STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4230 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 6, 2023 ___________ Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi- ty and Military Affairs AN ACT to establish an extreme weather preparedness task force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. There is hereby established the extreme weather prepared- 2 ness task force. The purpose of such task force is to evaluate the state 3 and counties', except those contained within the city of New York, abil- 4 ity to handle extreme weather across the state. Such task force shall: 5 1. Evaluate the equipment and emergency plans of the state; 6 2. Evaluate the equipment and emergency plans of individual munici- 7 palities; 8 3. Evaluate utility and telecom companies' ability to handle extreme 9 weather emergencies; 10 4. Evaluate transit and transportation networks' ability to handle 11 extreme weather; 12 5. Evaluate the use/deployment of the national guard in previous emer- 13 gencies; 14 6. Evaluate the use of wireless emergency alerts in the case of 15 extreme weather emergencies; 16 7. Make recommendations on equipment that municipalities should have 17 to deal with winter emergencies; and 18 8. Make recommendations based on its findings on how to improve emer- 19 gency weather preparedness in the state, both statewide and within coun- 20 ties. 21 § 2. The extreme weather preparedness task force shall consist of 11 22 members as follows: the commissioner of the division of homeland securi- 23 ty and emergency services or their designee, the commissioner of trans- 24 portation or their designee, the chairperson of the New York state thru- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD07866-02-3

S. 4230 2 1 way authority or their designee, the commissioner of health or their 2 designee, the superintendent of the New York state police or their 3 designee, two members appointed by the temporary president of the 4 senate, one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate, two 5 members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, and one member 6 appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. 7 § 3. The commissioner of the division of homeland security and emer- 8 gency services shall be designated as the chairperson of the extreme 9 weather preparedness task force. The members of the extreme weather 10 preparedness task force shall serve without compensation, except that 11 members shall be allowed their necessary and actual expenses incurred in 12 the performance of their duties under this act. 13 § 4. The extreme weather preparedness task force shall be authorized 14 to hold public hearings and meetings, and to consult with any organiza- 15 tion, educational institution, or other government entity or person, to 16 enable it to accomplish its duties. Such task force shall hold at least 17 one public hearing in the state for the purpose of soliciting public 18 comment on extreme weather preparedness. 19 § 5. The extreme weather preparedness task force shall issue a report 20 of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the temporary pres- 21 ident of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than six 22 months after the effective date of this act. 23 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be 24 deemed repealed one year after such date.

Establishes the extreme weather preparedness task force

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