Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/S2816
Timestamp: 2019-07-17 04:34:28
Document Index: 611868677

Matched Legal Cases: ['§2500', '§  2', '§  2500', '§ 3', '§ 2500', '§  3', '§  2']

NY State Senate Bill S2816B
senate Bill S2816B
Requires urine polymerase chain reaction testing for cytomegalovirus of newborns with hearing impairments
Archive: Last Bill Status Via A587 - Signed by Governor
Get Status Alerts for S2816B
view actions (25)
Oct 02, 2018 signed chap.307
Jun 04, 2018 returned to assembly
3rd reading cal.1230
substituted for s2816b
Jun 04, 2018 substituted by a587c
May 15, 2018 1st report cal.1230
Mar 22, 2018 print number 2816b
Mar 22, 2018 amend and recommit to finance
Feb 27, 2018 reported and committed to finance
Jan 12, 2018 print number 2816a
Jan 12, 2018 amend and recommit to health
Jun 14, 2017 referred to health
Mar 20, 2017 advanced to third reading
Mar 15, 2017 2nd report cal.
Mar 13, 2017 1st report cal.411
A587C
S2816B
Feb 27, 2018 - Health committee Vote
S2816A
Committee Vote: Feb 27, 2018
Mar 14, 2017 - Health committee Vote
Committee Vote: Mar 14, 2017
S2816 - Details
Amd §§2500-a & 207, Pub Health L
S2816 - Summary
Requires urine polymerase chain reaction testing for cytomegalovirus of newborns with hearing impairments; and directs the department of health to establish an education program for women who may become pregnant, expectant parents and parents of infants relating to various aspects of cytomegalovirus.
S2816 - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:  S2816
to the testing of certain newborns for cytomegalovirus and public
education thereon
To provide testing for CMV if a newborn infant is identified as or
suspected of having a hearing impairment as well as to promote public
awareness and education of CMV.
Section 1 amends section 2500-a of the Public Health Law to require
that any newborn identified as or suspected of having a hearing
impairment be tested for cytomegalovirus unless a parent of the
newborn infant objects.
Section 2 adds section 2500-1 to the Public Health Law entitled
Cytomegalovirus Public Education. Subdivision (1) requires the
Department of Health to develop and publish informational materials
for women who may become pregnant, expectant parents and parents of
infants regards cytomegalovirus. Subdivision (2) directs the DOH to
publish the information required under section (1) to its internet
website and distribute information regarding birth defects, treatment
and resources to all hospitals performing cytomegalovirus testing
pursuant to public health law section 2500-a. Subdivision (3) allows
the Department to establish rules to implement the purpose of this
Section 3 provides an immediate effective date.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital viral infection
and the leading non-genetic cause of deafness in children. Although
most CMV infections are silent, meaning the majority of people who are
infected with CMV have no signs or symptoms and while there are no
harmful side effects, its effects can be devastating to a fetus.
Every year, 20,000 to 40,000 infants are born with CMV and roughly 400
children die from CMV annually. Congenital CMV infection is largely
undetected because the majority of infants are asymptomatic at birth.
At least 20 percent (up to 8,000) infants have or develop permanent
disabilities, such as hearing loss, microcephaly, intellectual
deficits and vision abnormalities. While such cases are fortunately
relatively rare, CMV is four times more prevalent than Zika in the
U.S. and the state has spent millions to fight Zika.
CMV is transmitted by contact with saliva and urine-often from diaper
wearing children to adults. Pregnant women often get CMV from their
toddlers, especially toddlers in day care, as nearly one in three
children are infected by age five. Significantly, the American College
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists used to encourage counseling for
pregnant women on how to avoid CMV but last year, the college reversed
course claiming that patient instruction remains unproven as a method
to reduce the risk of congenital CMV infection.  However, it is hard
for mothers to protect themselves from a virus carried by the children
they care for, especially if they are unaware of the virus
itself--less than one in five pregnant women are aware of
cytomegalovirus. Few women are warned about this infection and
according to a federal survey, less than half of
obstetrician-gynecologists tell pregnant patients how to avoid CMV.
Researchers say that pregnant women do not worry about CMV only
because they do not know about it, which is why it is crucial for
women who are pregnant or may become pregnant to be aware of available
preventative measures, such as not sharing food with toddlers.
