Makes an appropriation to the Children's Environmental Health Centers for the purposes of services and expenses of Children's Environmental Health Centers.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7885
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 7, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SWEENEY, GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Ways and Means
AN ACT making an appropriation for Children's Environmental Health
Centers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds and declares
2 that it is the policy of the state of New York to assure that every
3 child has access to quality health care in relation to potential
4 disease, disability and injury related to environmental toxins and other
5 environmental threats to health. The legislature further declares that
6 prevention of disability, disease and injury attributable to environ-
7 mental causes is far preferable to children suffering from toxic expo-
8 sures. The incidence of children's acquired neurological disability,
9 such as autism, learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivi-
10 ty disorder, and serious acquired illness, such as asthma, obesity,
11 diabetes and childhood cancer, are growing at an alarming rate. Many
12 cases of these diseases have been linked to harmful exposures in the
13 environment. Not only does each of these cases cause incalculable pain
14 and suffering for these children, their families and their communities,
15 but additionally these diseases cost New York state an estimated $6
16 billion each year.
17 Many medical practitioners seek the assistance and guidance of physi-
18 cians with expertise in the identification and treatment of childhood
19 ailments of environmental origin, but find that a coordinated and
20 comprehensive system of environmental health centers is lacking in New
21 York state.
22 Further, parents, schools, day-care centers, preschools and many
23 others in the community seek authoritative and expert information
24 concerning possible toxins, yet find that such coordinated and compre-
25 hensive expertise is similarly lacking in New York state's communities.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11305-02-3
A. 7885 2
1 § 2. The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or so much thereof as
2 may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Children's Environmental
3 Health Centers out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general
4 fund to the credit of the state purposes account, not otherwise appro-
5 priated, and made immediately available, for the services and expenses
6 of Children's Environmental Health Centers on the audit and warrant of
7 the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by Children's Environ-
8 mental Health Centers in the manner provided by law.
9 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.