File #: Int 2023-2020    Version: * Name: Establishing an office of pandemic preparedness.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Governmental Operations
On agenda: 7/28/2020
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of pandemic preparedness
Sponsors: Ben Kallos, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Farah N. Louis, Justin L. Brannan
Council Member Sponsors: 4
Summary: This bill would establish an Office of Pandemic Preparedness. The Office would receive the materials and plans that other city agencies develop in relation to preparing for pandemics. The Office would review those materials and plans then submit the plans related to pandemic preparation to the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). The Office would also organize an annual pandemic planning summit with representatives from city agencies, academic institutions, healthcare providers, commercial industry groups and experts in the fields of infectious disease and disaster planning. The Office would submit a report detailing its findings and recommendations for best practice in pandemic planning to the Mayor, the Speaker and the Director of OEM.
Indexes: Other Appointment Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 2023, 2. Int. No. 2023, 3. July 28, 2020 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 7-28-20, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - July 28, 2020

Int. No. 2023

 

By Council Members Kallos, the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams), Louis and Brannan

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of pandemic preparedness

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 20-j to read as follows:

§ 20-j. Office of pandemic preparedness. a. The mayor shall establish an office of pandemic preparedness. Such office may be established within any office of the mayor or as a separate office or any department the head of which is appointed by the mayor. Such office shall be headed by a director of pandemic preparedness, who shall be appointed by the mayor or, if the office is established within an agency other than the office of the mayor, by the head of such agency.

b. Requirements. All agencies shall submit any materials and plans developed by such agencies related to pandemic preparedness to such office, including but not limited to any updates to those plans.

c. Powers and duties. The director of pandemic preparedness shall have the power and duty to:

1. Review such agency materials and plans;

2. Submit such plans related to pandemic preparation to the office of emergency management; and

3. Perform other relevant duties as the mayor may assign.

d. Planning summit. On or before January 1, 2021 and at least annually thereafter, the office shall organize a pandemic planning summit. Such summit shall include representatives from all relevant agencies, public health professionals, healthcare providers, relevant entities contracts with the city, experts in infectious diseases and disaster planning, and other stakeholders.

e. Reporting. Within 90 days of the pandemic planning summit required by subdivision d the office shall produce a written report detailing the findings of such summit and recommendations for best practices in pandemic planning. The office shall submit such report to the mayor, the speaker of the council and the director of the office of emergency management.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 60 days after it becomes law. The mayor and any affected city agency may take any steps necessary for the implementation of this local law before such effective date.

 

 

 

 

JG

LS # 14477/14688/14690

5/20/20 12:19 PM