Directs the commissioner of health to establish, promote and maintain a bladder cancer screening program for firefighters in order to encourage such firefighters to seek medical care for the prevention or treatment of any malignant conditions resulting from occupational exposure to hazardous materials; makes related provisions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
273
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 5, 2011
___________
Introduced by Sens. MAZIARZ, ALESI, DIAZ, JOHNSON -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing a
bladder cancer screening program for firefighters
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new article
2 27-JJ to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 27-JJ
4 BLADDER CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM; FIREFIGHTERS
5 § 2799-jj. Bladder cancer screening program; firefighters.
6 § 2799-jj. Bladder cancer screening program; firefighters. The
7 commissioner shall establish, promote and maintain a public information
8 program regarding the incidence of bladder cancer in firefighters in
9 order to encourage such persons to seek medical care for the prevention
10 or treatment of any malignant conditions resulting from occupational
11 exposure to hazardous materials. Such program shall be conducted
12 throughout the state and shall include, but not be limited to, pre-em-
13 ployment testing, annual testing, and other follow-up testing as may be
14 recommended by the department; data collection of all incidences of
15 bladder cancer in firefighters and related professions in this state;
16 and a program of education for such groups. All participation by fire-
17 fighters in the program established in this section shall be voluntary.
18 Such program shall emphasize the need for annual testing and the need to
19 remain informed about additional developments concerning links between
20 firefighters' occupational exposure to hazardous materials and bladder
21 cancer.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01661-01-1
S. 273 2
1 The commissioner shall designate and may enter into contracts with
2 providers of health care and/or bladder cancer testing materials for the
3 purpose of establishing regional screening programs for firefighters and
4 related professions. In selecting such provider, the commissioner shall
5 consider such provider's compliance with state and federal standards,
6 such provider's location in relation to geographical distribution of
7 firefighters, and the capacity of such provider to properly screen for
8 bladder cancer using the most accurate and economically efficient means
9 available.
10 The department shall make an annual report to the legislature of its
11 findings and recommendations concerning the effectiveness, impact and
12 benefits derived from such special programs. Such report shall be filed
13 with the assembly on or before the first day of February and shall
14 contain evaluations of such special programs, and any recommended legis-
15 lation.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
