NYC Council Introduction 998

intro.nyc/0998-2024 2024-2025 Legislative Session Mayor's Desk for Signature
Cooling centers.
Sponsored by Keith Powers
Introduced: July 18, 2024

This bill would codify New York City’s (“City” or “NYC”) cooling center program. The bill would require the Commissioner of the NYC Office of Emergency Management (NYCEM) to designate the locations of cooling centers when there is a heat-related emergency, and requires, where practicable, the designation of no fewer than 7 cooling centers per 100,000 residents. When determining where to locate cooling centers in the city, the bill would require the NYCEM Commissioner to consider factors such as areas in which vulnerable populations reside as well as the heat vulnerability index. In addition, the bill would require NYCEM or the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to post on its website any health alerts issued during a heat-related emergency. The bill would also require NYCEM to submit a comprehensive cooling and communication plan on or before May 15, 2026, as well as an annual report detailing the City’s efforts to inform the public about the availability and benefits of cooling centers, with recommendations on how to increase accessibility. Finally, the bill would require that NYCEM provide information for the public on how to submit feedback about their experiences at cooling centers, and to report any challenges with accessing such centers.

Approved by Committee August 14, 2025

Committee on Health Votes 8:0:0
Lynn C. Schulman (Affirmative)
Joann Ariola (Affirmative)
Carmen N. De La Rosa (Affirmative)
Oswald Feliz (Affirmative)
James F. Gennaro (Affirmative)
Kristy Marmorato (Affirmative)
Julie Menin (Affirmative)
Mercedes Narcisse (Affirmative)
Susan Zhuang (Absent)

Approved by Council August 14, 2025

Votes 44:0:0
Adrienne E. Adams (Affirmative)
Diana I. Ayala (Affirmative)
Shaun Abreu (Affirmative)
Joann Ariola (Affirmative)
Alexa Avilés (Affirmative)
Chris Banks (Affirmative)
Erik D. Bottcher (Affirmative)
Justin L. Brannan (Affirmative)
Gale A. Brewer (Affirmative)
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (Affirmative)
Tiffany Cabán (Affirmative)
David M. Carr (Affirmative)
Carmen N. De La Rosa (Affirmative)
Eric Dinowitz (Affirmative)
Amanda Farías (Affirmative)
Simcha Felder (Affirmative)
Oswald Feliz (Affirmative)
James F. Gennaro (Affirmative)
Jennifer Gutiérrez (Absent)
Shahana K. Hanif (Affirmative)
Kamillah Hanks (Affirmative)
Robert F. Holden (Affirmative)
Crystal Hudson (Affirmative)
Rita C. Joseph (Affirmative)
Shekar Krishnan (Affirmative)
Linda Lee (Affirmative)
Farah N. Louis (Affirmative)
Kristy Marmorato (Affirmative)
Christopher Marte (Absent)
Darlene Mealy (Absent)
Julie Menin (Affirmative)
Frank Morano (Affirmative)
Francisco P. Moya (Medical)
Mercedes Narcisse (Affirmative)
Sandy Nurse (Absent)
Chi A. Ossé (Affirmative)
Vickie Paladino (Affirmative)
Keith Powers (Affirmative)
Lincoln Restler (Affirmative)
Kevin C. Riley (Affirmative)
Carlina Rivera (Affirmative)
Yusef Salaam (Affirmative)
Rafael Salamanca, Jr. (Absent)
Pierina Ana Sanchez (Affirmative)
Lynn C. Schulman (Affirmative)
Althea V. Stevens (Affirmative)
Sandra Ung (Affirmative)
Inna Vernikov (Affirmative)
Nantasha M. Williams (Affirmative)
Julie Won (Absent)
Susan Zhuang (Affirmative)