STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1674
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. McMAHON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to Down syndrome
diagnosis awareness
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (h) of subdivision 1 of section 207 of the public
2 health law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the
3 public health law relating to Down syndrome diagnosis awareness, as
4 proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 593-A and A. 4138-A, is amended
5 to read as follows:
6 (h)(i) [A] Down syndrome [awareness program shall be created to
7 provide] including up-to-date and evidence-based information about Down
8 syndrome, [in a written or alternative format to health care providers
9 who order tests for a pregnant woman or an infant to screen for Down
10 syndrome that shall include, but] not [be] limited to[,] the following:
11 (1) expected physical, developmental, educational, and psychosocial
12 outcomes;
13 (2) life expectancy;
14 (3) the clinical course description;
15 (4) expected intellectual and functional development;
16 (5) available intervention or treatment options;
17 (6) information hotlines specific to Down syndrome;
18 (7) relevant resource centers or clearinghouses;
19 (8) national and local Down syndrome organizations; and
20 (9) any other information the department deems necessary.
21 Such information shall be provided electronically through the depart-
22 ment's website.
23 (ii) The commissioner shall (1) examine and utilize existing practices
24 to ensure that the information provided under subparagraph (i) of this
25 paragraph is culturally and linguistically appropriate for all recipi-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02838-01-5
A. 1674 2
1 ents; and (2) meet [annually] with representatives from the Down
2 syndrome community as necessary to ensure such information is current.
3 § 2. Section 2 of a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public
4 health law relating to Down syndrome diagnosis awareness, as proposed in
5 legislative bills numbers S. 593-A and A. 4138-A, is amended to read as
6 follows:
7 § 2. This act shall take effect [immediately] on the one hundred
8 eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
9 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
10 section one of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the
11 same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health
12 law relating to Down syndrome diagnosis awareness, as proposed in legis-
13 lative bills numbers S. 593-A and A. 4138-A, takes effect.