Relates to MRSA and other infectious skin disease protection and education; establishes the interscholastic wrestling health training and education program.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5654--A
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 9, 2011
___________
Introduced by Sen. ZELDIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- recommitted
to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8
-- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Commit-
tee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law and the public health law, in relation
to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus protection and educa-
tion
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 921 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 921. MRSA and other infectious skin disease protection and educa-
4 tion. 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds and determines that
5 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a very serious
6 health concern for the people of the state of New York. MRSA is a bacte-
7 ria that can lead to the outbreak of serious infections. Due to its
8 common resistance to many modern antibiotics, it is very often difficult
9 to treat, and can result in extended hospitalization, serious illness,
10 and even death.
11 The legislature further finds and determines that as a serious health
12 risk, it is important for the state of New York to promote education and
13 awareness on how to prevent the spread of such infectious diseases as
14 MRSA, develop protocols and procedures to help avoid transmission of
15 MRSA, and thereby protect the public health of the people of the state
16 of New York. Such education, protocols and procedures are especially
17 important where the risks of transmission are significant, including in
18 our public and private schools, where such education, protocols and
19 methods can be deployed to lessen the chance and risk of infection.
20 The legislature additionally finds and determines that one area in
21 which such education, protocols and methods could be especially useful
22 is with respect to school athletic facilities and events. The padding
23 used in school athletic facilities and events, although very important
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11233-28-2
S. 5654--A 2
1 for the safety of school athletes, has proven to be a medium which can
2 permit the breeding of harmful bacteria, including MRSA, that can lead
3 to infectious and potentially life-threatening diseases. Without proper
4 education, protocols and procedures, these important safety surfaces can
5 become contaminated, exposing participants to the danger of contracting
6 infections and the resulting illnesses. In wrestling, in particular, the
7 skin to skin contact between competitors, and the routine exposure to
8 these padding surfaces, make the need for such education, protocols and
9 procedures especially important.
10 The legislature also finds and determines that educating students and
11 their supervisors, and promoting the publication of protocols and proce-
12 dures, with respect to MRSA, infectious skin diseases, and how to
13 prevent them, can significantly curb their spread. By informing
14 students and coaches of the importance of good hygiene, among other
15 things, the spread of MRSA can be drastically diminished. Showering
16 immediately after practices and matches have proven to decrease inci-
17 dences of infectious skin diseases. That by directing the New York
18 state education department and the New York state department of health,
19 to work together to develop important education, protocols and proce-
20 dures necessary to address this very serious health concern, and by
21 enabling such departments to assist schools, their athletic facilities
22 and other public institutions, to help prevent the spread of MRSA and
23 infectious skin diseases, this legislation seeks to promote the public
24 health and safety of students, athletes, and the people of the state of
25 New York.
26 2. The Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and infec-
27 tious skin disease informational program. The department, in consulta-
28 tion with the department of health, shall develop a MRSA and infectious
29 disease education program. The MRSA and infectious disease education
30 program shall consist of a program to disseminate information, through
31 the department's webpage, that describes the conditions that contribute
32 to MRSA and infectious disease. Such information so disseminated shall
33 also prescribe cleaning methods, protocols and procedures that can
34 eradicate the contamination of MRSA and other infectious skin diseases.
35 3. Interscholastic wrestling health training and education program.
36 The department, in consultation with the New York Public High School
37 Athletic Association, and the department of health, shall develop an
38 interscholastic wrestling health training and education program, which
39 shall consist of an online health training and education program for
40 interscholastic wrestling coaches and student athletes participating in
41 interscholastic wrestling on the subject of conditions that contribute
42 to MRSA and infectious skin disease, as well as cleaning methods, proto-
43 cols and procedures that can eradicate the contamination of MRSA and/or
44 other infectious skin diseases. Completion of such interscholastic wres-
45 tling health training and education program shall be mandatory for all
46 interscholastic wrestling coaches and student athletes participating in
47 interscholastic wrestling on an annual basis. The training must be
48 completed within two weeks of the commencement of practices or prior to
49 participation in any interscholastic wrestling scrimmage, match, or
50 tournament, whichever is sooner. Any student not in compliance shall be
51 barred from participation until such time the student comes within
52 compliance with this section. The interscholastic wrestling health
53 training and education program shall be platformed upon a website spon-
54 sored by the department. The department shall maintain an on-line
55 registry containing the names of all students and coaches who have
56 certified completion of the training program.
S. 5654--A 3
1 4. Regulations. The commissioner shall have the authority to promul-
2 gate rules and regulations to prevent the spread of Methicillin-Resis-
3 tant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).
4 5. Definitions. For purposes of this section MRSA shall mean Methicil-
5 lin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.
6 § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2111-a
7 to read as follows:
8 § 2111-a. MRSA and infectious skin disease protocol and education. 1.
9 The Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and infectious
10 skin disease informational program. The department, in consultation with
11 the education department, shall develop a MRSA and infectious skin
12 disease education program. The MRSA and infectious skin disease educa-
13 tion program shall consist of a program to disseminate information,
14 through the department's webpage, that describes the conditions that
15 contribute to MRSA and infectious skin disease. Such information so
16 disseminated shall also prescribe cleaning methods, protocols and proce-
17 dures that can eradicate the contaminations of MRSA and other infectious
18 skin diseases. The page maintained by the department, upon which the
19 MRSA and infectious skin disease education program shall be platformed,
20 shall also contain a downloadable fact sheet on MRSA, its origins,
21 treatment and prevention.
22 2. Interscholastic wrestling health training and education program.
23 The department, in consultation with the New York Public High School
24 Athletic Association, and the department of education, shall assist in
25 developing an interscholastic wrestling health training and education
26 program, which shall consist of an online health training and education
27 program for interscholastic wrestling coaches and student athletes
28 participating in interscholastic wrestling on the subject of conditions
29 that contribute to MRSA and infectious skin disease, as well as cleaning
30 methods, protocols and procedures that can eradicate the contamination
31 of MRSA and/or other infectious skin diseases which shall be hosted on
32 the state education department webpage. Completion of such interscho-
33 lastic wrestling health training and education program shall be mandato-
34 ry for all interscholastic wrestling coaches and student athletes
35 participating in interscholastic wrestling.
36 3. Powers of the department. The department shall, in consultation
37 with the state education department, promulgate rules and regulations
38 regarding the ceasing of participation in, and resumption of partic-
39 ipation in, interscholastic wrestling practices and competitions, when a
40 student has contracted an infectious skin disease. Such rules and regu-
41 lations shall specify when a student athlete shall discontinue partic-
42 ipation, as well as define the protocols, requirements and timing for
43 the resumption of participation in such athletic contests.
44 4. Regulations. The commissioner shall have the authority to promul-
45 gate rules and regulations to prevent the spread of Methicillin-Resis-
46 tant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).
47 5. Definitions. For purposes of this section MRSA shall mean Methicil-
48 lin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.
49 § 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2012; provided however that
50 effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
51 or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
52 tive date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or
53 before such effective date.
