Bill
A 1479
Bill A 1479 requires counties to create a confidential registry of individuals with disabilities, ensuring emergency services can provide timely, tailored assistance during disasters.
Bill Number: A 1479
Title: Requires counties to maintain a confidential registry of people of all ages with disabilities for disaster preparedness
Status: Referred to Governmental Operations
Introduced: January 10, 2025
Classification: Bill
Bill A 1479 aims to enhance disaster preparedness by establishing a confidential registry for individuals with disabilities across all age groups. The intent is to ensure that emergency services can effectively identify and assist these individuals during disasters, thereby improving their safety and response times.
Confidential Registry Creation: The bill mandates that each county create and maintain a confidential registry of individuals with disabilities. This registry will include personal information necessary for emergency response but will be kept secure to protect the privacy of individuals listed.
Eligibility: The registry will encompass people of all ages who have disabilities, ensuring that no demographic is overlooked in emergency planning.
Access and Use: Emergency responders and relevant agencies will have access to this registry during disaster situations to facilitate timely assistance. The bill emphasizes that the information will only be used for emergency response purposes.
Data Protection Measures: The bill outlines specific measures to ensure the confidentiality and security of the information contained in the registry, protecting individuals' privacy rights.
Individuals with Disabilities: The primary beneficiaries of this bill will be individuals with disabilities, who will receive enhanced support during emergencies. The registry aims to ensure that their specific needs are addressed in disaster scenarios.
Emergency Services: Local emergency services will benefit from having immediate access to critical information about individuals with disabilities, allowing for more effective and tailored responses during disasters.
Counties: Each county will be responsible for implementing and maintaining the registry, which may require additional resources and training for staff involved in emergency management.
Current Status: As of January 10, 2025, Bill A 1479 has been referred to the Governmental Operations committee for further consideration.
Related Legislation: The bill is part of a broader legislative context, with several related bills from prior sessions (A 2658, A 8816, A 7257, A 6865, A 3923, A 8903, A 758) that may address similar issues or provide additional frameworks for disaster preparedness and support for individuals with disabilities.
Bill A 1479 represents a significant step towards improving disaster preparedness for individuals with disabilities. By establishing a confidential registry, the bill seeks to ensure that emergency services can provide timely and effective assistance, ultimately enhancing the safety and well-being of vulnerable populations during crises.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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