A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to requiring immediate access to food and water to communities affected by emergencies

Int. No. 1330

By Council Members Menchaca, Levin, Richards, Rose, Palma and Chin

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to requiring immediate access to food and water to communities affected by emergencies

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Section 497 of the New York city charter is amended to read as follows:  

§ 497 Powers and duties of the commissioner. The commissioner shall have cognizance and control of the government, administration, disposition and discipline of the department. The commissioner shall have the powers and duties to:

a. coordinate the city's response to all emergency conditions and potential incidents which require a multi-agency response, including but not limited to severe weather, threats from natural hazards and natural disasters, power and other public service outages, labor unrest other than the keeping of the peace, water main breaks, transportation and transit incidents, hazardous substance discharges, building collapses, aviation disasters, explosions, acts of terrorism and such other emergency conditions and incidents which affect public health and safety;

b. monitor on a constant basis all potential emergency conditions and potential incidents which may require a multi-agency response;

c. coordinate and implement training programs for public safety and health, including emergency response drills, to prepare for emergency conditions and potential incidents which may require a multi-agency response;

d. prepare plans for responding to emergency conditions and potential incidents, including but not limited to plans for the implementation of such emergency orders as may be approved by the mayor to protect public safety and facilitate the rapid response and mobilization of agencies and resources;

e. make recommendations to the mayor concerning the city's emergency response capabilities and concerning the city's capacity to address potential emergency conditions and potential incidents;

f. increase public awareness as to the appropriate responses by members of the public to emergency conditions and potential incidents, and review the city's systems for disseminating information to the public;

g. operate an emergency operations center to assist the city in managing emergency conditions and potential incidents that may require a multi-agency response;

h. hold regular and frequent meetings of designated emergency response personnel of all city agencies that are determined by the commissioner to have a direct or support role in the city's management of emergency conditions and potential incidents which may require a multi-agency response;

i. acquire federal and other funding for emergency management, including but not limited to disaster relief, and civil defense, and assist other agencies in obtaining such funding;

j. coordinate with all city agencies to ensure that all such agencies develop and implement emergency response plans in connection with planning major city events;

k. coordinate with state, federal and other governmental bodies to effectuate the purposes of the department;

l. coordinate the operation of the local emergency planning committee established pursuant to Title III of the federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act;

m. coordinate New York city's civil defense effort in accordance with the provisions of the Defense Emergency Act of New York state and the city's civil defense emergency operations plan, as such plan may be amended from time to time;

n. perform all other functions previously performed by the former office of emergency management and the emergency control board; [and]

o. take all measures necessary ensure the immediate availability of food and water, as practicable, in areas the department should reasonably expect the availability of such supplies would be significantly reduced in an emergency, including but not limited to entering contracts to procure such supplies and the direct procurement of such supplies, where appropriate. The commissioner shall submit to the council and post to the department’s website a report containing a list of the food and water available to the city pursuant to this subdivision, and shall update such report within 30 days of any significant change to such list; and

[o.] p. promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.

BC

LS # 3155

5/6/16