Directs the office of information technology services to establish a gun violence alert system to be added to the emergency alert notification system, known as alert.ny.gov or NY-Alert to provide real-time warnings and emergency information pertaining to gun violence to citizens of New York State.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7926
SPONSOR: Simon TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to directing the office of information technology
services to add a gun violence alert to the New York alert system
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation directs the office of information technology services
to establish a gun violence alert system to be added to the pre-exist-
ing, voluntary emergency notification system, NY Alerts.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: The office of informational technology services shall estab-
lish a gun violence alert to be added to the emergency alert notifica-
tion system, alerting subscribers within a one-mile radius of such gun
violence.
Section 2: Effective Date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill addresses the urgent need for instant and reliable reporting
on gun-related violence. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence
in New York State has soared, especially in large metropolitan areas. On
July 6, 2021, the governor declared a state of emergency related to gun
violence and deaths. With gun violence being so prevalent in New York
State, a measure of public safety would be to alert those close by to
the incident in order to allow them to vacate and take safety measures.
The implementation of this bill would provide a means for reliable and
real-time alerts to gun violence to those within a 1-mile radius of the
event. NY Alerts is a pre-existing system in which members of the public
subscribe to receive real-time notifications on topics such as severe
weather, earthquakes, public health, and more. This new addition to the
system would allow those that choose to subscribe to be aware of danger-
ous gun violence in their area in real time. Schools and other organiza-
tions have also worked with the NY Alert system in the past, and this
bill would allow schools, daycare centers, and others to alert parents
in real time of gun violence threats near them.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A10272 Cahil S7342 Hinchey -referred to governmental operations
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately
