BILL NUMBER: S2299A

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to providing employers with
the opportunity to register for emergency alerts from the state of New
York public safety alert mass notification system

 
PURPOSE:

To improve the distribution of emergency information by providing
employers with an additional opportunity to register with the state of
New York public safety alert mass notification system.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 requires the office of information technology to create a
registration form for employers to register for the emergency alert
system if they so choose, and for the department of labor to consult
with the office of information technology to provide every employer with
such registration form. Along with the registration form, employers must
              

be provided with information about the emergency alerts system, includ-
ing how it can be used to preserve health and safety.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

On Thursday November 15, 2018, New York City, Westchester, Long Island
and the surrounding areas were crippled by a snowstorm that many would
consider to be minor, having produced only six inches of snow.  Stories
include commutes typically under an hour in duration taking in excess of
six hours. Children were on school buses for up to ten hours. Service on
thousands of buses was abruptly canceled, and countless commuters were
stranded or delayed with train cancelations or delays. Emergency vehi-
cles and plows could not get through the gridlock, further exacerbating
the situation. The unexpected nature of the storm was further compounded
by the lack of information available to the public. Requests to stay off
the roads did not reach commuters and instead employers were sending
employees home early, causing even further delays.

This bill aims to amplify the distribution of public safety notifica-
tions by facilitating employer registration in the emergency alert
notification system (alert.ny.gov). The ability to distribute informa-
tion through this system can help elevate and manage weather and other
emergencies by effectively distributing important and relevant informa-
tion to reduce difficulties, delays, and threats to health and safety
caused by significant weather events and other emergencies.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021/22: S3946-A (Mayer): passed Senate (2021); passed Senate (2022)

2019/20: S5805 (Mayer): referred to Labor (2019); referred to Labor
(2020)

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

De minimis.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 30th day after becoming a law.