What's happening
This bill creates a new Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and advisory council, repealing the existing interagency coordinating council.
Why it matters
Centralizes advocacy and policy for the deaf and hard of hearing. By creating a standalone Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the bill gives this community a direct voice in state government, likely leading to more focused and coordinated support than the previous interagency council structure.
Improves service delivery and accountability. The Office is tasked with developing a comprehensive statewide plan, collecting data, and submitting annual reports, which can help identify gaps in services, monitor progress, and ensure that the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing are systematically addressed rather than handled piecemeal.
Strengthens representation and expertise. The establishment of an advisory council with a majority of members who are themselves deaf or hard of hearing ensures that policies and recommendations are shaped by those with lived experience, potentially leading to more effective and relevant initiatives.
Focuses on practical issues affecting daily life. The Office is specifically required to address access to education, employment, emergency services, technology (like hearing aids, captioning, and telecommunications), and interpreter services, which could lead to tangible improvements in accessibility and quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing New Yorkers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Deaf Services Office
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 39
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8025
IN SENATE
March 10, 2020
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the office of the deaf and hard of hearing; and to repeal section 559 of the executive law relating to the New York state interagency coordinating council for services to persons who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing
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 article 29 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 29
OFFICE OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING Section 827. Definitions.
828. Office of the deaf and hard of hearing.
829. Executive director.
830. Powers and duties of the office.
831. Deaf and hard of hearing advisory council.
§ 827. Definitions. When used in this article, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section: "deaf and hard of hearing" shall mean a person who has partial or complete loss of hearing including individuals who are deaf-blind.
§ 828. Office of the deaf and hard of hearing. There is hereby established within the executive department the "office of the deaf and hard of hearing".
§ 829. Executive director. The governor shall appoint an executive director of the office who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The executive director shall receive an annual salary fixed by the governor within the amounts appropriated specifically therefor and shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties.
§ 830. Powers and duties of the office. 1. The office shall advise the governor and the legislature on how the state can effectively meet the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing communities.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01594-02-0
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2. The duties and responsibilities of the office are to:
(a) create a statewide plan to deliver coordinated services and programs to persons who are deaf and hard of hearing in a manner that best serves their needs including but not limited to educational, medical, housing, and employment services;
(b) develop a process to collect and maintain data on the number of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in New York state;
(c) regularly maintain a website that serves as a clearinghouse of information, resources and services for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing;
(d) create a referral system that receives complaints in matters affecting the deaf and hard of hearing community and refers such complaints to the appropriate agencies or organizations if necessary or appropriate;
(e) coordinate with state and local agencies to improve access to public safety and emergency services;
(f) develop strategies to increase employment opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing individuals;
(g) develop and recommend policies to the governor and legislature as deemed necessary to assist the deaf and hard of hearing communities;
(h) develop a model policy on interpreter services including methods to increase access to such services and licensing of qualified interpreters;
(i) provide technical assistance to local governments, agencies or other non-governmental entities on developing policies, providing services and increasing accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing communities;
(j) improve and expand access to assistive technology including but not limited to, relay services, closed captioning, open captioning, hearing loops, telecommunication devices or other communication services; and
(k) coordinate with the department of state regarding access to hearing aids and other associated resources.
3. The office shall submit an annual report to the governor and legislature detailing the operation and actions of the office including but not limited to the development and implementation of the statewide plan, policy recommendations, and actions taken in conjunction with state or local agencies.
§ 831. Deaf and hard of hearing advisory council. 1. An advisory council is hereby established to make recommendations on deaf and hard of hearing related issues, assist in the development of policies, and facilitate coordination between federal, state and local governments on issues related to the deaf and hard of hearing community.
2. The advisory council shall be comprised of eleven voting members. All members must be New York residents.
(a) Four members of the council shall be appointed by the governor, two of whom shall be deaf or hard of hearing.
(b) Four members of the council shall be appointed in the following manner and must be deaf or hard of hearing: one member of the council shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one member of the council shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one member of the council shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate and one member of the council shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.
(c) One member of the council shall be the executive director of the office of the deaf and hard of hearing; one member of the council shall
S. 8025 3
be the president of the empire association of the deaf or their designee; and one member of the council shall be the president of the hearing loss association of New York state or their designee.
3. The members of the advisory council shall serve terms of three years. Of the four persons appointed pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section, two shall serve for a term of two years and two shall serve for a term of one year, as determined by the governor. Of the four persons appointed pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision two of this section, the appointments by the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly shall serve for a term of two years, and the appointments by the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly shall serve for a term of one year. Subsequent appointments upon the expiration of term shall be for a term of three years and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
4. Members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
5. The advisory council shall meet no less than two times per year. The meetings shall be made accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing community. A majority of the voting membership of the advisory council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of council business. Action may be taken and motions and resolutions adopted by the advisory council at any meeting thereof by the affirmative vote of six members of the advisory council.
§ 2. Section 559 of the executive law is REPEALED.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the office of the deaf and hard of hearing; and to repeal section 559 of the executive law relating to the New York state interagency coordinating council for services to persons who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing
Purpose
This bill would create the office of the deaf and hard of hearing.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends the executive law by adding a new article 28 as it relates to the creation of the office of the deaf and hard of Hearing. The office, led by an executive director, would advise the governor and legislature on how the state can meet the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing communities. The office would have several responsi- bilities including creating a statewide plan for delivering services, maintaining a website, a referral system for complaints, expanding employment opportunities and developing policies for the governor and legislature. The office shall submit an annual report on their progress to the governor and legislature.
The bill also sets up a deaf and hard of hearing advisory council comprised of eleven members that will make recommendation on deaf and hard of hearing related issues.
Section two of the bill repeals section 559 of the executive law.
Section three of the bill relates to the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE): n/a
Justification
There is currently no active location in State government dedicated to serving the deaf or hard of hearing community. In 2007, an interagency council was created to streamline services to deaf or hard of hearing New Yorkers. It was originally under the administration of the NYS Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD) and was subsequently moved to the newly created Justice Center in 2012. Since the reorganization, the Interagency Coordinating Council for Services to Persons who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, or Hard of Hearing is defunct and has not met in years. This new Office would replace the council.
The Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing would provide deaf or hard of hearing New Yorkers with a one stop location in State government where they can access available services and resources. In addition, the office along with the advisory council will develop and recommend poli- cies to the Governor and State Legislature. Most states have a state agency or commission that is dedicated to providing services and devel- oping policy for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.