BILL NUMBER: S232
SPONSOR: TEDISCO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to adding elderly persons
to disaster preparedness registries and creating a state emergency
assistance database
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Requires, rather than authorizes, county governments to maintain a
registry of disabled persons to be used for disaster preparedness, and
to include elderly persons in that registry. The bill directs the State
Emergency Management Office (SEMO) to collect the county disaster
preparedness registries for inclusion in a State Emergency Management
Database.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The section heading and subdivisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 of section 23-a of
the executive law, as added by chapter 658 of the laws of 1996, are
amended to read as follows:
Section One: Amends section 23-a of the Executive Law to direct, rather
than recommend, that all county chief executives maintain county regis-
try of disabled or elderly persons located within that county for
purposes of local disaster preparedness, and expands the definition of
persons who may be placed in such a registry to include anyone whose
ability to care for themselves during an emergency situation is adverse-
ly affected by advanced age, or permanent or temporary medical condi-
tion. Registration would continue to remain voluntary for all individ-
uals.
Section Two: Creates a new Section 23-b of the Executive Law, which
directs SEMO to establish the State Emergency Assistance Database(SEAR).
The SEAR is to be a comprehensive listing of all persons located in New
York State, who have voluntarily requested placement on any county
registry of elderly or disabled persons as established by section 1 of
this Bill, and in addition SEAR may accept voluntary registrants direct-
ly as needed. The State Emergency Assistance Database may be made acces-
sible to all such appropriate state and county emergency response
personnel and organizations as appropriate.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
One of the primary functions of government at all levels must be to
properly care for all of its citizens during natural or man-made disas-
ters. In the case of elderly citizens, or those who live with one or
more disabilities, a disaster is particularly dangerous, and disasters
which may merely tax the patience and endurance of most New Yorkers may
be absolutely life threatening for these individuals. When time and
resources are limited, as they are for almost any level of government
during a disaster. It is imperative that emergency responders and relief
workers are able to quickly identify those whose emergency managers be
able to properly plan for all phases of disaster recovery well before it
happens. In time of crisis, it would he very reassuring for scared and
vulnerable persons to know that the authorities are aware of their
location and can monitor their condition, and it would certainly relieve
much of their anxiety to hear from emergency response personnel as soon
as possible. At the same time, the bill respects the privacy of those
who would prefer not to be so registered by allowing this to be a volun-
tary program for individuals.
This bill expands upon an existing state program where counties were
authorized to maintain a registry of their most vulnerable populations,
and requires those counties which were not doing so to now commence. The
bill goes on to establish a Statewide directory made up of all of the
county registries, which could be then used for planning purposes by
SEMO, shared with FEMA or agencies from other states arriving to offer
assistance, or other agencies within state government.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
02/02/17: S.4044 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/03/18: S.4044 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/09/19: S.561 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/08/20: S.561 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/06/21: S.217 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/05/22: S.217 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/04/23: S.94 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/03/24: S.94 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S232: 23-a executive law