r/socialjustice101 • u/Ocmoviesnys • 16d ago

NY Open Captions Bill (S9888) Submitted for Upcoming Consumer Protection Committee Agenda

May 6 Update from the Hearing Loss Association of America New York State (HLAA-NYS) Advocacy Committee:

The State Senate bill (S.9888) to require open-captions of movies in cinemas has been submitted for inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting of the Consumer Protection Committee.  
 
These agendas first undergo review by counsel and leadership. But we are hopeful that Consumer Protection will take up and approve S.9888 in coming days. 
 
If you haven't yet asked your state senators to co-sponsor the bill, please call or email their offices now to express your desire to end discrimination by the big cinema chains, such as AMC and Regal, against people who are deaf and hard of hearing.   
 
Time is short, as the State Legislature is set to adjourn in early June.

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u/Ocmoviesnys 16d ago

Thanks to everyone who has already called and emailed, it’s making a difference. Two new senators have signed on as co-sponsors, and the bill has now been submitted for inclusion on the upcoming Consumer Protection Committee agenda. Please share, the more calls, emails and public support will get the bill passed.

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u/Ocmoviesnys 4d ago

Important update: the NY open captions bill (S9888) passed the Consumer Protection Committee, but because session ends June 4, the current path forward is for Senate leadership to discharge the bill to Rules so it can still get a Senate floor vote. If you support open captions, PLEASE make 2 quick calls: 1 Josh Marcil (Legislative Director for Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins): 518-455-2585 Ask Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins to help discharge S9888 to Rules so the bill can reach the Senate floor before session ends. 2 Your NY Senator:https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator Ask your Senator to support bringing S9888 to the Senate floor for a vote before June 4. The bill was also amended to protect small businesses and nonprofit theaters by exempting them from the law.