BILL NUMBER: S680
SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the timing of emergen-
cy public safety alerts in the event of a disaster or state disaster
emergency
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to ensure NY-Alerts are issued in a
timely manner to inform and secure the public in the event of a disas-
ter.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Subparagraphs 3 and 5 of paragraph b of subdivision 3 of 2
section 22 of the executive law, as amended by section 3 of part B of 3
chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, are amended to require NY-Alerts to be
issued within thirty minutes of a disaster or state disaster emergency
or as soon as practicable.
Section 2. Establishes the enacting clause.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
On April 5, 2024, New York experienced what is being coined as one of
the largest East Coast quakes to occur in the last century. The effects
of a 4.8 magnitude earthquake originating in New Jersey was felt state-
wide at approximately 10:23am. Three subsequent aftershocks occurred
between the hours of 12:30 and 3:00 pm the same day.' Minimal to no
damage was reported in New York, but three multifamily homes in New
Jersey were reportedly damaged by the tremor displacing nearly thirty
residents.'
At approximately noon, many residents received a public safety alert
from NYS Emergency Management. At this time, information had already
been circulated online and the Governor had addressed the state. Many
New York city residents were publicly displeased with the delay in the
city issued alert as well taking to the platform X to express such. 3
While there are many factors involved in the issuance of emergency
alerts including service carriers, response time and planning, it is
ultimately vital we are striving to distribute public safety information
at a rapid pace in the event of a disaster. This legislation aims to
call attention to the urgency public communication warrants by requiring
state emergency disaster plans include the issuance of NY-Alerts within
thirty minutes of a disaster or as soon as practicable to ensure public
security and knowledge throughout emergency situations.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
1 CBS News, 2024. Retrieved from:
https://wvvw.cbsnews.cominewyork/news/earthquake-new-york-new-jersey/
2 WSFA 12. Retrieved from:
https://www.wsfa.com/2024/04/05/earthquake-shakes-new-york-city-area/
3 New York Magazine, 2024. Retrieved from:
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/new-york-eric-adams-earthquake-
response.html