Bill > A4555

This bill mandates that county emergency management coordinators establish a "Code Blue Program" to provide shelter for "at-risk individuals" during "severe weather events." An "at-risk individual" is defined as someone living outdoors or in an uninhabitable or unauthorized dwelling, while a "severe weather event" includes conditions like snow emergencies, extreme temperatures (40 degrees Fahrenheit or below), storms, or other weather that poses a risk. The program requires coordinators to declare a "code blue alert" 24 hours before a severe weather event, which will last until the following morning unless the event persists. During this alert, law enforcement agencies will patrol to find and transport at-risk individuals to shelters, and welfare agencies will be notified to increase shelter capacity. Additionally, counties must establish temporary emergency shelters authorized by public officials, and county emergency management offices will conduct public awareness campaigns about the program.