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S08325 Summary:

BILL NOS08325B
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORBYNOE
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §230-f, amd §230, Pub Health L
 
Provides guidelines, corrective actions, and transparency, and reconfigures the composition of committees of professional conduct within the office of professional medical conduct.
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S08325 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         8325--B
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                      June 2, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sen.  BYNOE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be  committed  to  the  Committee  on  Rules  --  committee
          discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
          to  said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Education
          in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee  discharged  and
          said   bill   committed  to  the  Committee  on  Health  --  committee
          discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
          to said committee
 
        AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to  providing  guide-
          lines,  corrective  actions,  and transparency, and to reconfigure the
          composition of committees of professional conduct within the office of
          professional medical conduct
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  Legislative  intent.  On  May 15, 2025, Newsday published
     2  "Broken Practice:  Doctor misconduct on Long Island", a two-year  inves-
     3  tigation  that  found that forty-six doctors on Long Island were allowed
     4  to practice freely for months  or  years  despite  criminal  convictions
     5  including fraud, sexual abuse and the illegal dispensing of opioids.
     6    This legislature finds that the office of professional medical conduct
     7  currently  reviews  complaints  made against physicians to determine the
     8  verity of allegations of professional misconduct. Yet there is currently
     9  no uniform framework established in the law to outline  specific  penal-
    10  ties  or  actions that could be taken following the determination that a
    11  licensee had  violated  professional  misconduct  law.  Therefore,  this
    12  legislature  establishes a uniform set of legal guidelines for penalties
    13  and actions which can be taken  by  any  committee  to  provide  a  more
    14  uniform framework for the provision of justice.
    15    Additionally,  the legislature finds that to ensure a variety of opin-
    16  ions and expertise on the committees which  investigate  allegations  of
    17  professional  misconduct, to include one physician, and two lay members,
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13308-06-6

        S. 8325--B                          2
 
     1  one of whom shall hold a doctoral  degree  and  are  currently  or  have
     2  previously  taught  medicine within an academic institution's department
     3  of medicine or hold a master's in public health.
     4    The  legislature  holds that to increase awareness of such office that
     5  medical facilities should provide contact information and links to  such
     6  office's  website  available  to the patients through printed forms in a
     7  manner deemed fit by the commissioner of health.
     8    Finally, to provide greater transparency to  the  operations  of  such
     9  office,  the legislature shall require final determinations of penalties
    10  or actions against a licensee to be published on  the  office's  website
    11  and  for  notification  to  be  provided  to  the  source of the initial
    12  complaint within ten days of the office making any final determinations.
    13    § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 230-f to
    14  read as follows:
    15    § 230-f. Guidelines for penalties and actions. Pursuant to section two
    16  hundred thirty of this title, any penalty or action against  a  licensee
    17  as  determined  by  the  office  of  professional medical conduct or any
    18  committee thereof shall comply with the  following  maximum  or  minimum
    19  guidelines  for  the  issuance  of  penalties or actions associated with
    20  professional misconduct pursuant to section sixty-five hundred thirty of
    21  the education law or other violations under this section. The office  of
    22  professional  medical  conduct may use its discretion to make exemptions
    23  to this section if an investigation finds there are unusual or  extraor-
    24  dinary  circumstances.  Such  maximum  or minimum guidelines shall be as
    25  follows:
    26    1. For obtaining a license fraudulently, the maximum penalty shall  be
    27  revocation  of  a  license  and the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand
    28  with a suspension of a license for up to  two  years.  Any  fine  issued
    29  shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    30    2. For practicing the profession fraudulently or beyond its authorized
    31  scope,  the  maximum  penalty  shall be revocation of a license, and the
    32  minimum penalty shall be a reprimand with suspension of a license for up
    33  to two years. Any fine  issued  shall  be  no  less  than  ten  thousand
    34  dollars.
    35    3.  For  practicing  the  profession  with negligence on more than one
    36  occasion, the maximum penalty shall be revocation of a license, and  the
    37  minimum  penalty  shall  be suspension of a license for up to two years.
    38  Any fine issued shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    39    4. For practicing the profession with gross negligence on a particular
    40  occasion, the maximum penalty shall be revocation of a license, and  the
    41  minimum  penalty  shall be a reprimand. Any fine issued shall be no less
    42  than ten thousand dollars.
    43    5. For practicing the profession with incompetence on  more  than  one
    44  occasion,  the maximum penalty shall be revocation of a license, and the
    45  minimum penalty shall be suspension of  a  license  until  the  licensee
    46  completes  rehabilitation  to  the  satisfaction  of the board. Any fine
    47  issued shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    48    6. For practicing the profession with gross incompetence, the  maximum
    49  penalty  shall  be revocation of a license and the minimum penalty shall
    50  be suspension of a license until the licensee  completes  rehabilitation
    51  to  the satisfaction of the board. Any fine issued shall be no less than
    52  ten thousand dollars.
    53    7. For practicing the profession while  impaired  by  alcohol,  drugs,
    54  physical  disability, or mental disability, the maximum penalty shall be
    55  the revocation of a license, and the minimum penalty shall be suspension
    56  of a license until the licensee completes rehabilitation to  the  satis-

