Today, legislators joined representatives of several local interest groups, including the Autism Action Network and family advocates, to rally in support of the 911 Immediate Medical and Police First Responder Bill at the State Capitol. This bill (A.6830) would require caretakers responsible for disabled individuals in a facility, group home or residence to call 911 in the event of a medical emergency, suspicious injury, violent crime or death, and would represent a major step forward in protecting the rights of some of New York’s most vulnerable residents.

Currently, caretakers are only required to notify the Justice Center, bypassing the 911 emergency call system and, in many cases, resulting in a disturbing lack of investigation and prosecution of these incidents, which unfortunately often lead to tragic consequences. This failure to alert police and medical first responders, as well as district attorneys and medical examiners, has resulted in a disproportionate number of these cases going unprosecuted.

“Enacting the 911 Immediate Medical and Police First Responder Bill would represent a major victory in ensuring protection for many of our residents who cannot care for themselves, and I call on my legislative colleagues to bring this bill to the floor for a vote immediately,” said Walsh. “The vast majority of those who care for these disabled individuals are hard-working and dedicated professionals committed to their vocations. However, in the case of a medical emergency, violent crime or death, proper reporting and involvement from police and medical first responders are necessary to ensure justice for those who need it most, and to prevent these instances from happening again.”

For more information on the 911 Immediate Medical and Police First Responder Bill, please visit the Autism Action Network’s website’s ‘Take Action’ page.