NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5869
SPONSOR: Ortiz TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law and the agricul-
ture and markets law, in relation to establishing a state diabetes coor-
dinator within the department of health
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill seeks to address the growing epidemic of diabetes in New York
State by establishing within the Department of Health a State Diabetes
Coordinator to advise the Commissioner on ways to improve the quality of
life, save money for taxpayers and patients and ultimately save lives by
reducing the rates of diabetes and its complications.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Article 2 of the public health law is amended by adding a new title 6.
Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 45.
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently there are approximately 1,862,000 people living with diabetes
in New York State. This represents almost a 50 percent increase since
2000. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one
in three born in 2000 will develop diabetes - and this number increases
to one in two among minority populations. The amount of severe compli-
cations associated with diabetes highlights the serious nature of this
disease. These complications include: heart disease, stroke, high blood
pressure, blindness, kidney disease, nervous system damage, amputation,
dental disease, pregnancy complication and sexual dysfunction. The mone-
tary and emotional costs of this illness are felt throughout New York.
Approximately 200,000 people die from complications of this illness each
year and it is estimated that yearly costs to treat those affected with
this illness is approximately $13.1 billion.
Future projections estimate that by 2025, the number of New York citi-
zens with diabetes will increase to 3,139,000. As the number of people
afflicted with diabetes increases the costs for treatment of this
illness and its complication will also increase. It is estimated that in
2025, treatment costs will rise to $22 billion statewide.
A State Diabetes Coordinator will provide necessary leadership to effi-
ciently and effectively maximize resources allocated for diabetes
prevention and treatment. A State Diabetes Coordinator will update and
modernize diabetes efforts throughout the state, ultimately saving lives
and money of New York citizens.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2007/08 - A10443 - Referred to Health
2009/10 - A6949 - Referred to Health 2011/12 - A4272 - Ref to Ways and
Means
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: Unknown.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5869
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 7, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law and the agriculture and markets
law, in relation to establishing a state diabetes coordinator within
the department of health
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Article 2 of the public health law is amended by adding a
2 new title 6 to read as follows:
3 TITLE VI
4 STATE DIABETES COORDINATOR
5 Section 267. State diabetes coordinator.
6 267-a. Duties.
7 267-b. Reports.
8 § 267. State diabetes coordinator. There is hereby established within
9 the department a state diabetes coordinator. The state diabetes coordi-
10 nator shall be appointed by the commissioner in consultation with the
11 governor, or designee of the governor. The state diabetes coordinator
12 shall report directly to the commissioner in carrying out the provisions
13 of this title.
14 § 267-a. Duties. The state diabetes coordinator shall have the follow-
15 ing duties:
16 1. to serve as the principal advisor to the commissioner on methods,
17 procedures and other actions available to reduce the incidence of
18 diabetes and its complications, to improve the quality of life for
19 persons with diabetes and to reduce the costs associated with the treat-
20 ment of diabetes paid by persons with diabetes and by the state;
21 2. to develop a reliable measurement for the incidence of persons with
22 diabetes within the state;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09610-01-3
A. 5869 2
1 3. to develop and coordinate the implementation of a statewide strate-
2 gy to reduce the incidence, progression and impact of diabetes and its
3 complications within the state;
4 4. to provide leadership and coordination between governmental agen-
5 cies and across public and private sectors to ensure that diabetes
6 related programs and policies of the department are coordinated both
7 within the department and with programs and policies of federal, state
8 and local agencies with the goals of avoiding duplication of effort,
9 maximizing the impact of such programs and policies and marshalling all
10 government resources toward the common objective of reducing the inci-
11 dence of diabetes and its complications; and
12 5. to coordinate public and private resources to develop and direct a
13 public awareness campaign regarding the prevention and control of
14 diabetes and its complications.
15 § 267-b. Reports. 1. Not later than one year after the effective date
16 of this title, the commissioner, in consultation with the state diabetes
17 coordinator, shall report to the governor and the legislature on a state
18 strategy to reduce the incidence, progression and impact of diabetes and
19 its complications within the state.
20 2. Not later than one year after the effective date of this title, the
21 commissioner of agriculture and markets, in consultation with the state
22 diabetes coordinator, shall report to the governor and the legislature
23 on the ways in which food programs and nutritional support can be better
24 targeted at concerns specific to persons at risk for diabetes and to
25 persons already diagnosed with diabetes whose complications from
26 diabetes may be reduced with diet.
27 3. The commissioner, in consultation with the state diabetes coordina-
28 tor, shall submit biennial reports to the governor and the legislature
29 on the impact and progress that the policies and programs set forth in
30 this title have made on the reduction of the incidence of diabetes and
31 its complications within the state. The first biennial report required
32 by this subdivision shall be made not later than three years after the
33 effective date of this title.
34 § 2. Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by
35 adding a new subdivision 45 to read as follows:
36 45. Report to the governor and the legislature pursuant to subdivision
37 two of section two hundred sixty-seven-b of the public health law.
38 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