        S. 8325--B                          3
 
     1  faction  of  the board. Any fine issued shall be no more than five thou-
     2  sand dollars.
     3    8.  For being a habitual abuser of alcohol, or being dependent on or a
     4  habitual user of narcotics, barbiturates,  amphetamines,  hallucinogens,
     5  or  other  drugs  having  similar  effects, except for a licensee who is
     6  maintained on an approved therapeutic regimen which does not impair  the
     7  ability to practice, or having a psychiatric condition which impairs the
     8  licensee's ability to practice, the maximum penalty shall be the revoca-
     9  tion  of  a  license, and the minimum penalty shall be a suspension of a
    10  license until the licensee completes rehabilitation to the  satisfaction
    11  of  the  board.  Any  fine  issued  shall  be  no less than ten thousand
    12  dollars.
    13    9. For being convicted of committing an act constituting a crime under
    14  New York state law or federal law, the penalty shall be determined based
    15  on the severity and classification of the crime the  licensee  had  been
    16  convicted  of unless otherwise noted, and in accordance with the follow-
    17  ing:
    18    (a) For violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the maximum
    19  penalty shall be revocation of a license, the minimum penalty  shall  be
    20  the  limitation  of the license to a specified area or type of practice.
    21  Any fines issued shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    22    (b) For licensees who are  convicted  of  illegal  distribution  of  a
    23  controlled  substance,  the  maximum  penalty  shall  be revocation of a
    24  license, the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand and a suspension of  a
    25  license  for  up  to three years. Any fines issued shall be no less than
    26  ten thousand dollars.
    27    10. For being convicted of committing  an  act  constituting  a  crime
    28  under  the  law  of  another jurisdiction and which, if committed within
    29  this state, would have constituted a crime under  New  York  state  law,
    30  discretion  as  to  the  penalties and actions taken shall be determined
    31  based on the severity and classification of the crime the  licensee  has
    32  been  convicted  of.  If  the  licensee  has  had  their medical license
    33  revoked, suspended or has had other disciplinary action  issued  against
    34  them  in  another  jurisdiction then such disciplinary penalty or action
    35  shall be equal or equivalent unless otherwise noted.   Any fines  issued
    36  shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    37    11.  For  refusing to provide professional service to a person because
    38  of such person's race, creed, color  or  national  origin,  the  maximum
    39  penalty  shall be revocation of a license, and the minimum penalty shall
    40  be a suspension of a license. Any fines issued shall  be  no  less  than
    41  five thousand dollars and no more than ten thousand dollars.
    42    12. For permitting, aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to perform
    43  activities  requiring a license, the maximum penalty shall be suspension
    44  of a license for up to one year and  the  minimum  penalty  shall  be  a
    45  reprimand.  Any fines issued shall be no more than five thousand dollars
    46  and no less than one thousand dollars.
    47    13. For practicing the profession while the license  is  suspended  or
    48  inactive as defined in subdivision thirteen of section two hundred thir-
    49  ty  of  this  title, for violating any term of probation or condition or
    50  limitation imposed on the licensee pursuant to section two hundred thir-
    51  ty of this title, or for willfully failing to  register  or  notify  the
    52  department of education of any change of name or mailing address, or, if
    53  a  professional  service  corporation,  willfully failing to comply with
    54  sections fifteen hundred three and fifteen hundred fourteen of the busi-
    55  ness corporation law, or, if a university faculty  practice  corporation
    56  willfully  failing to comply with paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of section

