Creates a Down syndrome awareness program to provide up-to-date and evidence-based information on Down syndrome to health care providers who order tests for a pregnant woman or infants to screen for Down syndrome.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
593--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 5, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sens. ORTT, BORRELLO, OBERACKER -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental
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 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. Subdivision 1 of section 207 of the public health law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph (h) to read as follows:
3 (h)(i) A Down syndrome awareness program shall be created to provide
4 up-to-date and evidence-based information about Down syndrome, in a
5 written or alternative format to health care providers who order tests
6 for a pregnant woman or an infant to screen for Down syndrome that shall
7 include, but not be limited to, the following:
8 (1) expected physical, developmental, educational, and psychosocial
9 outcomes;
10 (2) life expectancy;
11 (3) the clinical course description;
12 (4) expected intellectual and functional development;
13 (5) available intervention or treatment options;
14 (6) information hotlines specific to Down syndrome;
15 (7) relevant resource centers or clearinghouses;
16 (8) national and local Down syndrome organizations; and
17 (9) any other information the department deems necessary.
18 (ii) The commissioner shall (1) examine and utilize existing practices
19 to ensure that the information provided under subparagraph (i) of this
20 paragraph is culturally and linguistically appropriate for all recipi-
21 ents; and (2) meet annually with representatives from the Down syndrome
22 community to ensure such information is current.
23 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03344-02-3
