S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1061
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 9, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KELLNER, MAISEL, FINCH, ROBERTS, HOOPER --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. MARKEY, PERRY, ROBINSON -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to requiring the
provision of assistive listening systems in New York state airport
terminals and railway stations
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section
15-d to read as follows:
S 15-D. ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM; ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEMS.
1. ALL PUBLIC-USE AIRPORT TERMINALS AND RAILROAD STATIONS LOCATED WITHIN
THE STATE SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH AN ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM FOR USE
BY HEARING IMPAIRED PERSONS WHO REQUIRE THE USE OF SUCH A SYSTEM TO
IMPROVE THEIR RECEPTION OF SOUND. STANDARDS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS SHALL BE
DEVELOPED BY THE STATE FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDING CODE COUNCIL UPON
RECEIVING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD ON ASSISTIVE LISTENING
SYSTEMS IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY, AND SHALL PROVIDE THE CAPABILITY
FOR:
(A) ANNOUNCEMENTS TO PASSENGERS, INCLUDING EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS, TO
BE CAPTIONED IN REAL TIME ON SCREENS IN AIRPORTS AND RAIL STATIONS;
(B) PROMINENTLY DISPLAY APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE, EMPLOYING THE UNIVERSAL
SYMBOLS, INDICATING THAT AN ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM IS AVAILABLE AND
EXPLAINING HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND HOW TO ACCESS IT; AND
(C) EXISTING MICROPHONE SYSTEMS TO EMPLOY A HEARING-AID COMPATIBLE
ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM AND DISPLAY THE UNIVERSAL SYMBOL FOR ASSIS-
TIVE LISTENING AT TICKETING AND INFORMATION BOOTHS.
2. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE SUCH RULES AND REGU-
LATIONS AS HE OR SHE DEEMS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SUBDIVISION.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01885-01-3
A. 1061 2
3. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO PRIVATE-USE
AIRPORTS OR RAILROAD TERMINALS.
4. ALL FACILITIES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL HAVE
A COMPLIANT ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM INSTALLED AND AVAILABLE FOR
PUBLIC USE BY A DATE NO LATER THAN JULY TWENTY-SIXTH, TWO THOUSAND
SEVENTEEN.
5. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
A. "AIRPORT" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SUBDIVI-
SION FIVE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED FORTY OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW;
B. "ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM" SHALL MEAN SITUATIONAL-PERSONAL ACOUS-
TIC COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE TRANSMISSION AND
AUDITORY RECEPTION OF SOUND. SUCH SYSTEM SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMIT-
ED TO THE USE OF STANDARD AMPLITUDE MODULATION (AM), FREQUENCY MODU-
LATION (FM), AUDIO INDUCTION LOOP, INFRARED LIGHT SOUND, OR HARD WIRE
SYSTEMS;
C. "PRIVATE-USE" REFERS TO AN AIRPORT TERMINAL OR RAILROAD STATION
USED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE OWNER THEREOF AND PERSONS AUTHORIZED BY SUCH
OWNER;
D. "PUBLIC-USE" REFERS TO AN AIRPORT TERMINAL OR RAILROAD STATION
AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITHOUT A REQUIREMENT FOR THE
PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE OWNER OR OPERATOR THEREOF EXCEPT AS MAY BE
REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW OR REGULATION; AND
E. "RAILROAD" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION
TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
S 2. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section 15-e to
read as follows:
S 15-E. VISUAL EMERGENCY ALARM. 1. ALL PUBLIC USE AIRPORT TERMINALS
AND RAILROAD STATIONS SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH A VISUAL ALARM ELEMENT FOR
EMERGENCY EVACUATION MEASURES FOR USE BY HEARING IMPAIRED PERSONS NO
LATER THAN JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN.
2. STANDARDS FOR SUCH ALARMS SHALL BE DEVELOPED BY THE STATE FIRE
PREVENTION AND BUILDING CODE COUNCIL UPON RECEIVING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE ADVISORY BOARD ON ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEMS IN PLACES OF PUBLIC
ASSEMBLY; PROVIDED THAT SUCH VISUAL ELEMENT SHALL BE DESIGNED TO MINI-
MIZE THE POSSIBILITY OR RISK OF TRIGGERING SEIZURES IN PERSONS WHO HAVE
EPILEPSY OR PHOTOSENSITIVITY.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that effec-
tive immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before
such effective date.