        S. 8325--B                          4
 
     1  fifteen hundred three and section fifteen hundred fourteen of the  busi-
     2  ness  corporation  law,  the  maximum  penalty  shall be suspension of a
     3  license for up to one year and the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand.
     4  Any fine issued shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
     5    14.  For  a  willful  violation by a licensee of subdivision eleven of
     6  section two hundred thirty of the public health law, the  penalty  shall
     7  be  revocation  of  a license. Any fine issued shall be no less than ten
     8  thousand dollars.
     9    15. For a violation of section two hundred thirty-nine of this article
    10  by a professional, or for a violation of  section  twenty-eight  hundred
    11  three-d,  twenty-eight hundred five-k, or subparagraph (ii) of paragraph
    12  (h) of subdivision ten of section two hundred thirty  of  this  chapter,
    13  the  maximum  penalty  shall  be revocation of a license and the minimum
    14  penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fine issued shall be no less than  ten
    15  thousand dollars.
    16    16. For failure to comply with an order issued pursuant to subdivision
    17  seven,  paragraph  (a)  of  subdivision ten, or subdivision seventeen of
    18  section two hundred thirty of this title, the maximum penalty  shall  be
    19  revocation  of  a  license,  and  the minimum penalty shall be a written
    20  reprimand. Any fine issued under a penalty or action under this subdivi-
    21  sion shall be no less than one thousand dollars and  no  more  than  ten
    22  thousand dollars.
    23    17. For a willful or grossly negligent failure to comply with substan-
    24  tial  provisions of federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations
    25  governing the practice of medicine, the maximum penalty shall be revoca-
    26  tion of a license and the minimum  penalty  shall  be  suspension  of  a
    27  license. Any fine issued shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    28    18.  For  exercising  undue  influence  on  the patient, including the
    29  promotion of the sale of services, goods, appliances, or drugs  in  such
    30  manner  as to exploit the patient for the financial gain of the licensee
    31  or of a third party, the maximum penalty shall be suspension for  up  to
    32  five  years,  the  minimum penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fine issued
    33  shall be no more than ten thousand dollars.
    34    19. For  directly  or  indirectly  offering,  giving,  soliciting,  or
    35  receiving  or  agreeing to receive, any fee or other consideration to or
    36  from a third party for the referral of a patient or in  connection  with
    37  the  performance  of  professional services the maximum penalty shall be
    38  revocation of a license and the minimum penalty shall  be  a  reprimand.
    39  Any fines issued shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    40    20.  For  permitting  any person to share in the fees for professional
    41  services, other than: a partner, employee, associate in  a  professional
    42  firm or corporation, professional subcontractor or consultant authorized
    43  to  practice  medicine, or a legally authorized trainee practicing under
    44  the supervision of a licensee, the maximum penalty shall  be  revocation
    45  of  a  license  and  the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fines
    46  issued shall be no less than five thousand dollars.
    47    21. For conduct in the practice  of  medicine  which  evidences  moral
    48  unfitness  to practice medicine, the maximum penalty shall be revocation
    49  of a license and the minimum penalty shall be  a  reprimand.  Any  fines
    50  issued shall be no less than five thousand dollars.
    51    22.  For willfully making or filing a false report, or failing to file
    52  a report required by law or by the department of health or the education
    53  department, or willfully impeding or obstructing such filing, or  induc-
    54  ing  another person to do so, the maximum penalty shall be revocation of
    55  a license, the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand.  Any  fines  issued
    56  shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.

