What's happening
This bill requires county health commissioners to immediately notify local officials and legislators of emergencies posing imminent threats to public health and safety.
Why it matters
Ensures faster response and coordination. By mandating immediate notification to local executive officials and legislators, the bill helps ensure that those responsible for emergency response and public safety are informed without delay, potentially speeding up protective actions for the community.
Improves transparency and accountability. Local elected officials and relevant county personnel being kept in the loop makes it harder for critical information about public health emergencies to be siloed or delayed, thus increasing public trust and the accountability of health authorities.
Promotes cross-county collaboration. The requirement to notify health commissioners in neighboring counties if an emergency crosses borders helps facilitate coordinated responses to threats that do not respect jurisdictional boundaries, which is vital for situations like disease outbreaks or environmental hazards.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Alert Officials in Emergencies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.419
- 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.
Notify Officials of Health Emergencies
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Thomas Abinanti
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3682
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 12, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to notifying local officials of the occurrence of certain emergency situ- ations
Purpose or general idea
To require county health commissioners to notify appropriate local offi- cials in the event of a health emergency. This bill is designed to facilitate timely notice to county and local officials so they can put in place the appropriate emergency response as soon as possible.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of this law would amend Section 352 of the public health law by adding a new subdivision 7, to require that upon the occurrence of an emergency where an imminent imperilment to the public health and safety exists, the county health commissioner shall immediately notify, in addition to those individuals he or she would have otherwise notified, the chief executive officer of each municipality affected by the emer- gency; each member of the county's legislative body who represents the area affected by the emergency; and where the emergency affects another county, the county health commissioner of the affected county or coun- ties.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justificaton
There are gaps in the notification procedures. When there is an imminent threat to public health all appropriate officials need to be alerted so they can put in place the appropriate emergency response as soon as possible. The sooner the public is aware of the problem, the sooner they can take steps to protect themselves.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: A463 referred to health; 2015-2016 A.187 referred to health; 2013-2014: A.535-A Passed Assembly; same as 5275 (Marchione); 2012: A.7121-A passed Assembly; same as S.7358-A (McDonald) referred to health;
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.