STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5048
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 29, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- 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 requiring hospi-
tals and birth centers to request each maternity patient and other
parent of a newborn to view a video presentation on safe sleeping
practices for newborns
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 2803-j of the public health law, as amended by
2 chapter 62 of the laws of 1996, is amended by adding a new subdivision
3 1-d to read as follows:
4 1-d. The informational leaflet shall also include an explanation of
5 unsafe sleeping practices including the potential fatal consequences
6 from such unsafe sleeping practices and recommended safe sleeping prac-
7 tices. The leaflet shall include statistics concerning the number of
8 deaths of infants and children each year suspected or known to be caused
9 by unsafe sleeping practices. The commissioner shall cause a sufficient
10 number of such leaflets to be produced to allow parents of newborn chil-
11 dren to take a leaflet home with them. The leaflet shall be made avail-
12 able in languages best designed to convey the information to the parents
13 who receive maternity related services at such hospital or birthing
14 center.
15 § 2. Section 2803-j of the public health law, as amended by chapter 62
16 of the laws of 1996, is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as
17 follows:
18 7. Every hospital and birth center shall request that each maternity
19 patient and other parent, if available, of a newborn child, view a video
20 presentation, approved by the commissioner, on unsafe sleeping practices
21 including, but not limited to, the dangers of co-sleeping with a
22 newborn, infant or child, the potential fatal consequences from such
23 unsafe sleeping practices and recommended safe sleeping practices. The
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01717-01-5
S. 5048 2
1 video shall include statistics concerning the number of deaths of
2 infants and children each year suspected or known to be caused by unsafe
3 sleeping practices. After viewing such a video presentation or upon
4 refusal to view such a video presentation, the hospital or birth center
5 shall request that such patient and/or other parent sign a form stating
6 that they have viewed or refused to view such video presentation. All
7 training materials and forms required to implement the provisions of
8 this subdivision shall be provided by the commissioner.
9 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
10 it shall have become a law.