        S. 8325--B                          5
 
     1    23.  For  failing to make available to a patient, upon request, copies
     2  of documents in the possession or under  the  control  of  the  licensee
     3  which  have been prepared for and paid for by the patient or client, the
     4  maximum penalty shall be the suspension of  a  license  for  up  to  six
     5  months,  and  the minimum penalty shall be a written reprimand. Any fine
     6  issued shall be no more than ten thousand dollars.
     7    24. For revealing of personally identifiable facts, data, or  informa-
     8  tion  obtained  in  a professional capacity without the prior consent of
     9  the patient, except as authorized or required by law, the maximum penal-
    10  ty shall be suspension of a license, the  minimum  penalty  shall  be  a
    11  reprimand.  Any  fine  issued shall be no less than one thousand dollars
    12  and no more than ten thousand dollars.
    13    25. For practicing or offering to practice beyond the scope  permitted
    14  by  law, or accepting and performing professional responsibilities which
    15  the licensee knows or has reason to  know  that  such  licensee  is  not
    16  competent to perform, or performing without adequate supervision profes-
    17  sional  services  which the licensee is authorized to perform only under
    18  the supervision of a licensed professional, except in an emergency situ-
    19  ation where a person's life or health is in danger, the maximum  penalty
    20  shall  be revocation of a license, the minimum penalty shall be a repri-
    21  mand. Any fines issued shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    22    26. For delegating professional responsibilities to a person when  the
    23  licensee  delegating  such  responsibilities knows or has reason to know
    24  that such person is not qualified, by training,  by  experience,  or  by
    25  licensure, to perform them, the maximum penalty shall be revocation of a
    26  license,  the  minimum  penalty  shall  be a reprimand. Any fines issued
    27  shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    28    27. For performing professional services  which  have  not  been  duly
    29  authorized  by  the  patient or such patient's legal representative, the
    30  maximum penalty shall be revocation of a license,  the  minimum  penalty
    31  shall  be  a reprimand. Any fines issued shall be no less than ten thou-
    32  sand dollars.
    33    28. For advertising or soliciting for patronage that  is  not  in  the
    34  public  interest  the maximum penalty shall be a reprimand with a tempo-
    35  rary suspension of a license, the minimum penalty shall be a  reprimand.
    36  Any fines issued shall be no more than five thousand dollars.
    37    29.  For  failing  to  respond  within thirty days to written communi-
    38  cations from the department and to make available any  relevant  records
    39  with  respect  to  an  inquiry or complaint about the licensee's profes-
    40  sional misconduct, the maximum penalty shall be revocation of a license,
    41  the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fines issued shall  be  no
    42  more than five thousand dollars.
    43    30.  For  violating  any  term of probation or condition or limitation
    44  imposed on the licensee pursuant to section two hundred thirty  of  this
    45  title,  the  maximum  penalty  shall be revocation of a license, and the
    46  minimum penalty shall be a limitation on registration or issuance of any
    47  further license. Any fines issued shall be no  less  than  ten  thousand
    48  dollars.
    49    31.  For abandoning or neglecting a patient under and in need of imme-
    50  diate professional care, the maximum penalty shall be  revocation  of  a
    51  license,  and the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fines issued
    52  shall be no more than ten thousand dollars.
    53    32. For willfully  harassing,  abusing,  or  intimidating  a  patient,
    54  either  physically  or verbally, the maximum penalty shall be revocation
    55  of a license, and the minimum penalty shall be a  reprimand.  Any  fines
    56  issued shall be no more than ten thousand dollars.

