Establishes a deaf and hard of hearing outreach program to facilitate communication between deaf and hard of hearing individuals and law enforcement personnel.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3230
SPONSOR: Lavine TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a deaf
and hard of hearing outreach program to facilitate communication between
law enforcement and deaf and hard of hearing individuals
PURPOSE:
This bill will create a program to develop and distribute visor communi-
cation cards to deaf and hard of hearing individuals to help improve
communication with law enforcement
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends the executive law by adding a new section
837-t that establishes a program to develop and maintain visor communi-
cation 'cards to help improve communication between law enforcement and
deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Any New York State resident may
apply and receive a visor communication card. The division of criminal
justice will be responsible for the development and distribution of the
visor communication cards and shall make an electronic version available
on their website.
Section 2 of the bill relates to the effective date
JUSTIFICATION:
Visor communication cards will enhance the ability of law enforcement
officers to communicate with hard of hearing or deaf individuals during
a traffic stop. It is important that law enforcement officers and emer-
gency personnel are aware that such motorists may not hear verbal
commands, nor respond as anticipated. Visor communication cards will
create a safer interaction between law enforcement and hard of hearing
or deaf individuals by improving their lines of communication. In addi-
tion, the online availability of the visor communication cards shall
make the program more transparent and accessible.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.3344 of 2023-24 reported to ways and means
A.6718 of 2021-22,
A.3342 of 2019-20,
A.1218-A of 2017-18,
A.7387 of 2015-16.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3230
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE, BRONSON -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a deaf
and hard of hearing outreach program to facilitate communication
between law enforcement and deaf and hard of hearing individuals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-y
2 to read as follows:
3 § 837-y. Deaf and hard of hearing outreach program. 1. As used in this
4 section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
5 (a) "Deaf and hard of hearing" shall mean a person who has partial or
6 complete loss of hearing, including individuals who are deaf-blind.
7 (b) "Visor communication card" shall mean such identification as
8 issued by the division which identifies the driver as deaf and hard of
9 hearing, as defined in this section, and which details the appropriate
10 procedures for assisting a deaf and hard of hearing driver during a
11 traffic stop as promulgated by the division pursuant to this section.
12 2. The division shall develop and maintain visor communication cards
13 for the purpose of improving communication between law enforcement and
14 deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Any person residing in this state
15 shall, upon request, be issued a visor communication of a design
16 approved by the commissioner. Application for such visor communication
17 card shall be filed with the division in such form and detail as the
18 commissioner shall prescribe.
19 3. The division shall make available an electronic version of the
20 visor communication card on their website. The division shall dissem-
21 inate for the purpose of posting such electronic version to law enforce-
22 ment agencies and other state agencies where the public may obtain
23 information regarding motor vehicle registration and licenses.
24 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05986-01-5
