Source: https://www.farrellfritz.com/rss-post/legislation-affecting-public-health/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 10:10:53+00:00

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Legislation Affecting Public Health - Farrell Fritz, P.C.
The challenges tackled by the Legislature in this space were wide and varied. As is typical of public health legislation year after year, the bills largely focus on restricting unhealthy behaviors, shifting the cost of screening and prevention, deploying resources more efficiently and effectively, and educating the public and healthcare providers on the State’s various existing and newly created public health programs. The following public health bills passed both houses of the Legislature and were either already signed into law (where noted) or currently await the Governor’s signature (more information on the legislative process can be found here).
Living Donor Protection Act (A297C Assemblymember Gunther / S2496B Senator Hannon): This bill, entitled the “Living Donor Protection Act of 2018” (the “Act”), seeks to encourage live organ donation, protect those who choose to donate their organs from insurance discrimination and provide paid family leave benefits to organ donors. The Commissioner of Health, in cooperation with the Transplant Council and other interested parties, would be tasked with developing and distributing (online and in paper format) informational material expressing the benefits of live organ and tissue donation, including the impact on the donor’s access to insurance and assistance, the available state and federal tax credits for live organ donors, and the protections and benefits granted pursuant to the Act.
With respect to discrimination by insurers, the bill would make it unlawful for insurers who are authorized to provide life, accident, or health insurance to discriminate against a live organ donor by: declining or limiting insurance coverage under any life or accident and health insurance policy; or in the premium rating offering, issuance cancellation, amount of coverage or any other condition based solely on the donor’s status; or from precluding or preventing any individual from donating all or part of an organ or tissue as a condition of receiving or continuing to receive life or accident and health insurance coverage.
The bill further amends § 201(18) of the Workers Compensation Law to include transplantation and recovery from surgery related to organ or tissue donation one of the “serious health conditions” covered under paid family leave.
Smoking in Private Homes Licensed for Child Care (A397B Assemblymember Gunther / S7522-A Hannon): This bill takes aim at reducing the harmful effects of “third hand smoke” – “residual contamination from cigarette smoke toxicants that can linger on surfaces” on children. The bill would prohibit smoking at all times in private homes that are required to be licensed or registered for child care services, including but not limited to, registered, certified or licensed care in family day care homes, group family day care homes, school-age child care programs; head start programs, day care centers; child care which may be provided without a permit, certificate or registration in accordance with this statute; early childhood education programs approved by the state education department; and care provided in a children’s camp, regardless of whether or not children receiving such services are present.
Smoking Near Public Libraries (S169B Senator Rivera / A330-B Assemblymember Dinowitz): This bill prohibits smoking within 100 feet of an entrance or exit of a public or association library (as defined in § 253(2) of the Education Law); unless such area falls within the boundaries of a private home or property, in which case, the prohibition shall not apply within the boundaries of such home or property.
Marketing of Electronic Cigarettes to Minors (S1223 Senator Akshar / A8014 Assemblymember Rosenthal): This bill prohibits the distribution of free electronic cigarettes to persons who appear to be less than 25 years old without first demanding proof of identification establishing the recipient is at least 18 years old. This legislation was signed by the Governor on April 18, 2018, and became effective immediately.
Use of Tanning Facilities by Minors (A7218A Assemblymember Jaffee / S5585-A Senator Boyle): Citing evidence that the use of tanning booths before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 59%, squamous cell carcinoma by 67% and basal cell carcinoma by 29%, the Legislature passed this bill to prohibit minors from using indoor tanning facilities, and eliminate the procedures under § 3555(2) of the Public Health Law that currently allow 16 and 17 year olds to access tanning facilities where the facility witnesses a parent or guardian sign a consent form in person at the facility.
Prostate Cancer Screening (S6882A Senator Tedisco / A8683A Assemblymember Gottfried): This bill seeks to eliminate barriers to prostate cancer screening by providing diagnostic screening at no cost to certain populations of men considered to be at risk, and would require the Commissioner of Health to develop and distribute information about these no-cost screenings. More specifically, the bill requires insurance companies to provide diagnostic testing for prostate cancer at no cost to men with a prior history of prostate cancer, to those men who are over 40 with a family history of prostate cancer, and men 50 and over who are asymptomatic. A similar measure was passed in 2015 regarding women’s access to breast cancer screening.
Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Work Group (S7170A Senator Serino / A8900-A Assemblymember Hunter): This bill would create a Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Work Group under the auspices of the Executive. The work group will be made up of the Commissioners of the Department of Health, the Office of Mental Health, and the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Superintendent of Financial Services, six additional members to be appointed by the Governor at his sole discretion, and eight additional members on the recommendation of the Legislature (three by the Temporary President of the Senate, three by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one each by the Senate and Assembly Minority leaders). The membership of the work group must include an infectious disease specialist, general practitioner, mental health practitioner, entomologist, epidemiologist, health insurance representative, and a representative of a tick-borne disease advocacy organization; all of whom must have prior experience working with tick-borne illness.
Any other regulations or guidelines concerning Lyme and tick-borne diseases.
