N.Y. Executive Law § 23-a: County registry of disabled persons; notice

§ 23-a. County registry of disabled persons; notice. 1. In each

county having a local disaster preparedness plan pursuant to section

twenty-three of this article, in order to meet the special needs of

persons who would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering

because of physical or mental handicaps, it is recommended that each

chief executive maintain a registry of disabled persons located within

the county. The registration shall identify those persons in need of

assistance and plan for resource allocation to meet those identified

needs. To assist the chief executive in identifying such persons, the

county department of health, or such other county department or agency

as designated by the chief executive, shall provide voluntary

registration information to all of its special needs clients and to all

incoming clients as part of the intake process. The registry shall be

updated annually. The registration program shall give disabled persons

the option of pre-authorizing emergency response personnel to enter

their homes during search and rescue operations if necessary to assure

their safety and welfare during disasters.

2. Upon the establishment of a voluntary registry of disabled persons

as provided in subdivision one of this section, the chief executive

shall make such registry available to the appropriate county, state and

federal agencies for their use in delivering services in the event of a

local or state disaster. The chief executive shall, upon the request of

the state emergency management office, provide such registry information

to such office. The chief executive may, at his discretion, use the

registry information for local disaster preparedness only in

coordination with other political subdivisions of the state.

3. Upon the establishment of a voluntary registry of disabled persons

as provided in subdivision one of this section, at least semi-annually,

each chief executive shall cause to be published in a newspaper of

general circulation within the county a notice of the availability of

the voluntary registration program.

4. All records, data, information, correspondence and communications

relating to the registration of disabled persons as provided in

subdivision one of this section are confidential, except that such

information shall be available to other county chief executives for

local disaster preparedness only as the chief executive of the county

maintaining such registry deems necessary. Provided, however, the

individual file of a person having registered with the registry of

disabled persons shall be made available to that person upon request.

5. All community-based services providers, including home health care

providers, shall assist the chief executive by collecting registration

information for people with special needs as part of program intake

processes, establishing programs to increase the awareness of the

registration process, and educating clients about the procedures that

may be necessary for their safety during disasters.

6. A county shall not be liable for any claim based upon the good

faith exercise or performance or the good faith failure to exercise or

perform a function or duty on the part of any officer or employee in

carrying out a local disaster preparedness plan.