Enacts provisions relating to the execution of written forms, prior to assisted reproductive technology services, for consent and directives for the transfer, use, and disposition of cryopreserved embryos or gametes, and provisions relating to notice prior to the implementation of the terms of such advance directives.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5835
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 2, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the domestic relations law, in relation to advanced
written consent and directives for the transfer, use, and disposition
of gametes or embryos cryopreserved in the course of a program of
assisted reproductive technology
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The domestic relations law is amended by adding a new arti-
2 cle 8-A to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 8-A
4 CRYOPRESERVED EMBRYOS OR GAMETES
5 Section 130. Definitions.
6 131. Advance written consent and directives for the transfer,
7 use, and disposition of cryopreserved embryos or
8 gametes.
9 § 130. Definitions. When used in this article, unless the context or
10 subject matter clearly requires a different meaning:
11 1. "Abandon by request" shall mean that a party intends to cease
12 participation in an assisted reproductive technology program and noti-
13 fies a provider of assisted reproductive services of such intent in a
14 written, signed, and notarized letter of intent to abandon by request.
15 Within thirty days of receipt of a party's letter of intent to abandon
16 by request, the provider shall send, by certified mail, return receipt
17 requested, to any other party whose participation in such provider's
18 assisted reproductive services may be affected by the requesting party's
19 abandonment by request, a written notice that the terms of an executed
20 advance directive for disposition will be implemented. If any party is
21 also a patient, a copy of such notice and proof of mailing shall be kept
22 in that party's medical records. On the thirtieth day after the date on
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10935-01-7
S. 5835 2
1 the letter of notification, or, if there are no other affected parties,
2 on the thirtieth day after the provider's receipt of the letter of
3 intent to abandon by request, the provider shall implement the applica-
4 ble terms of the requesting party's executed advance directive for
5 disposition.
6 2. "Assisted reproductive technology" shall include, but not be limit-
7 ed to, the following methods of assisting in fertilization: in vitro
8 fertilization-embryo transfer, gamete intrafallopian transfer, and cryo-
9 preservation.
10 3. "Cryopreservation" shall mean the storage of gametes or embryos
11 produced by means of an assisted reproductive technology procedure and
12 preserved by means of low-temperature freezing in liquid nitrogen or
13 other similar medium.
14 4. "Embryo" shall mean a fertilized human ovum.
15 5. "Failure to pay storage fees" shall mean that a provider to whom a
16 party pays a storage fee has not received a fee from such party for
17 three consecutive years. After three consecutive years of nonpayment,
18 the provider shall notify in writing by certified mail, return receipt
19 requested, sent to the last know address of the non-paying party, and to
20 the last known address of any other party whose participation may be
21 affected by the non-paying party's failure to pay storage fees, a writ-
22 ten notice that, unless the provider is contacted and instructed to do
23 otherwise, the terms of an executed advanced directive for disposition
24 in the event of failure to pay storage fees will be implemented. Six
25 months from the date of the first notice, a second such notice shall be
26 mailed in the same manner as the first notice. If the non-paying party
27 or an affected party is also a patient, a copy of such notice or notices
28 and proofs of mailing shall be kept in that party's medical records. If
29 the provider receives no instruction to do otherwise in response to
30 either the first or second notification, on the thirtieth day after the
31 date of the second letter of notification, the provider shall implement
32 the terms of the non-paying party's executed advance directive for
33 disposition in the event of failure to pay storage fees.
34 6. "Gametes" shall mean human sperm or ova.
35 7. "Patient" shall mean a person who donates or receives a gamete or
36 embryo.
37 8. "Party" shall mean a natural person who executes, according to the
38 provisions of section one hundred thirty-one of this article, a provid-
39 er's advance written consent and directives for the transfer, use, and
40 disposition of cryopreserved embryos or gametes for assisted reproduc-
41 tive services.
42 9. "Provider" shall mean an individual, corporation, other business
43 entity, or non-profit entity engaged in providing assisted reproductive
44 technology services.
45 § 131. Advance written consent and directives for the transfer, use,
46 and disposition of cryopreserved embryos or gametes. 1. Any provider
47 located in New York state whose services include the cryopreservation of
48 gametes or embryos, and before providing any such services, shall
49 require the prior execution, pursuant to this section, of advance writ-
50 ten consent and directives as to the transfer, use, and disposition of
51 such gametes or embryos. Prior to receiving any assisted reproductive
52 technology service, on a form or forms prescribed by the commissioner of
53 health, such consent and directives shall be signed and dated, in the
54 presence of each other, by the party requesting services, a witness for
55 the requesting party, and a licensed physician authorized by the provid-
56 er. Nothing contained in this section shall affect the obligation of a
S. 5835 3
1 physician or surgeon under current law to obtain the informed consent of
2 a party who may also be a patient prior to such physician's or surgeon's
3 performing any medical or surgical procedure for which informed consent
4 is otherwise required.
5 2. (a) The form for advance written consent to assisted reproductive
6 services executed by a party who is also a patient shall include, but
7 not be limited to, the following information: (i) the patient's name;
8 (ii) the patient's address, telephone number, or other relevant contact
9 information; (iii) the type and quantity, if applicable, of sperm, ova,
10 or embryos donated or received; and (iv) the name of the clinic, or
11 other donee for a specified purpose, which purpose shall be clearly
12 stated.
13 (b) The form for advance written consent to assisted reproductive
14 services executed by a party who is also a patient shall be signed and
15 dated by the patient, the attending physician or surgeon, a provider-au-
16 thorized clinician who shall verify the type and quantity, if applica-
17 ble, of sperm, ova, or embryos donated or received, and any other signa-
18 tories required by subdivision one of this section. The original
19 executed consent form shall be retained in the provider's business
20 records, the medical records of the party who is also a patient, and a
21 copy shall be provided to the party.
22 3. (a) The form prescribing directives as to the disposition of
23 cryopreserved gametes or embryos shall include, but not be limited to,
24 choices for disposition under the following circumstances: (i) death of
25 a party; (ii) the party's separation or divorce; (iii) the party's deci-
26 sion to abandon by request cryopreserved gametes or embryos; or (iv) the
27 party's abandonment of cryopreserved gametes or embryos by failure to
28 pay storage fees.
29 (b) The form prescribing directives as to the disposition of cryopre-
30 served gametes or embryos shall include, but not be limited to, choices
31 and direction for the following disposition options: (i) made available,
32 transferred, or donated to another party; (ii) donated for research
33 purposes; (iii) thawed with no further action taken; or (iv) other
34 disposition, provided that such disposition shall be clearly stated.
35 (c) The form prescribing directives as to the disposition of cryopre-
36 served gametes or embryos shall clearly state the provider's time limit
37 on storage of such gametes or embryos; such time limit shall not be less
38 than three years.
39 (d) A party who chooses the option to donate to another party pursuant
40 to subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of this subdivision shall meet such
41 donor qualifications as may be required in applicable law and regu-
42 lations.
43 (e) A party may modify directives for disposition of cryopreserved
44 gametes and embryos at a later date; provided that such modification
45 shall be executed in the same manner as is required for an initial
46 consent and directive pursuant to subdivision one of this section.
47 § 2. This act shall take effect on the two hundred eightieth day after
48 it shall have become a law; provided, however, that, effective imme-
49 diately, the commissioner of health is authorized to promulgate any and
50 all rules and regulations and take any other measures necessary to
51 implement this act on its effective date on or before such date.
