Bill > A09056

This bill amends existing state and city laws to require emergency alerts and notifications to be issued in the ten most commonly spoken languages within the area covered by the alert, instead of the current two or seven languages. The bill applies to various communication channels including e-mail, text, phone, social media platforms, and internet-based feeds. When real-time translations are unavailable, a general version of the notification may be used, but priority must be placed on providing the most specific information possible. The notifications will be separated into distinct messages in separate feeds for each language. The bill also includes a provision that if no potential recipients are registered for a specific language, a notification does not need to be distributed in that language. This change aims to improve emergency communication accessibility for diverse linguistic communities, ensuring that critical information reaches a broader population during emergencies or disruptive events. The bill will take effect 30 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for preparing necessary rules and regulations.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9056