What's happening
This bill requires county health commissioners to immediately notify local officials and legislators when emergencies threaten public health and safety.
Why it matters
Enhances transparency and accountability. By requiring immediate notification to local officials, the bill ensures that those closest to affected communities—such as mayors and local legislators—are promptly informed and can respond or inform constituents.
Expedites emergency response coordination. With key municipal and county leaders notified right away, resources and actions (like public warnings or shelter setup) can be mobilized more quickly, potentially saving lives and reducing harm.
Improves regional cooperation. The requirement to alert health commissioners in neighboring counties if the emergency crosses borders supports a more unified and effective response to regional threats, such as disease outbreaks or environmental disasters.
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Who cares
County health commissioners
They would have to immediately notify specified local officials and affected counties’ health commissioners when an emergency poses an imminent threat to public health and safety, in addition to anyone they would otherwise notify.
Municipal chief executives
The chief executive of each municipality affected by the emergency would be entitled to immediate notification from the county health commissioner.
County legislators
Each county legislator representing an area affected by the emergency would have to receive immediate notification.
Health commissioners in neighboring counties
They would have to receive immediate notification when an emergency in another county also affects their county.
Headline styles
Notify Officials of Health Emergencies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.391
- Reported
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
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.
Alert Officials in Emergencies
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Pete Harckham
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2885
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to notifying local officials of the occurrence of certain emergency situations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 352 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. Upon the occurrence of an emergency where an imminent imperilment to the public health and safety exists, in addition to those individuals he or she would have otherwise notified, the county health commissioner shall immediately notify the following individuals of the existence of such emergency:
(a) the chief executive officer of each municipality affected by the emergency;
(b) each member of the legislative body of the county in which the emergency exists who represents the area affected by the emergency; and
(c) where the emergency affects another county, the county health commissioner of the affected county or counties.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04363-01-9
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.