Requires pharmacies to provide prescription drug readers or other means of access to individuals who disclose they have difficulty seeing or reading standard print labels on prescription drug containers; defines "prescription drug reader" to mean a device which is capable of audibly conveying information contained on the label of a prescription drug; makes exceptions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4039
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. McDONALD -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to prescription drug
label accessibility
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6810-a
2 to read as follows:
3 § 6810-a. Prescription drug label accessibility. 1. All pharmacies
4 with the exception of those cited in subdivision three of this section
5 shall provide prescription drug readers or other means of access to
6 individuals who disclose they have difficulty seeing or reading standard
7 print labels on prescription drug containers. For the purposes of this
8 section, "prescription drug reader" shall mean a device which is capable
9 of audibly conveying information contained on the label of a
10 prescription drug.
11 2. This section shall require pharmacies to:
12 (a) Ensure the prescription drug reader is dispensed for at least the
13 duration of the individual's prescription;
14 (b) Ensure the prescription drug reader comes at no additional cost to
15 the individual;
16 (c) Make sustained, periodic and reasonable efforts to inform the
17 general public that prescription drug label information is available in
18 alternative accessible formats;
19 (d) Make sustained, periodic and reasonable efforts to inform individ-
20 uals with prior records of low visibility and blindness that
21 prescription drug readers or other means of access are available in
22 alternative accessible formats; and
23 (e) Consult best practice standards established by the U.S. Access
24 Board.
25 3. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05311-01-5
A. 4039 2
1 (a) A pharmacy which operates as a sole proprietorship;
2 (b) A pharmacy located in a correctional facility; or
3 (c) A pharmacy occupied by a government entity.
4 4. The state board of pharmacy shall adopt any rules or regulations
5 necessary for implementation of this section no later than December
6 thirty-first, two thousand twenty-seven.
7 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
