Adds hazardous air quality to the state definition of a disaster; requires explicit inclusion of air quality emergency preparedness in local comprehensive emergency management plans with an action plan and annual inventory of air quality emergency resources.
Summary
S05729 would amend New York’s Executive Law to explicitly recognize hazardous air quality as a type of disaster under the state’s emergency management framework. The bill also updates the definition of “disaster” to use the term “human-made” instead of “man-made,” while keeping the existing list of qualifying events such as fires, floods, disease outbreaks, air contamination, terrorism, and other emergencies.
In addition, the bill requires local comprehensive emergency management plans to address air quality emergencies specifically. Each municipality’s plan would need to include an action plan for responding to an air quality emergency and an annual inventory of air quality emergency resources. The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
The bill would expand the legal basis for state and local emergency response planning by treating hazardous air quality as a disaster under Executive Law section 20 and by adding new planning requirements to section 23. Municipalities would need to incorporate air quality emergency response procedures into their comprehensive emergency management plans and maintain an annual inventory of relevant resources, which could affect local preparedness practices, staffing, and coordination with state emergency management officials.
Sentiment
The available voting record shows strong bipartisan support for the bill. It passed the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee unanimously, 9-0, and later passed the full Senate unanimously, 59-0. No committee transcript was provided, but the unanimous votes suggest broad agreement that the bill addresses a public safety and emergency preparedness concern.
Contention
No significant opposition is reflected in the available record. The main policy choice in the bill is whether to formally elevate hazardous air quality to disaster status and require municipalities to plan for it explicitly. Any practical concerns would likely center on the added planning and inventory obligations for local governments, but no recorded objections or divided votes appear in the provided materials.
Same As
Adds hazardous air quality to the state definition of a disaster; requires explicit inclusion of air quality emergency preparedness in local comprehensive emergency management plans with an action plan and annual inventory of air quality emergency resources.
Adds hazardous air quality to the state definition of a disaster; requires explicit inclusion of air quality emergency preparedness in local comprehensive emergency management plans with an action plan and annual inventory of air quality emergency resources.
Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for Farm Animals Act This bill requires producers to develop disaster preparedness plans that include adverse weather plans to be eligible for livestock indemnity payments and emergency loans due to adverse weather under certain agricultural disaster assistance programs.