This legislation aims to raise public awareness and reduce the
transmission of CMV to a woman from a toddler by educating women about
the virus itself and simple preventative measures, such as washing
ones hands after changing infants and toddlers diapers. This
legislation also aims to promote earlier detection of CMV in infants
who are identified or suspected of having a hearing impairment. A test
for CMV can be done immediately upon receiving the results from the
newborn-infant hearing screening, which typically occurs at a facility
before a newborn is discharged. Significantly, infants who receive a
timely diagnosis can be given hearing aids or access to
early-intervention programs to have the best chance of learning to
talk. A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine last
year found that infants with CMV symptoms at birth who took an
antiviral drug for six months had moderately better hearing at 2 years
compared with newborns who took it for six weeks (see
http://www.nejm.org/doifful1/10.1056/NEJMoa1404599#t=article). Recent
evidence suggests that routine screening of newborns could allow
infected infants to receive consistent monitoring and treatment if
necessary, ultimately increasing his/her chance of optimize d
developmental care. This act is aimed at making parents aware of what
their options are if their child is determined to have CMV.
In 2013, the Utah legislature passed the Cytomegalovirus Public Health
Initiative, which requires CMV screening of newborns who did not pass
hearing tests. Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Texas and Tennessee
subsequently followed suit. Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina and Wyoming are currently working through similar
S2816 - Bill Text download pdf
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation  to  the  testing  of
certain newborns for cytomegalovirus and public education thereon
Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 2500-a of the public health law,
as amended by chapter 184 of the laws of 2013, is  amended  to  read  as
(a) It shall be the duty of the administrative officer or other person
in  charge  of  each institution caring for infants twenty-eight days or
less of age and the person required in pursuance of  the  provisions  of
section  forty-one  hundred thirty of this chapter to register the birth
of a child, to cause to have administered to every such infant or  child
in  its  or  his care a test for phenylketonuria, homozygous sickle cell
disease, hypothyroidism, branched-chain ketonuria,  galactosemia,  homo-
cystinuria,  critical  congenital  heart  defects through pulse oximetry
screening, AND WITH REGARD TO ANY NEWBORN INFANT WHO IS  IDENTIFIED  AS,
OR  SUSPECTED OF, HAVING A HEARING IMPAIRMENT AS A RESULT OF A SCREENING
CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED-G OF THIS TITLE, CAUSE
TO BE ADMINISTERED TO SUCH INFANT A TEST FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRUS, UNLESS THE
PARENT OF THE INFANT OBJECTS THERETO, and such other diseases and condi-
tions as may from time to time be  designated  by  the  commissioner  in
accordance  with  rules  or  regulations prescribed by the commissioner.
Testing, the recording of the results of such tests, tracking, follow-up
reviews and educational activities shall be performed at such times  and
in such manner as may be prescribed by the commissioner. The commission-
er shall promulgate regulations setting forth the manner in which infor-
mation describing the purposes of the requirements of this section shall
be disseminated to parents or a guardian of the infant tested.
LBD05326-02-7
S. 2816                             2
§  2.  The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2500-1
§  2500-1.  CYTOMEGALOVIRUS  PUBLIC EDUCATION. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
DEVELOP AND PUBLISH INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS FOR  WOMEN  WHO  MAY  BECOME
PREGNANT, EXPECTANT PARENTS AND PARENTS OF INFANTS REGARDING:
(A) THE INCIDENCE OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS;
(B)  THE  TRANSMISSION  AND RISKS OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS TO PREGNANT WOMEN
AND WOMEN WHO MAY BECOME PREGNANT;
(C) BIRTH DEFECTS CAUSED BY CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS;
(D) METHODS OF DIAGNOSING CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS;
(E) THE AVAILABLE PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID THE INFECTION OF  WOMEN
WHO ARE PREGNANT OR MAY BECOME PREGNANT; AND
(F) AVAILABLE METHODS OF TREATING CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AND RESOURCES AVAIL-
ABLE FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN BORN WITH CYTOMEGALOVIRUS.
2.  THE  DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBLISH THE INFORMATION REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION ON ITS INTERNET WEBSITE, AND  DISTRIBUTE
INFORMATION  REGARDING  BIRTH  DEFECTS,  TREATMENT  AND RESOURCES TO ALL
HOSPITALS PERFORMING CYTOMEGALOVIRUS TESTING PURSUANT TO  SECTION  TWEN-
TY-FIVE HUNDRED-A OF THIS TITLE.