        S. 8325--B                          6
 
     1    33. For failing to maintain a record for each patient which accurately
     2  reflects the evaluation and treatment of the patient, or for not retain-
     3  ing all patient records for at least six years unless otherwise required
     4  by  law,  the  maximum penalty shall be suspension of a license, and the
     5  minimum  penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fines issued shall be no less
     6  than one thousand dollars and no more than ten thousand dollars.
     7    34. For failing to exercise appropriate supervision over  persons  who
     8  are  authorized  to practice only under the supervision of the licensee,
     9  the maximum penalty shall be suspension of a license for up to one year,
    10  and the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fines issued shall  be
    11  no more than ten thousand dollars.
    12    35.  For guaranteeing that satisfaction or a cure will result from the
    13  performance of professional services, the penalty shall be a reprimand.
    14    36. For ordering of excessive tests, treatment, or  use  of  treatment
    15  facilities  not  warranted  by the condition of the patient, the maximum
    16  penalty shall be revocation of a license, and the minimum penalty  shall
    17  be  reprimand.  Any  fines  issued  shall  be  no more than ten thousand
    18  dollars.
    19    37. For claiming or using any secret or special  method  of  treatment
    20  which  the  licensee refused to divulge to the department of health, the
    21  maximum penalty shall be revocation of a license, and the minimum penal-
    22  ty shall be reprimand.  Any fines issued shall be no more than ten thou-
    23  sand dollars.
    24    38. For failing to wear an identifying badge, which shall be conspicu-
    25  ously displayed and legible,  indicating  the  practitioner's  name  and
    26  professional  title  authorized pursuant to title eight of the education
    27  law, while practicing as an employee or operator of a hospital,  clinic,
    28  group practice or multi-professional facility, or at a commercial estab-
    29  lishment  offering health services to the public, the penalty shall be a
    30  reprimand. Any fines issued shall be no more than one thousand dollars.
    31    39. For entering into an arrangement or agreement with a pharmacy  for
    32  the   compounding   and/or  dispensing  of  coded  or  specially  marked
    33  prescriptions, the maximum penalty shall be revocation of a license, and
    34  the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fine issued  shall  be  no
    35  less than five thousand dollars.
    36    40. For failing to post conspicuously at the site of such practice the
    37  name  and licensure field of all of the principal professional licensees
    38  engaged in the practice at that  site,  the  maximum  penalty  shall  be
    39  suspension  of  a  license and the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand.
    40  Any fines issued shall be no more than ten thousand dollars.
    41    41. For failing to provide access  by  qualified  persons  to  patient
    42  information  in accordance with the standards set forth in section eigh-
    43  teen of this chapter, the maximum  penalty  shall  be  suspension  of  a
    44  license  and  the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fines issued
    45  shall be no less than one thousand dollars and no more than ten thousand
    46  dollars.
    47    42. For knowingly or willfully performing a complete or partial autop-
    48  sy on a deceased person without lawful authority,  the  maximum  penalty
    49  shall  be  a  suspension of a license and the minimum penalty shall be a
    50  reprimand. Any fines issued shall be no less than one  thousand  dollars
    51  and no more than ten thousand dollars.
    52    43. For failing to comply with a signed agreement to practice medicine
    53  in New York state in an area designated by the commissioner of education
    54  as  having  a shortage of physicians or refusing to repay medical educa-
    55  tion costs in lieu of such required service, or failing to  comply  with
    56  any  provision of a written agreement with the state or any municipality

