Requires the department of health of the state of New York to conduct a study of the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality and prepare and submit a report to the governor and the legislature.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6662
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
August 21, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. BENJAMIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the
department of health of the state of New York to conduct a study of
the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality and
prepare and submit a report to the governor and the legislature
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 2500-l to read as follows:
3 § 2500-l. Study of the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on
4 infant mortality. 1. The department shall conduct a study on the
5 effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality. The
6 purpose of the study shall be to:
7 (a) identify statewide and regional infant death rates, trends,
8 patterns, and racial and ethnic disparities in adverse birth outcomes,
9 and medical, non-medical, and system-related factors that may have
10 contributed to infant deaths and treatment disparities;
11 (b) review the extent to which racial and ethnic disparities in infant
12 mortality in a geographic area indicate the need to increase access to
13 health care services in that area; and
14 (c) identify ways to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities
15 that contribute to infant mortality.
16 2. In conducting the study, the department may seek the advice of
17 persons specializing in the fields of neonatal and post neonatal pathol-
18 ogy, maternal and infant health, minority health advocacy, or other
19 related fields.
20 3. Within one year after the effective date of this section, the
21 department shall prepare and submit to the governor, the temporary pres-
22 ident of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of
23 the senate and the minority leader of the assembly a report containing
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10112-03-9
S. 6662 2
1 the study's findings concerning the effects of racial and ethnic dispar-
2 ities on infant mortality and recommendations for legislative or other
3 actions that can be undertaken to:
4 (a) reduce infant mortality and improve birth outcomes in the state;
5 (b) reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that contribute
6 to infant mortality; and
7 (c) increase access to health care services in the state.
8 4. The department may prepare and submit additional reports when the
9 department deems it appropriate, and each report, with the exception of
10 the first report prepared under this section, shall additionally identi-
11 fy the extent to which the department's prior recommendations have been
12 successfully implemented in practice and the apparent impact that the
13 implementation of such recommended changes has had on infant mortality
14 in the preceding years.
15 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
16 have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or
17 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
18 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
19 on or before such date.