3.  THE  DEPARTMENT  MAY PROMULGATE RULES TO IMPLEMENT THE PURPOSES OF
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; except that  section  one
of  this act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective  immediately,
sary for the implementation of section one of this act on its  effective
S2816A - Details
S2816A - Summary
S2816A - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S2816A
the testing of certain newborns for cytomegalovirus and public education
Section 1 amends section 2500-a of the Public Health Law to require that
any newborn identified as or suspected of having a hearing impairment be
tested for cytomegalovirus unless a parent of the newborn infant
Section 2 adds section 2500-1 to the Public Health Law entitled Cytome-
galovirus Public Education. Subdivision (1) requires the Department of
Health to develop and publish informational materials for women who may
become pregnant, expectant parents and parents of infants regards cyto-
megalovirus. Subdivision (2) directs the DOH to publish the information
required under section (1) to its internet website and distribute infor-
mation regarding birth defects, treatment and resources to all hospitals
performing cytomegalovirus testing pursuant to public health law section
2500-a. Subdivision (3) allows the Department to establish rules to
implement the purpose of this section.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital viral infection and
the leading non-genetic cause of deafness in children. Although most CMV
infections are silent, meaning the majority of people who are infected
with CMV have no signs or symptoms and while there are no harmful side
effects, its effects can be devastating to a fetus.  Every year, 20,000
to 40,000 infants are born with CMV and roughly 400 children die from
CMV annually. Congenital CMV infection is largely undetected because the
majority of infants are asymptomatic at birth. At least 20 percent (up
to 8,000) infants have or develop permanent disabilities, such as hear-
ing loss, microcephaly, intellectual deficits and vision abnormalities.
While such cases are fortunately relatively rare, CMV is four times more
prevalent than Zika in the U.S. and the state has spent millions to
fight Zika.
toddlers, especially toddlers in day care, as nearly one in three chil-
dren are infected by age five. Significantly, the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists used to encourage counseling for preg-
nant women on how to avoid CMV but last year, the college reversed
course claiming that patient instruction remains unproven as a method to
reduce the risk of congenital CMV infection.  However, it is hard for
mothers to protect themselves from a virus carried by the children they
care for, especially if they are unaware of the virus itself--less than
one in five pregnant women are aware of cytomegalovirus. Few women are
warned about this infection and according to a federal survey, less than
half of obstetrician-gynecologists tell pregnant patients how to avoid
CMV.  Researchers say that pregnant women do not worry about CMV only
because they do not know about it, which is why it is crucial for women
who are pregnant or may become pregnant to be aware of available preven-
tative measures, such as not sharing food with toddlers.
This legislation aims to raise public awareness and reduce the trans-
mission of CMV to a woman from a toddler by educating women about the
virus itself and simple preventative measures, such as washing ones
hands after changing infants and toddlers diapers. This legislation also
aims to promote earlier detection of CMV in infants who are identified
or suspected of having a hearing impairment. A test for CMV can be done
immediately upon receiving the results from the newborn-infant hearing
screening, which typically occurs at a facility before a newborn is
discharged. Significantly, infants who receive a timely diagnosis can be
given hearing aids or access to early-intervention programs to have the
best chance of learning to talk. A study published in The New England
Journal of Medicine last year found that infants with CMV symptoms at
birth who took an antiviral drug for six months had moderately better
hearing at 2 years compared with newborns who took it for six weeks (see
http://www.nejm.org/doilii11/10.1056/NEIMoa140459544-article). Recent
necessary, ultimately increasing his/her chance of optimize d develop-
mental care. This act is aimed at making parents aware of what their
options are if their child is determined to have CMV.
hearing tests. Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Texas and Tennessee subse-
quently followed suit. Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina and Wyoming are currently working through similar legislation.
S2816A - Bill Text download pdf
2816--A
Introduced  by  Sens.  HANNON,  AVELLA, SAVINO -- read twice and ordered
AN  ACT  to  amend  the public health law, in relation to the testing of
as  amended  by  chapter  184 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as
in charge of each institution caring for infants  twenty-eight  days  or
less  of  age  and the person required in pursuance of the provisions of
section forty-one hundred thirty of this chapter to register  the  birth
of  a child, to cause to have administered to every such infant or child
in its or his care a test for phenylketonuria,  homozygous  sickle  cell
disease,  hypothyroidism,  branched-chain ketonuria, galactosemia, homo-
cystinuria, critical congenital heart  defects  through  pulse  oximetry
screening,  AND  WITH REGARD TO ANY NEWBORN INFANT WHO IS IDENTIFIED AS,
OR SUSPECTED OF, HAVING A HEARING IMPAIRMENT AS A RESULT OF A  SCREENING
TO  BE  ADMINISTERED  TO  SUCH  INFANT A URINE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
(PCR) TEST FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRUS, UNLESS THE PARENT OF THE INFANT  OBJECTS
THERETO, and such other diseases and conditions as may from time to time
be  designated  by  the  commissioner  in accordance with rules or regu-
lations prescribed by the commissioner. Testing, the  recording  of  the
results  of  such  tests,  tracking,  follow-up  reviews and educational
activities shall be performed at such times and in such manner as may be
prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner shall promulgate  regu-
LBD05326-03-7
S. 2816--A                          2
lations  setting  forth  the  manner in which information describing the
purposes of the requirements of this section shall  be  disseminated  to
parents or a guardian of the infant tested.