        S. 8325--B                          7

     1  within which the licensee has agreed  to  provide  medical  service,  or
     2  refusing  to  repay  funds  in  lieu of such service as consideration of
     3  awards made by the state or any municipality thereof for the  licensee's
     4  professional education in medicine, or failing to comply with any agree-
     5  ment  entered  into to aid the licensee's medical education, the maximum
     6  penalty shall be revocation of a license and the minimum  penalty  shall
     7  be  a  reprimand.  Any  fines issued shall be no less than five thousand
     8  dollars and no more than ten thousand dollars.
     9    44. For  failing  to  complete  forms  or  reports  required  for  the
    10  reimbursement  of  a patient by a third party, the maximum penalty shall
    11  be revocation of a license and the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand.
    12  Any fines issued shall be no less than five thousand dollars.
    13    45. For, in the  practice  of  ophthalmology,  failing  to  provide  a
    14  patient,  upon  request,  with  the patient's prescription including the
    15  name, address, and signature of the  prescriber  and  the  date  of  the
    16  prescription,  the  maximum penalty shall be revocation of a license and
    17  the minimum penalty shall be suspension of  a  license  for  up  to  six
    18  months. Any fines issued shall be no less than ten thousand dollars.
    19    46. For a violation of section two hundred thirty-nine of this article
    20  by  a  professional, the maximum penalty shall be a limitation on regis-
    21  tration or issuance of any further license and the minimum penalty shall
    22  be a requirement that a licensee pursue a course of education or  train-
    23  ing. Any fines issued shall be no more than two thousand dollars.
    24    47. For failure to use scientifically accepted barrier precautions and
    25  infection control practices as established by the department pursuant to
    26  section  two  hundred  thirty-a  of this title as added by chapter seven
    27  hundred eighty-six of the  laws  of  nineteen  ninety-two,  the  maximum
    28  penalty  shall  be revocation of a license and the minimum penalty shall
    29  be a reprimand. Any fines issued shall be  no  less  than  ten  thousand
    30  dollars.
    31    48.  For  a violation of section two hundred thirty-d of this title or
    32  regulations enacted thereunder, the maximum penalty shall be the suspen-
    33  sion of a license and the minimum penalty  shall  be  a  reprimand.  Any
    34  fines issued shall be no less than five thousand dollars.
    35    49.  For,  except  for good cause shown, failing to provide within one
    36  day any relevant records or other information requested by the state  or
    37  local department of health with respect to an inquiry into a report of a
    38  communicable disease as defined in the state sanitary code, or HIV/AIDS,
    39  the maximum penalty shall be revocation of a license or registration and
    40  the  minimum  penalty shall be a reprimand. Any fines issued shall be no
    41  more than two thousand dollars.
    42    50. For performing a pelvic examination or supervising the performance
    43  of a pelvic examination in violation of  subdivision  seven  of  section
    44  twenty-five hundred four of this chapter, the maximum penalty shall be a
    45  suspension  of  a license, the minimum penalty shall be a reprimand. Any
    46  fines issued shall be no more than ten thousand dollars.
    47    § 3. Subdivisions 1 and 6 of section 230 of  the  public  health  law,
    48  subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 537 of the laws of 1998 and subdivi-
    49  sion  6  as  amended  by chapter 266 of the laws of 1986, are amended to
    50  read as follows:
    51    1. A state board for professional medical conduct is hereby created in
    52  the department in matters  of  professional  misconduct  as  defined  in
    53  sections  sixty-five hundred thirty and sixty-five hundred thirty-one of
    54  the education law. Its physician  members  shall  be  appointed  by  the
    55  commissioner  at  least  eighty-five percent of whom shall be from among
    56  nominations submitted by the medical society of the state of  New  York,

