S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4770
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 8, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. STERN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Governmental Operations
 
 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;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD06768-01-1

 A. 4770                             2
 
   (E) CLEARLY MARKED BOXES AND DESCRIPTIONS INDICATING WHETHER THE INDI-
 VIDUAL IS BEING WARNED, TICKETED, OR ARRESTED;
   (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.