The work group would be required to submit a report detailing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by May 1, 2019.
Lupus Education (A2788B Assemblymember Peoples-Stokes / S5489-B Senator Parker): This bill would establish the Lupus Education and Prevention Fund, and would allow the fund to be financed by optional contributions through a taxpayer check-off on New York State corporate and personal income tax forms.
Lymphedema Education (A8819B Assemblymember Rosenthal L / S7765-B Senator Golden): The Legislature has expressed concern that despite the fact that lymphedema afflicts 10 million people in the United States, the disease is relatively unknown – even among medical providers. Accordingly, this bill would require every hospital or general hospital to distribute information to patients at high risk of developing lymphedema. The information will assist patients to understand and identify the signs and symptoms of lymphedema and provide instructions on how to seek appropriate care.
Have had corrective surgical procedures performed that may have interfered with the lymph drainage by severing local lymphatics in a manner that may jeopardize reconstitution and recovery of lymph drainage.
Lead Poisoning (S7295 Senator Alcantara / A8992 Assemblymember Dinowitz): Section § 1373 of the Public Health Law permits the Commissioner of Health to designate any geographic area within the State as having a high risk of lead contamination, and upon written notice, may demand that lead abatement be conducted on any building within such area within a specified time period. This bill amends § 1373 to also allow the Commissioner of Health to “take enforcement action as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner or his or her representative” in the event that such abatement is not undertaken. Formal action may include a formal hearing and/or penalties not to exceed $500. This bill was signed by the Governor on April 18, 2018.
Testing for Cytomegalovirus in Newborns (A587C Assemblymember Rosenthal / S2816-B Senator Hannon): Cytomegalovirus is four times more prevalent than Zika virus in the United States and is the leading non-genetic cause of deafness in children. Parents infected with the disease may not show any signs or symptoms, making it difficult to prevent the passing of this infection to their newborn babies. This bill seeks to prevent the spread of this virus by educating pregnant women regarding the manner in which the disease is transmitted, and promote earlier detection of the disease in infants by requiring infants suspected of having hearing impairment to undergo a urine polymerase chain reaction test, unless the parent objects.
New Born Safe Sleep Study (S7408 Senator Hannon / A8957 Assemblymember Simotas): This bill makes technical amendments to Chapter 401 of the Laws of 2017, which established the Newborn Health and Safe Sleep Pilot Program under the Department of Health (DOH). This pilot program would have required the Department of Health to provide baby sleeping boxes in areas of NYS with high infant mortality rates or poor birth outcomes. However, the 2018 bill instead amends § 2508 of the Public Health Law to require the Department of Health, in consultation with health care providers, hospitals, safe sleep product manufacturers, provider groups, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and other interested parties to conduct a study on the effectiveness of existing safe sleep practices that reduce infant mortality rates, as well as review baby boxes and other products designed to encourage safe and healthy sleeping among infants. The Department will be required to utilize the study to conduct a pilot program aimed at improving caregiver education and continued safe sleep practices in counties or areas with high infant mortality rates, and to pursue public private partnerships and funding opportunities to obtain donations for these purposes. This legislation was signed into law by the Governor on April 18, 2018.
Blood Drive Support (A2381 Assemblymember Gottfried / S2701 Senator Parker): This bill would authorize the Commissioner of Health to issue grants to not-for-profits and elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools to help pay for the costs of conducting local blood drives. This legislation was also passed by the Legislature in 2015 but was vetoed by the Governor due to the “increased and unbudgeted costs” the measure would inflict on the Department of Health. This version of this bill is exactly the same as the prior version.
Physical Fitness Education Campaign (A4426 Assemblymember Cusick / S8716 Senator Sepulveda): In an attempt to reduce the public health costs associated with obesity and obesity related illness (estimated to be $117 billion annually nationwide), this bill would create the New York Physical Fitness and Activity Education Campaign to increase awareness regarding the health and economic problems associated with obesity and to promote recreational and physical fitness activities within the State. The Campaign would utilize social and mass media, including the internet, radio, and print advertising and recruit public ambassadors to promote the message, including professional and amateur athletes, fitness experts, and celebrities. The Campaign would focus on seniors, youth, and other populations at high-risk for obesity.
Emerging Contaminant Education (S6655 Senator Hannon / A10927 Assemblymember Gottfried): As part of the 2017-18 Enacted Budget, the Department of Health was instructed to create certain information and educational materials related to emerging contaminates and notification levels for emerging contaminants within the public water system. Emerging contaminants are defined as any physical, chemical, microbiological or radiological substance listed as an emerging contaminant pursuant to §1112 (3) (c) of the Public Health Law. The current list of contaminants includes: 1,4-dioxane, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and perfluorooctanoic acid. This bill would build on the former educational material requirements to direct the Department to post this information on their website so it is easily accessible to the public and public water systems.
If you have any questions concerning the foregoing legislation, please do not hesitate to contact Farrell Fritz’s Regulatory & Government Relations Practice Group at 518.313.1450 or NYSRGR@FarrellFritz.com.

References: § 201
 § 253
 § 3555
 § 1373
 § 1373
 § 2508
 §1112