        S. 8325--B                          8
 
     1  the  New  York  state osteopathic society, the New York academy of medi-
     2  cine, county medical societies, statewide specialty societies recognized
     3  by the council of medical specialty societies, and the hospital  associ-
     4  ation  of  New  York  state.  Its  lay members shall be appointed by the
     5  commissioner with the approval of the governor.  The  board  of  regents
     6  shall  also appoint twenty percent of the members of the board. Not less
     7  than [sixty-seven] thirty-three percent of the members appointed by  the
     8  board  of regents shall be physicians. Not less than eighty-five percent
     9  of the physician members appointed by the board of regents shall be from
    10  among nominations submitted by the medical society of the state  of  New
    11  York,  the  New  York state osteopathic society, the New York academy of
    12  medicine, county medical societies, statewide medical  societies  recog-
    13  nized  by  the  council of medical specialty societies, and the hospital
    14  association of New York state. Any failure to meet the percentage thres-
    15  holds stated in this subdivision shall not be grounds  for  invalidating
    16  any  action  by  or  on  authority of the board for professional medical
    17  conduct or a committee or a member thereof. The board  for  professional
    18  medical  conduct shall consist of not fewer than [eighteen] seven physi-
    19  cians licensed in the state for at least five years, two of  whom  shall
    20  be doctors of osteopathy, and not fewer than two of whom shall be physi-
    21  cians who dedicate a significant portion of their practice to the use of
    22  non-conventional  medical  treatments  who  may be nominated by New York
    23  state medical associations dedicated to the advancement of  such  treat-
    24  ments,  at  least  one of whom shall have expertise in palliative care[,
    25  and not fewer than seven lay members]. All physician members  shall  not
    26  have  any  disciplinary actions or penalties found against them pursuant
    27  to this section. The board shall include  no  fewer  than  eighteen  lay
    28  members,  comprising  individuals  who  possess  a doctoral degree, have
    29  never obtained a medical degree, and  are  currently  or  have  formerly
    30  engaged  in  teaching  medicine  within the department of medicine at an
    31  academic institution.   Alternatively,  such  lay  members  may  hold  a
    32  master's  degree  in  public  health.  An  executive  secretary shall be
    33  appointed by the chairperson and shall be  a  licensed  physician.  Such
    34  executive  secretary  shall  not  be  a  member of the board, shall hold
    35  office at the pleasure of, and shall have the powers and duties assigned
    36  and the annual salary fixed by, the chairperson. The  chairperson  shall
    37  also assign such secretaries or other persons to the board as are neces-
    38  sary.
    39    6.  Any  committee  on  professional conduct appointed pursuant to the
    40  provisions of this section shall consist of [two physicians] one  physi-
    41  cian  and  [one]  two  lay  [member]  members,  one of whom shall hold a
    42  doctoral degree and are currently or have formerly engaged  in  teaching
    43  medicine within the department of medicine at an academic institution or
    44  hold a master's degree in public health.
    45    §  4. Subdivision 7 of section 230 of the public health law is amended
    46  by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
    47    (d) A licensee undergoing disciplinary  proceedings  by  committee  on
    48  professional  conduct  shall  disclose  to  the committee if they hold a
    49  license to practice medicine in  another  jurisdiction  outside  of  the
    50  state  of New York. If the licensee holds a license to practice medicine
    51  in any jurisdiction outside of the state of New York  the  committee  on
    52  professional  conduct shall review the licensee's record in those juris-
    53  dictions to determine if the licensee has been subject  to  disciplinary
    54  proceedings  in  any  other  state, territory or jurisdiction where they
    55  were licensed to practice medicine and determine what was the outcome of
    56  such disciplinary proceedings.

