Enacts the "Shepherd Patterson notification act"; requires a physician who treats a minor patient with a medical condition that may cause a disability to provide certain educational information to such patient's parents or guardians indicating such minor is entitled to a free and appropriate public education as defined under section five hundred four of the federal rehabilitation act of nineteen hundred seventy-three; makes related provisions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4903--B
Cal. No. 975
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. HARCKHAM, ADDABBO, CLEARE, FERNANDEZ, MAYER, MYRIE,
RIVERA, ROLISON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to
be committed to the Committee on Health -- recommitted to the Commit-
tee on Health in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered
to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and
ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring a physi-
cian who treats a minor patient with a medical condition to provide
certain educational information to such patient's parents or guardians
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Shepherd
2 Patterson notification act of 2026".
3 § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2500-n
4 to read as follows:
5 § 2500-n. Information on education accommodations for a minor patient
6 with a medical condition that may cause a disability. 1. On or before
7 July first, two thousand twenty-six, the department, in consultation
8 with the department of education, shall develop an informational elec-
9 tronic notice and resource for practitioners to provide to the parents
10 or guardians of a patient under the age of eighteen with a medical
11 condition that may create a disability for the patient as defined under
12 section five hundred four of the federal rehabilitation act of nineteen
13 hundred seventy-three. Such electronic notice shall indicate that such
14 minor may be entitled to a free and appropriate public education as
15 defined under section five hundred four of the federal rehabilitation
16 act of nineteen hundred seventy-three, as amended, which may include
17 accommodations for the delivery of programs and services for eligible
18 students with disabilities. Such written information shall also state
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09303-04-6
S. 4903--B 2
1 that the parent, guardian, or person in a parental relationship with the
2 patient should contact their school to discuss possible accommodations
3 for the patient and the benefits of sharing potentially life-saving
4 emergency medical information with school personnel.
5 2. The department shall ensure that such electronic notice is made
6 available through a secure electronic portal and is provided to the
7 parent or guardian at the time of patient consent for treatment or diag-
8 nosis. Proof of access or acknowledgment through the portal shall satis-
9 fy the requirements of this section.
10 3. A practitioner shall provide the parent and/or guardian of the
11 patient with the informational electronic notice and resource developed
12 pursuant to this section.
13 4. The electronic portal may include links to relevant state and
14 federal resources, including but not limited to special education
15 services, early intervention programs, procedural safeguards, and parent
16 advocacy supports.
17 5. The department shall ensure that the electronic notice is accessi-
18 ble, including the provision of language access services and accommo-
19 dations for individuals with disabilities, consistent with state and
20 federal accessibility standards.
21 6. For purposes of this section, "practitioner" means a health care
22 professional licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to practice
23 under the education law, acting within the scope of practice.
24 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
25 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
26 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
27 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
28 completed on or before such effective date.
