Int. No. 2025
By Council Members Holden and Kallos
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring guidelines on the prevention of disease transmission and restrictions on mass gatherings due to the spread of highly transmissible diseases
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-104.1 to read as follows:
§ 17-104.1 Guidelines and restrictions regarding highly transmissible diseases. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Highly transmissible disease. The term “highly transmissible disease” means a disease for which no vaccine is available that can be transmitted through aerosols or respiratory droplets.
Highly transmissible disease emergency. The term “highly transmissible disease emergency” means any time during which, due to the spread of a highly transmissible disease, a state of emergency has been declared by the governor pursuant to section 28 of the executive law or by the mayor pursuant to section 24 of the executive law or a public health emergency has been declared by the commissioner pursuant to section 3.01(d) of the New York city health code.
Mass gathering. The term “mass gathering” means any gathering of more than 10 people.
Public health authority or organization. The term “public health authority or organization” means any governmental or non-governmental organization or authority that works to monitor threats to public health, including the department, the department of health of the state of New York, the federal department of health and human services and the World Health Organization.
b. Guidelines on prevention of disease transmission. If any public health authority or organization provides notification of the transmission of a highly transmissible disease that poses a serious threat to public health anywhere in the world, the department shall, within 15 days of such notification, publish on its website guidelines that advise on the adoption of measures to prevent the spread of such disease, including but not limited to social distancing, the wearing of face coverings and hygienic practices such as hand washing. Such guidelines shall be updated as appropriate.
c. Prohibition on mass gatherings. In the event of any highly transmissible disease emergency, all mass gatherings shall be prohibited. The commissioner may designate exceptions to such prohibition as the commissioner deems appropriate and may revoke such prohibition upon a determination that it is not necessary to protect public health.
d. Penalties. Any person convicted of violating the prohibition set forth in subdivision c of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of no more than $500, or imprisonment for no more than 90 days, or both, for each violation.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
NAB
LS# 14414
5/13/20 12:40PM