        S. 8325--B                          9
 
     1    § 5. Paragraphs (b) and (g) of subdivision 10 of section  230  of  the
     2  public  health  law, paragraph (b) as amended by chapter 606 of the laws
     3  of 1991 and paragraph (g) as amended by chapter 477 of the laws of 2008,
     4  are amended to read as follows:
     5    (b)  Charges.  The  charges  shall  state the substance of the alleged
     6  professional misconduct and shall state clearly and concisely the  mate-
     7  rial  facts  but not the evidence by which the charges are to be proved.
     8  Charges filed against a licensee shall correspond to the prescribed  set
     9  of  penalties  and  actions  provided in section two hundred thirty-f of
    10  this title.
    11    (g) Results of hearing. The committee shall make (1) findings of fact,
    12  (2) conclusions concerning the charges sustained or dismissed, and (3) a
    13  determination regarding charges sustained or dismissed, and in the event
    14  any of the charges have been sustained, of the penalty to be imposed  or
    15  appropriate  action  to  be taken and the reasons for the determination.
    16  Any penalty imposed or action to be taken must correspond to the  guide-
    17  lines  provided  in  section two hundred thirty-f of this title. For the
    18  committee to make a conclusion sustaining a  charge,  or  determining  a
    19  penalty  or  the  appropriate  action  to  be  taken, two members of the
    20  committee must vote for such a conclusion or determination. The  commit-
    21  tee  shall  issue  an  order based on its determination. The committee's
    22  findings, conclusions, determinations and order shall become public upon
    23  issuance. However, if the time to request a review  of  the  committee's
    24  determination  has  not yet expired, or if the review has been requested
    25  but no determination as a result of the review  has  been  issued,  such
    26  publication  shall include a statement advising that the licensee or the
    27  department may request a review of  the  committee's  determination.  No
    28  such  statement  is  required if (a) the time to request such review has
    29  expired without the filing of such request by either of the parties,  or
    30  (b)  the  licensee  and  the  department  both  affirmatively decline to
    31  request review of the committee's determination or fail to perfect  such
    32  review.  In  the  event  any  or  all  such  charges are dismissed, such
    33  dismissal shall be made public within two business days.
    34    § 6. Paragraph (h) of subdivision 11 of  section  230  of  the  public
    35  health  law,  as added by chapter 203 of the laws of 2020, is amended to
    36  read as follows:
    37    (h) (i) The office of professional medical conduct and the  department
    38  shall  post  on  [its  website]  their websites information on patients'
    39  rights and reporting options under this  subdivision  regarding  profes-
    40  sional  misconduct[,  which  shall  specifically  include information on
    41  reporting  instances  of  misconduct  involving  sexual  harassment  and
    42  assault].  All  physicians'  practice  settings shall conspicuously post
    43  signage, visible to their  patients,  directing  such  patients  to  the
    44  office  of  professional medical conduct's website for information about
    45  their rights and how to report professional  misconduct.    All  signage
    46  posted shall be no smaller than eight and a half inches by eleven inches
    47  in size.
    48    (ii)  Medical  facilities shall provide all pertinent contact informa-
    49  tion to the office of professional medical  conduct  to  patients  in  a
    50  self-attestation  form,  including  access to their website through a QR
    51  code or link as deemed appropriate by the commissioner.
    52    (iii) Within ten days of any final determination applying a penalty or
    53  action against a licensee the office of professional medical conduct and
    54  the department shall post on their websites the  name,  medical  license
    55  number, and the penalties or actions imposed for any licensee determined
    56  to have committed a violation of professional misconduct.

        S. 8325--B                         10
 
     1    (iv)  If  the  source  of  complaint that instigated the investigation
     2  provided contact information included  an  electronic  mail  address  in
     3  their initial complaint, then the office of professional medical conduct
     4  shall  inform the source of the complaint through electronic mail of the
     5  final determination made in reference to the complaint within ten days.
     6    § 7. Subdivision 11 of section 230 of the public health law is amended
     7  by adding a new paragraph (i) to read as follows:
     8    (i)  Any licensee who is indicted in another jurisdiction for a crimi-
     9  nal offense or is arrested pursuant to probable or reasonable cause,  or
    10  where  it has been determined by a professional disciplinary agency that
    11  there is sufficient evidence to conduct a review of such licensee, shall
    12  notify the office of professional medical conduct of such action  within
    13  forty-eight hours.
    14    § 8. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
    15  it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
    16  ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
    17  tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
    18  completed on or before such effective date.
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