would require establishments to have closed captioning enabled during regular hours of operation.
Legislative history
2016: S.5348-A: Referred to Codes/A.2035-B Passed Assembly 2013-2014-A.8268: Referred to governmental operations
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.