S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  9934--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 27, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. STERN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Governmental Operations  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the executive law, in relation to directing the super-
   intendent of the New York state police to prepare informational  mate-
   rial  to  aid  police during interactions with persons who are deaf or
   hard of hearing
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 214-g
 to read as follows:
   § 214-G. VISOR CARD FOR POLICE INTERACTIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS  WHO  ARE
 DEAF  OR  HARD OF HEARING. 1. THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL DEVELOP, MAINTAIN
 AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATIONAL PRINTED MATERIAL IN THE  FORM  OF  A  CARD
 DESIGNED  FOR  THE  ATTACHMENT TO A VEHICLE'S SUN VISOR (A "VISOR CARD")
 WHICH WILL ENABLE A POLICE OFFICER TO COMMUNICATE WITH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO
 IS DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING IN ANY INTERACTION THAT SUCH  INDIVIDUAL  MAY
 HAVE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
   2.  VISOR  CARDS  REQUIRED  BY  THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT
 LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
   (A) BOLDFACE AND HIGHLIGHTED TEXT AT THE TOP OF  THE  CARD  INDICATING
 THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING;
   (B)  SYMBOLS  AND PICTURES THAT CAN BE USED TO COMMUNICATE BETWEEN THE
 POLICE OFFICER AND THE INDIVIDUAL;
   (C) A LIST OF THE BEST  WAYS  TO  COMMUNICATE  WITH  THAT  INDIVIDUAL,
 INCLUDING  THE  NEED  FOR  AN  AMERICAN  SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, TEXT
 MESSAGING, WRITING, LIP READING, HAND GESTURES, OR AN ASSISTIVE  LISTEN-
 ING DEVICE;
   (D) DESCRIPTIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC OFFENSES THAT THE SUPER-
 INTENDENT DETERMINES ARE THE MOST COMMON INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AN
 EXPIRED  LICENSE,  NOT  WEARING A SEATBELT, RECKLESS DRIVING, FAILURE TO
 STOP AT A STOP SIGN, AND SPEEDING;
   (E) CLEARLY MARKED BOXES AND DESCRIPTIONS INDICATING WHETHER THE INDI-
 VIDUAL IS BEING WARNED, TICKETED, OR ARRESTED;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14989-03-0

 A. 9934--A                          2
 
   (F) SYMBOLS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO INDICATE TO THE POLICE OFFICER  THAT
 ASSISTANCE   IS   REQUIRED,   INCLUDING  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO,  DRIVING
 DIRECTIONS, MEDICAL EMERGENCY, POLICE ASSISTANCE, NEAREST  GAS  STATION,
 FLAT TIRE, LOCATION OF THE NEAREST HOSPITAL, AND TOW TRUCK ASSISTANCE;
   (G) SYMBOLS FOR THE POLICE OFFICER TO COMMUNICATE POLICE DIRECTIVES TO
 THE INDIVIDUAL INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REQUESTS TO PRODUCE LICENSE,
 REGISTRATION, PROOF OF INSURANCE, OR A WEAPONS PERMIT;
   (H)  SUGGESTIONS FOR POLICE OFFICERS ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE
 WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING; AND
   (I) CONTACT INFORMATION REGARDING RESOURCES FOR  INDIVIDUALS  WHO  ARE
 DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.
   3. VISOR CARDS SHALL BE CREATED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
   4.  VISOR  CARDS SHALL BE SUPPLIED TO ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND SHER-
 IFF'S OFFICES IN THE STATE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO POLICE OFFICERS;  AND  TO
 EVERY  DEPARTMENT  OF MOTOR VEHICLES LOCATION TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO INDI-
 VIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.
   5. VISOR CARDS SHALL BE DESIGNED, DEVELOPED AND READY FOR DISTRIBUTION
 NO LATER THAN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.