Establishes a Lyme and tick-borne disease working group to review current best practices for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Lyme and tick-borne diseases.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8900--A
IN ASSEMBLY
January 5, 2018
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER, LUPARDO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a Lyme
and tick-borne diseases working group
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 45-B
2 to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 45-B
4 LYME AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES WORKING GROUP
5 Section 958. Lyme and tick-borne diseases working group.
6 § 958. Lyme and tick-borne diseases working group. 1. There is hereby
7 created in the executive department a Lyme and tick-borne diseases work-
8 ing group consisting of the:
9 (a) commissioner of health;
10 (b) commissioner of the office of mental health;
11 (c) commissioner of environmental conservation;
12 (d) superintendent of financial services, who shall serve ex officio
13 and who may designate representatives to act on their behalf; and
14 (e) six additional members to be appointed by the governor.
15 2. The governor shall also appoint eight members to the working group
16 on the recommendation of the legislative leaders as follows:
17 (a) the temporary president of the senate shall recommend three
18 members;
19 (b) the speaker of the assembly shall recommend three members;
20 (c) the minority leader of the senate shall recommend one member; and
21 (d) the minority leader of the assembly shall recommend one member.
22 3. Members appointed to the working group shall include, but not be
23 limited to, at least one of each of the following, each of whom must
24 have experience working with issues related to Lyme and tick-borne
25 diseases:
26 (a) an infectious disease specialist;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13892-06-8
A. 8900--A 2
1 (b) a general practitioner;
2 (c) a mental health practitioner;
3 (d) an entomologist;
4 (e) an epidemiologist;
5 (f) a representative of health insurance providers; and
6 (g) a representative of a tick-borne disease advocacy organization.
7 4. The commissioner of health shall serve, ex officio, as the chair of
8 the working group, and the governor shall designate the vice chair of
9 the working group. In appointing members of the working group, appoint-
10 ing authorities shall ensure that such members, as a group, represent
11 diverse scientific perspectives relevant to the duties of the working
12 group. The members of the working group, except those who serve ex offi-
13 cio, shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in
14 the performance of their duties under this article but shall receive no
15 additional compensation for services rendered pursuant to this article.
16 5. The working group, on call of the chair, shall meet at least twice
17 each year and at such other times as may be necessary. The working group
18 may establish quorum requirements and other rules and procedures regard-
19 ing conduct of its meetings and other affairs.
20 6. The working group shall have the following powers and responsibil-
21 ities:
22 (a) review current best practices for the diagnosis, treatment and
23 prevention of Lyme and tick-borne diseases, as well as any reports or
24 recommendations from the twenty-first century workgroup for disease
25 elimination and reduction, pursuant to section two hundred sixty-six of
26 the public health law;
27 (b) provide recommendations including, but not limited to:
28 (i) improvements to the delivery of care for patients and suspected
29 patients of Lyme and tick-borne diseases, particularly those from endem-
30 ic areas of the state;
31 (ii) collaborations among county departments of health to promote
32 effective strategies to combat Lyme and tick-borne diseases, including
33 best practices for prevention and reporting;
34 (iii) interagency collaborations to streamline state efforts to combat
35 the spread of Lyme and tick-borne diseases;
36 (iv) identifying opportunities to collaborate with the federal govern-
37 ment, non-profit entities, or private organizations on projects address-
38 ing these diseases;
39 (v) data collection and reporting requirements of Lyme and tick-borne
40 disease, including but not limited to, those for healthcare providers;
41 and
42 (vi) any other regulations or guidelines concerning Lyme and tick-
43 borne diseases; and
44 (c) prepare and issue a report on the working group's findings and
45 recommendations by May first, two thousand nineteen to the governor, the
46 temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.
47 7. If any appointments to the working group are not made by April
48 fifteenth, two thousand nineteen, then the working group may proceed to
49 meet and fulfill its responsibilities, pursuant to paragraphs two and
50 three of this section, without such appointees.
51 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
52 have become a law.