§ 2500-1. CYTOMEGALOVIRUS PUBLIC EDUCATION. 1.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL
DEVELOP  AND  PUBLISH  INFORMATIONAL  MATERIALS FOR WOMEN WHO MAY BECOME
(B) THE TRANSMISSION AND RISKS OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS  TO  PREGNANT  WOMEN
(E)  THE AVAILABLE PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID THE INFECTION OF WOMEN
2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBLISH THE INFORMATION REQUIRED  PURSUANT  TO
SUBDIVISION  ONE OF THIS SECTION ON ITS INTERNET WEBSITE, AND DISTRIBUTE
INFORMATION REGARDING BIRTH DEFECTS,  TREATMENT  AND  RESOURCES  TO  ALL
HOSPITALS  PERFORMING  CYTOMEGALOVIRUS TESTING PURSUANT TO SECTION TWEN-
3. THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROMULGATE RULES TO IMPLEMENT  THE  PURPOSES  OF
§  3.  This act shall take effect immediately; except that section one
of this act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after  it
shall  have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately,
sary  for the implementation of section one of this act on its effective
S2816B (ACTIVE) - Details
S2816B (ACTIVE) - Summary
S2816B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S2816B
reduce the risk of congenital CMV infection. However, it is hard for
http://www.nejm.org/doi/ful1/10.1056/NEJMoa14045994-article). Recent
necessary, ultimately increasing his/her chance of optimized develop-
S2816B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
2816--B
Introduced  by  Sens.  HANNON, AVELLA, LARKIN, MARCHIONE, SAVINO -- read
(a)  1.  It  shall  be the duty of the administrative officer or other
person in charge of each institution  caring  for  infants  twenty-eight
days  or  less  of  age  and  the  person  required  in pursuance of the
provisions of section forty-one hundred thirty of this chapter to regis-
ter the birth of a child, to cause to have administered  to  every  such
infant or child in its or his care a test for:
I. phenylketonuria,
II. homozygous sickle cell disease,
III. hypothyroidism,
IV. branched-chain ketonuria,
V. galactosemia,
VI. homocystinuria,
VII.  critical congenital heart defects through pulse oximetry screen-
ing, [and]
VIII. WITH REGARD TO ANY NEWBORN  INFANT  WHO  IS  IDENTIFIED  AS,  OR
SUSPECTED  OF,  HAVING  A  HEARING IMPAIRMENT AS A RESULT OF A SCREENING
LBD05326-04-8
S. 2816--B                          2
TO BE ADMINISTERED TO SUCH INFANT  A  URINE  POLYMERASE  CHAIN  REACTION
(PCR)  TEST FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRUS, UNLESS THE PARENT OF THE INFANT OBJECTS
THERETO;  PROVIDED THAT IF THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES THAT ANOTHER TEST
FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IS DIAGNOSTICALLY EQUIVALENT TO OR BETTER  THAN  THE
URINE  POLYMERASE  CHAIN  REACTION  TEST, THE COMMISSIONER MAY, BY REGU-
LATION UNDER THIS SECTION, ALLOW OR REQUIRE THE USE OF THAT OTHER  TEST,
IX.  such  other  diseases  and conditions as may from time to time be
designated by the commissioner in accordance with rules  or  regulations
2.  Testing,  the  recording  of  the results of such tests, tracking,
follow-up reviews and educational activities shall be performed at  such
times  and  in such manner as may be prescribed by the commissioner. The
commissioner shall promulgate regulations setting forth  the  manner  in
which  information  describing  the purposes of the requirements of this
section shall be disseminated to parents or a  guardian  of  the  infant
§  2. Subdivision 1 of section 207 of the public health law is amended
by adding a new paragraph (o) to read as follows:
(O) FOR WOMEN WHO MAY BECOME PREGNANT, EXPECTANT PARENTS  AND  PARENTS
OF INFANTS, INFORMATION REGARDING:
(I) THE INCIDENCE OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS;
(II)  THE  TRANSMISSION AND RISKS OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS TO PREGNANT WOMEN
(III) BIRTH DEFECTS CAUSED BY CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS;
(IV) METHODS OF DIAGNOSING CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS;
(V) THE AVAILABLE PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID THE INFECTION OF  WOMEN
(VI)  AVAILABLE  METHODS  OF  TREATING  CYTOMEGALOVIRUS  AND RESOURCES
AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN BORN WITH CYTOMEGALOVIRUS.
section  one  of this act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth
day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately,  the  addi-
tion,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
the implementation of section one of this act on its effective date  are