S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  5348

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 18, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Governmental Operations

AN  ACT  to  amend  the executive law, in relation to statewide disaster
  preparedness plan and emergency response

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative  findings  and intent. The legislature hereby
finds and declares that due to the extreme  weather  patterns  that  the
state  of  New York has experienced in recent years, there is a need for
improvement of the statewide preparedness plan to better  equip  locali-
ties  in  assisting citizens. The disaster preparedness commission shall
develop a comprehensive disaster defense plan that maps out  the  course
of action for all state and local authorities, departments, and agencies
in  the  event  that  the state experiences a disaster that affects more
than one county in the state.  The public needs a more readily available
and comprehensive set of instructions for the proper course of action to
be taken in the event of emergencies and disasters.
  S 2. Subdivision 3 of section 22 of the executive law  is  amended  by
adding a new paragraph d to read as follows:
  D.  PERIODIC  PLAN REVISION. THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE PLANS SHALL TAKE
INTO CONSIDERATION THE REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY ANY APPROPRI-
ATE TASK FORCE OR COMMISSION FORMED AS A RESULT  OR  IN  RESPONSE  TO  A
SPECIFIC  INCIDENT  INVOLVING  A  THREAT,  DISASTER  OR EMERGENCY.   THE
COMMISSION SHALL WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR, THE  LEGISLATURE,  COUNTY,  AND
MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT THE PLAN IS SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF
THE INDIVIDUAL LOCALITY OR AREA OF THE STATE.
  S 3. Subparagraphs 6 and 16 of paragraph b of subdivision 3 of section
22 of the executive law, as amended by section 3 of part B of chapter 56
of the laws of 2010, are amended and a new paragraph 17 is added to read
as follows:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03110-01-5

              

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  (6) a plan for coordinated evacuation procedures, including the estab-
lishment  of  temporary  housing,  THE  LOCATION OF STRATEGICALLY PLACED
STOCKPILES OF FOOD, WATER AND OTHER NECESSARY EMERGENCY  MATERIALS,  and
other necessary facilities;
  (16)  utilization  and  coordination of programs to assist individuals
with household pets and  service  animals  following  a  disaster,  with
particular  attention to means of evacuation, shelter and transportation
options[.]; AND
  (17) A CENTRALIZED DISSEMINATION  OF  THE  PROCEDURES,  RESOURCES  AND
INFORMATION  SET  FORTH IN THIS PARAGRAPH TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER
RESPONSE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS PARTICIPATING IN
RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORTS.
  S 4. Paragraphs (t) and (u) of subdivision 2 of  section  709  of  the
executive law, paragraph (t) as added by section 14 and paragraph (u) as
added  by  section  22  of part B of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, are
amended to read as follows:
  (t) develop, maintain, and deploy state, regional and local all-hazard
incident management teams[.]; AND
  (u) HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS SUBSEQUENT TO ANY  SIGNIFICANT  EMERGENCY  OR
DISASTER  AFFECTING  ANY AREA OF THE STATE AND REPORT ON AND MAKE RECOM-
MENDATIONS TO THE STATE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS  COMMISSION  AS  TO  ADDI-
TIONAL  ACTIONS  THAT  SHOULD BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS.
  2-A. Notwithstanding article six-C  of  this  chapter,  or  any  other
provision  of law to the contrary, the division of homeland security and
emergency services shall establish best practices regarding training and
education for firefighters and first responders which shall include  but
not  be  limited  to:  minimum basic training for firefighters and first
responders; in-service training and continuing education;  and  special-
ized  training  as  it may apply to the specific duties of a category of
emergency personnel.
  S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.