New York S 2186: Enacts the accessible electronic information act

Bill Text

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S02186 Summary:

BILL NOS02186 

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SAME ASSAME AS A07253

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §92-j, Pub Serv L; add §99-ss, St Fin L

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Enacts the accessible electronic information act for blind and disabled persons; creates a new fund in the state finance law; authorizes a not-for-profit entity to administer the program.

Go to top S02186 Actions:

BILL NOS02186 

&nbsp

01/15/2025REFERRED TO FINANCE

01/07/2026REFERRED TO FINANCE

Go to topS02186 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS02186 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS02186 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 2186

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 January 15, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

 AN ACT to amend the public service law and the state finance law, in
 relation to enacting the accessible electronic information act

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "accessible electronic information act".
 3 § 2. Legislative finding. The National Federation of the Blind estab-
 4 lished the NFB-NEWSLINE to increase the ability of visually impaired
 5 individuals to receive information provided by newspapers, magazines,
 6 journals and other print media which are traditionally unavailable in a
 7 limited electronic broadcast. Since 2002, this vital service has
 8 provided visually impaired New Yorkers with information on job listings,
 9 self-help magazines, do-it-yourself guides, political magazines, several
 10 newspapers, TV guide listings, and other literary necessities that all
 11 sighted New Yorkers have enjoyed. This legislation provides a stable
 12 means to bring NEWSLINE to New York.
 13 § 3. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 92-j to
 14 read as follows:
 15 § 92-j. Accessible electronic information; blind and disabled persons.
 16 1. A qualified not-for-profit entity capable of providing such service
 17 shall provide an accessible electronic information service for eligible
 18 blind and disabled persons. This service shall be planned for continua-
 19 tion from year to year and make maximum use of federal, state, private
 20 and other funds available, including obtaining grant or in-kind support
 21 from appropriate programs and securing access to low-cost interstate
 22 rates for telecommunications by reimbursement or otherwise.
 23 2. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the follow-
 24 ing meanings, unless otherwise indicated:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD06138-01-5

 S. 2186 2

 1 (a) "Accessible electronic information service" means news and other
 2 timely information (including newspapers) provided to eligible individ-
 3 uals from a multi-state service center, using high-speed computers and
 4 telecommunications technology for interstate acquisition of content and
 5 rapid distribution in a form appropriate for use by such individuals;
 6 (b) "Blind and disabled persons" means those individuals who are
 7 eligible for library loan services through the Library of Congress and
 8 the State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped pursuant to
 9 36 CFR 701.10(b);
 10 (c) "Director" means the director of the selected not-for-profit enti-
 11 ty;
 12 (d) "Qualified entity" means a not-for-profit entity within this state
 13 capable of providing accessible electronic information services which:
 14 (i) provides interstate access for eligible persons to read daily
 15 newspapers producing audio editions by computer, and
 16 (ii) provides a means of program administration and reader registra-
 17 tion on the internet.
 18 § 4. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-ss to
 19 read as follows:
 20 § 99-ss. Accessible electronic information service fund. 1. There is
 21 hereby established in the custody of the state comptroller a special
 22 revenue fund to be known as the "accessible electronic information
 23 service fund".
 24