BILL NUMBER:  S4721

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
the creation of a system of uniform identification cards for
firefighters and emergency services personnel

 PURPOSE: :  This bill seeks to create a system of uniform
identification cards for firefighters and emergency services personnel
and to establish a statewide database for the purpose of creating,
distributing, and monitoring uniform, identification cards for paid
and volunteer firefighters and emergency services personnel.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: :  This bill would amend the executive law to
establish a centralized database to coordinate the creation,
distribution, and monitoring of uniform identification cards. This
would provide minimum standards that the uniform identification cards
must meet, and grant -the Director of the Office of Homeland Security
with the discretion to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
implement the provisions of this legislation.

 JUSTIFICATION: :  Currently, there is no system in place that would
allow law enforcement and emergency management officials to analyze
and monitor the levels of critical human resources. Also, there is no
uniform identification system for firefighters or emergency medical
services personnel. This not only poses a security risk, but, also
threatens the state's and localities' ability to respond to
              

emergencies efficiently and effectively.

The necessity of a uniform identification card and a statewide
database for all emergency services personnel stems from the desire to
make New York safer and more equipped to mitigate the effects of a
natural or man-made disaster.

In 2004 the Federal Government issued Homeland Sea* Directive number
12 which outlined the necessity to develop and implement policy that
would create a common or uniform identification standard for Federal
employees and contractors. This directive spawned a new Federal
Information Processing Standard (FIPS) number 201; which, specifies
the architecture and technical requirements for a common
identification standard for Federal employees and contractors.

The overall goal is to achieve appropriate security assurance for
multiple applications by efficiently verifying the claimed identity of
individuals seeking physical access to Federally controlled
government, facilities and electronic access to government information
systems. According to a Department of Homeland Security Information
Bulletin, terrorist groups view the theft or other illegal acquisition
of official identification, uniforms, or vehicles as an effective way
to increase access and decrease scrutiny in furtherance of their
planning and operations.

The utilization of police or military uniforms to mask identities and
achieve close access to targets without arousing suspicion, is a
serious security hazard. Terrorists and organized crime figures across
the globe have stolen emergency medical services uniforms to
facilitate the execution of their attacks on key facilities.

A 2006 report by the Heritage Foundation and George Washington
University Homeland Security Policy Institute Task Force, found that
the lack of a uniform identification system hobbles interagency
coordination. There are a number of professions and capacities that
people serve in that are critical to an effective response to an
emergency; because of this, the verification of identification,
affiliation, and expertise cannot be accomplished rapidly during a
crisis unless there is some uniform identification system.

This legislation will allow emergency planners and law enforcement
officials to better understand the specific human resources on hand at
any given time and in any region so that we can fortify our plans and
better manage our assets. This seamless identification for all police
and peace officers will be utilized in many situations, such as: when
officers are deployed to areas outside of their normal geographical
area for national security and special events; during mutual
assistance across counties, natural and man-made disasters, and for
multi-agency coordination centers.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: :  There are roughly 94,500 volunteer
firefighters; 17,800 paid on-call and career firefighters; 14,000 fire
police; and more than 24,000 emergency medical service personnel in
New York State. All together, there are approximately 150,300
emergency services personnel.

It is estimated that each card, which will be similar in form and
function to the HID 'Class card currently issued by the Office of
General Services, would cost about $6.50; and, to provide a card for
every emergency services personnel would cost the state a total of
$976,950, much of which could be offset through Federal funding
sources.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :  2008 - S.3642 - Referred to the Standing
Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :  This act would take effect one year after it shall
have become a law.