What's happening
This bill directs a feasibility study on implementing emergency alert notifications during video streaming services in New York.
Why it matters
Addresses a growing communication gap. As more people shift from traditional TV to streaming services, the study explores how emergency alerts can reach viewers who might otherwise miss critical information during emergencies, such as severe weather or public safety threats.
Could impact streaming service operations. The study will evaluate the technical and legal challenges for streaming platforms and internet service providers in displaying geographically targeted alerts, potentially leading to new operational requirements or partnerships.
Recommends updates to laws and regulations. By examining current federal, state, and local frameworks, the study may propose legal changes necessary to modernize emergency alert systems for digital media, affecting both policy and industry standards.
Promotes transparency and public input. The requirement to publicly post the study ensures that citizens, advocacy groups, and industry stakeholders can review and respond to the findings, increasing accountability and potential for community-driven improvements.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Streaming Emergency Alerts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Signed chap.381
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.532
- Substituted for A4140A
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.1951
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 4383a
Show 2 earlier actions
- Amend (t) and recommit to consumer protection
- Referred to consumer protection
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.
Study Emergency Alerts on Streaming
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Marcos Crespo
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4383--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 10, 2017
Introduced by Sens. ALCANTARA, ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to study the feasibility of implementing an emergency alert notification system; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 1. The public service commission, hereinafter referred to as "the commission", in conjunction with the commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services, and in consultation with the disaster preparedness commission, and any other entity the commission and commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services deems appropriate, shall study the feasibility of implementing an emergency alert notification system that requires alerts to be displayed while using a video streaming service.
For the purposes of this act, "video streaming service" shall mean an entity directly in the business, for profit, of offering, promoting or providing access to films, television shows or other video content for viewing on or through the internet.
2. The feasibility study of such emergency alert notification system shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) examining ways to ensure that such emergency alert notification system shall convey timely information concerning emergency incidents or occurrences, including, but not limited to severe weather, that pose an imminent threat to the health or safety of individuals in New York;
(b) examining how an emergency alert notification shall be displayed while using a video streaming service;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08174-05-7
S. 4383--A 2
(c) examining how internet service providers and video streaming services would ensure such emergency alert notifications are displayed to users impacted by such emergency;
(d) examining relevant federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines; and
(e) recommending statutory changes, if any, to implement such emergency alert notification system.
3. Such feasibility study shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly within 12 months of the effective date of this act and shall be publicly posted on the websites of the commission and the division of homeland security and emergency services.
4. The commission and the commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services may request, and is authorized to receive, any information from any state or local agency that is relevant and material to the completion of such feasibility study. Such information received by the commission and commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services shall be subject to the same requirements for confidentiality and limitations on use, if any, as are applicable to such state or local agency's use of such information.
5. The commission and the commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services are authorized and directed to use existing commission and division of homeland security and emergency services' resources to carry out the provisions of this act.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after such effective date, or upon delivery of the feasibility study required by section one this act, whichever comes first; provided that the commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon delivery of the feasibility study required by section one of this act in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to study the feasibility of implementing an emergency alert notification system; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
Section 1. 1. The public service commission, hereinafter referred to as "the commission", in conjunction with the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and in consultation with the disaster preparedness commission, and any other entity the commission and Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services deems appropriate, shall study the feasibility of implementing an emergency alert notification system that requires alerts to be displayed while using a video streaming service. For the purposes of this act "video streaming service" shall mean an entity directly in the business, for profit, of offering, promoting or providing access to Television shows or other video content for viewing on or through the internet.
2. The feasibility study of such emergency alert notification system shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Read the full memo (698 words)
(a) examining ways to ensure that such emergency alert notification system shall convey timely Information concerning emergency incidents or occurrences, including, but not limited to severe weather, that pose an imminent threat to the health or safety of individuals in New York;
(b) examining how an emergency alert notification shall be displayed while using a video streaming service;
(c) examining how internet service providers and video streaming services would ensure such emergency alert notifications are displayed to users impacted by such emergency;
(d) examining relevant federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines; and
(e) recommending statutory changes, if any, to implement such emergency alert notification system.
3. Such feasibility study shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly within 12 months of the effective date of this act and shall be publicly posted on the websites of the commission and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
4. The commission and the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services may request, and is authorized to receive, any information from any state or local agency that is relevant and material to the completion of such feasibility study. Such information received by the commission and Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services shall be subject to the same requirements for confidentiality and limitations on use, if any, as are applicable to such state or local agency's use of such information.
5. The commission and the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services are authorized and directed to use existing commission and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' resources to carry out the provisions of this act.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed repealed two years after such effective date. JUSTIFICATION :
As severe weather continues to rise in intensity and frequency and as the possibilities for a major manmade disaster such as a terrorist attack increase, it has become obvious that every means possible should be explored to ensure New York State residents are provided with timely warnings of pending emergencies and imminent threats.
This bill seeks to address current consumer behavior which is more and more relying on less television broadcasts and cablecasts for their news and entertainment. Today, consumers are relying on streaming video for their news and entertainment. These streaming video services do not provide weather or emergency alerts as part of their broadcast via Internet services and broadband services carrying their content. This situation poses a severe threat to life and property if imminent storm warnings are not reaching consumers who are streaming their music or entertainment when a severe storms notification is issued or other emergency arises, such as an Amber alert. Therefore, this legislation seeks to remedy this problem by having a study conducted on how streaming services can provide such warnings to viewers.
Legislative history
New Legislation in 2015. A.8320 of 2015/16. Died in Government Operations.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed repealed two years after such effective date
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.