What's happening
This bill requires all public buildings with multi-line phone systems to allow direct 911 dialing, or post instructions if not possible.
Why it matters
Addresses a known safety gap. Many older or complex phone systems in public buildings require users to dial a prefix (like “9”) before making an outside call, which can delay or prevent direct access to emergency services during crises.
Standardizes emergency access. By mandating that multi-line phone systems in public buildings allow direct 911 dialing, the bill ensures consistency across state, local, and educational facilities, which is especially important for children, visitors, or anyone unfamiliar with the system.
Balances safety with cost concerns. The bill acknowledges that upgrading some phone systems may be prohibitively expensive; in those cases, it requires clear, visible instructions next to every phone, improving emergency response while avoiding unfunded mandates.
Potential for broader impact. The law could set a precedent or model for private sector buildings or other states, highlighting the importance of quick, unambiguous access to emergency services in all public spaces.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Direct 911 Dialing in Buildings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Substituted by S4756
- Advanced to third reading cal.217
- Reported
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to governmental operations
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.
Require Direct 911 Calls
Signed by Governor · Sponsor John E. Brooks
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
458
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, ARROYO, COOK, GOTTFRIED, GALEF, STECK, OTIS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to direct dialing to public service answering points
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 717-a to read as follows:
§ 717-a. Direct dialing to public service answering points. 1. For purposes of this section, "public building" shall mean any building belonging to the state, county, town, village, school district or any other political or civil subdivision of state or local government.
2. For purposes of this section, "multi-line telephone system" shall mean any system comprised of common control units, telephone sets, control hardware and software, and adjunct systems which enables users to make and receive telephone calls using shared resources such as telephone network trunks or data link bandwidth. This term includes, but is not limited to, network-based and premises-based systems such as Centrex service, premises-based, hosted and cloud-based VoIP, as well as PBX, Hybrid and Key Telephone Systems, as classified by the FCC under Part 68 of its rules.
3. All public buildings which operate on a multi-line telephone system in this state must configure their multi-line telephone system hardware to allow any call to 911 on the system to be directly connected to a public service answering point.
4. The requirements of subdivision three of this section shall not apply to any public building operating on a multi-line telephone system that would be required to upgrade the hardware of their telephone network to meet said requirement. However, every telephone in any exempt
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00608-01-9
A. 458 2
public building operating on a multi-line telephone system shall place an instructional sticker on or immediately adjacent to each telephone informing users of the phone's inability to directly dial 911 and the procedures to follow to connect to a 911 public service answering point in case of an emergency.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.