Requires certain public utilities, telecommunication carriers and internet or broadband providers operating within the bounds of any county that is required to have a local comprehensive emergency management plan to create a severe weather emergency response plan and to participate with any county they operate within in a biannual disaster drill.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1851
SPONSOR: Jean-Pierre TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to severe weather
emergency response plans
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to provide public utility authorities with a
directive to create a severe weather emergency response plan. This bill
also stipulates that these entities shall participate in a biannual
disaster drill with the county that they operate in.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the public service law by adding a new section that
directs public utility authorities, utility corporations, telecommuni-
cation carriers, and internet broadband providers to create severe
weather emergency response plans and to participate in biannual disaster
drills with the county that they operate in.
Section 2 is the enacting clause.
JUSTIFICATION:
Emergency Preparedness is something that is necessary for every locality
to invest energy into, but only so much can be done without proper
training and communication amongst departments and entities. This bill
provides that public utility authorities not only participate in disas-
ter drills, but also create their own specific severe weather emergency
response plans. This will ensure that every entity involved in solving
and mitigating the impacts of a disaster is fully prepared and ready to
engage in active communication to fix the situation. By mandating that
each department has its own emergency preparednesS plan, the emergency
response plans can be efficient and effective in helping end the disas-
ter.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day it shall have become a
law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1851
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JEAN-PIERRE -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to severe weather
emergency response plans
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a new section
2 28 to read as follows:
3 § 28. Severe weather emergency response plans. 1. Any public utility
4 authority, utility corporation, telecommunication carrier pursuant to 47
5 U.S.C. § 214(e), or internet or broadband provider, operating within the
6 bounds of any county that is required to have a local comprehensive
7 emergency management plan shall create, with assistance from the appro-
8 priate local county office charged with emergency response and manage-
9 ment, a severe weather emergency response plan and shall participate
10 with any county they operate within in a biannual disaster drill.
11 2. The purpose of such plans shall be to minimize the effect of disas-
12 ters caused by severe weather by (a) identifying appropriate measures to
13 prevent disasters, (b) developing mechanisms to coordinate the use of
14 resources and manpower for service during and after disasters and the
15 delivery of services to aid and reduce human suffering resulting from a
16 disaster, and (c) providing for recovery and restoration of service
17 after disasters.
18 3. Such emergency response plans shall include, but not be limited to:
19 (a) Disaster prevention and mitigation. Plans to prevent and minimize
20 the effects of disasters shall include, but not be limited to:
21 (i) identification of hazards and assessment of risk;
22 (ii) recommended disaster prevention and mitigation projects, poli-
23 cies, priorities and programs, with suggested implementation schedules;
24 and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03003-01-3
A. 1851 2
1 (iii) such other measures as reasonably can be taken to protect lives,
2 prevent disasters, and reduce their impact.
3 (b) Disaster response. Plans to coordinate the use of resources and
4 manpower for service during and after disasters and to deliver services
5 to aid and reduce human suffering resulting from a disaster shall
6 include, but not be limited to:
7 (i) coordination of resources, manpower and services, using recognized
8 practices in incident management, utilizing existing organizations and
9 lines of authority and centralized direction of requests for assistance;
10 (ii) the location, procurement, construction, processing, transporta-
11 tion, storing, maintenance, renovation, distribution, disposal or use of
12 materials;
13 (iii) a system for warning populations who are or may be endangered;
14 (iv) a specific plan for rapid and efficient communication, including
15 the assignment of responsibilities and the establishment of communi-
16 cation priorities and liaison with municipal, state and federal govern-
17 ments;
18 (v) criteria for establishing priorities with respect to the restora-
19 tion of vital services and debris removal;
20 (vi) providing information to the public; and
21 (vii) procedures under which the county, city, town, village or other
22 political subdivision will be contacted in the event of a disaster.
23 (c) Recovery. Plans to provide for recovery and restoration of service
24 after disasters shall include, but not be limited to:
25 (i) recommendations for replacement, reconstruction, removal or relo-
26 cation of damaged or destroyed facilities, infrastructure, or equipment,
27 and proposed recommendations to minimize the impact of any potential
28 future disasters;
29 (ii) provisions for cooperation with local, state, and federal agen-
30 cies in recovery efforts; and
31 (iii) provisions for educating local disaster officials or organiza-
32 tions on the severe weather emergency response plan.
33 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
34 have become a law.
