On the Advocacy Table: Lobby Day 2011
This year’s annual Lobby Day took place on May 9th and 10th. All three NMSS Chapters that represent the state of NY, known as the MS CAN (Coalition Action Network), gathered together in Albany to meet with legislators regarding issues that affect people living with disabilities and to spread awareness of Multiple Sclerosis and its prevalence across the state. It is important for you all to be informed of our legislative agenda, in order to further our efforts of spreading awareness, supporting our advocacy efforts as well as offer feedback about issues you feel are vital to our mission. Listed below are the issues that were chosen as key bills we are in support of and their progress as of June 7th, 2011.
1)Establishes emergency evacuation plan for individuals with disabilities
A.6658 (Cusick)/S.3490 (Stewart –Cousins)
- This legislation would help assure the safety of people with disabilities (including people with MS) in the event of an emergency evacuation of a building. It requires the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council (SFPBCC), in collaboration with New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, to revise the State Fire Code and promulgate regulations to ensure that emergency evacuation plans take into account the needs of individuals with disabilities. In addition, it requires owners of high-rise buildings to maintain and update emergency evacuation plans to assist people with disabilities in the event of an emergency.
- Due to our legislative efforts thus far, the assembly has passed this bill, several members chose to co-sponsor the bill and it is currently in the Senate housing committee.
2)Authorizes the state to maintain an accessible housing registry
S.3396 (Parker)
- This legislation creates a data base to track accessible housing throughout the state and maintain information about its availability. It requires that all owners or operators of any residential housing that is for sale or rent with three or more accessible units to list vacancies on the registry. The registry would be available by both a website and a toll-free number to easily allow people with disabilities to retrieve vacancy information. A special advisory panel within the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) would also be created and responsible for assisting in the establishment and maintenance of the housing registry.
- The Assembly has passed this bill and it is also in the housing committee of the Senate. The MS CAN has had further discussions with the DHCR in order to update the current version of a housing registry that currently exists (www.nyhousingsearch.gov).
3) Establish access aisles of handicapped accessible parking space at least eight feet wide
A.3363 (Lavine)/S.3170 (McDonald)
- This legislation amends vehicle and traffic law and requires parking spaces that are designated for handicapped parking to be eight feet wide. This extends to both off the street parking, but to parking garages as well.
- The assembly has passed this bill and it is currently in the Senate transportation committee. Several legislators we met with jumped on board with certainty to Co-Sponsor this bill! The MS CAN feels strongly that overall outcome will be in our favor!
As the advocacy coordinator for the Upstate NY Chapter, I welcome your feedback regarding our issues and encourage you to contact me with any pressing issues. If you are interested in receiving “Action Alerts” regarding advocacy, or would like to get involved with government relations in your area, please contact me: Emilie.higgins@nmss.org. I look forward to hearing from many of you readers!
I would like to give a special thanks to the Albany Government Relations Committee who volunteered their time, sharing their personal stories with MS to each legislator we met with!
