S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         7387
                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                      May 7, 2015
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ZEBROWSKI  --  read once and referred to the
         Committee on Codes
       AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to  establishing  a  deaf
         and  hard  of  hearing  outreach  program  to facilitate communication
         between hearing-impaired persons and law enforcement personnel
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-s
    2  to read as follows:
    3    S 837-S. DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING OUTREACH PROGRAM. 1. AS USED IN THIS
    4  SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
    5    (A) "DEAF PERSON" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON WHO, BECAUSE OF HEARING  LOSS,
    6  IS  NOT  ABLE  TO  DISCRIMINATE SPEECH WHEN SPOKEN IN A NORMAL CONVERSA-
    7  TIONAL TONE REGARDLESS OF THE USE OF AMPLIFICATION DEVICES; AND
    8    (B) "HARD OF HEARING PERSON" SHALL MEAN ANY  PERSON  WHO,  BECAUSE  OF
    9  HEARING  LOSS,  HAS  A  DIMINISHED  CAPACITY TO DISCRIMINATE SPEECH WHEN
   10  SPOKEN IN A NORMAL CONVERSATIONAL TONE.
   11    (C) "VISOR COMMUNICATION  CARD"  SHALL  MEAN  SUCH  IDENTIFICATION  AS
   12  ISSUED  BY  THE  DIVISION WHICH IDENTIFIES THE DRIVER AS DEAF OR HARD OF
   13  HEARING, AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION, AND WHICH DETAILS  THE  APPROPRIATE
   14  PROCEDURES FOR ASSISTING A DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING DRIVER DURING A TRAF-
   15  FIC STOP AS PROMULGATED BY THE DIVISION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   16    2.  THE  DIVISION SHALL DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN VISOR COMMUNICATION CARDS
   17  FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LAW  ENFORCEMENT  AND
   18  DEAF  AND HARD OF HEARING INDIVIDUALS. ANY PERSON RESIDING IN THIS STATE
   19  SHALL, UPON REQUEST,  BE  ISSUED  A  VISOR  COMMUNICATION  OF  A  DESIGN
   20  APPROVED  BY  THE COMMISSIONER. APPLICATION FOR SUCH VISOR COMMUNICATION
   21  CARD SHALL BE FILED WITH THE DIVISION IN SUCH FORM  AND  DETAIL  AS  THE
   22  COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE.
   23    3.  THE  DIVISION  SHALL  MAKE  AVAILABLE AN ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE
   24  VISOR COMMUNICATION CARD ON THEIR WEBSITE. THE  DIVISION  SHALL  DISSEM-
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD10327-01-5
       A. 7387                             2
    1  INATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSTING SUCH ELECTRONIC VERSION TO LAW ENFORCE-
    2  MENT  AGENCIES  AND  OTHER  STATE  AGENCIES  WHERE THE PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN
    3  INFORMATION REGARDING MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSES.
    4    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.