NY A01479

Requires each county chief executive to maintain a confidential registry of people of all ages with disabilities who would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering, changing the current law from a recommendation to a mandate

Registration is voluntary for individuals with disabilities, who may opt in and can pre-authorize emergency personnel to enter their homes during search and rescue operations

County departments of health, social services, and mental health must provide information about the registry and registration process to all consumers with disabilities, including during intake

Registry information must be shared with appropriate county, state, and federal agencies during disasters, and with the state emergency management office upon request, while preserving confidentiality

Counties must annually publish notice of the registration program in a newspaper of general circulation and make information available on the county website