STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5972
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 9, 2017
___________
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 establishing a
statewide newborn health and safety program
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 section
2 2508 to read as follows:
3 § 2508. New born health and safety program. 1. For the purposes of
4 this section, the term "baby box" shall mean a cardboard box lined with
5 a firm mattress, such that it can double as a bassinet.
6 2. a. There shall be established in the department, by the commission-
7 er, a baby box program designed to reduce infant mortality rates across
8 the state. Through the baby box program, the commissioner shall provide
9 baby boxes, for each infant born in the state of New York, regardless of
10 family income. The baby boxes shall be designed to be a safe sleep place
11 for newborn infants. Each mattress shall be covered with a fitted sheet
12 and all baby boxes shall contain newborn infant care essentials aimed at
13 promoting safe sleeping practices and other methods of reducing sudden
14 infant death syndrome, as well as items to encourage safe and healthy
15 habits for families transitioning to parenting. All such infant care
16 essentials shall be chosen at the discretion of the commissioner and
17 shall include, but not be limited to clothing, hats, socks, thermometers
18 and bath towels.
19 b. The department shall pursue available funding options and make
20 efforts to establish a public-private partnership with organizations
21 that promote such causes or manufacture such products in order to seek
22 to obtain donations for these purposes. The department shall be respon-
23 sible for monitoring the quality, appropriateness and effectiveness of
24 the program and shall report to the legislature within two years of the
25 effective date of this section on the program's effectiveness, and then
26 provide periodic updates every year thereafter.
27 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11391-01-7