Includes within the health care and wellness education and outreach program offered by the department of health resources for individuals who have suffered a pregnancy loss or infant loss.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5734AREVISED 3/28/23
SPONSOR: Pretlow TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to conducting educa-
tion and outreach programs for individuals who have suffered a pregnancy
loss or infant loss
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
This bill will provide informational pamphlets for those experiencing
pregnancy loss or infant loss on what to expect and resources to help
them navigate through the healing process.
JUSTIFICATION OF THE BILL:
Pregnancy and infant loss are commonly defined as the unintended or
involuntary loss of a child which includes but not limited to; miscar-
riage, stillbirth, or termination for medical reasons. Though not openly
discussed, it's a common experience with a reported 1 in 4 mothers expe-
riencing such loss.
As expected, this form of loss has a pervasive and devastating impact on
families who are not adequately informed of what to expect throughout
the following days, weeks, months, years, after their loss.
The purpose of, "Ava's Law", is to close the information gap by mandat-
ing the Commissioner of Health to coordinate with the American College
of OBGYN's and the NYS Association of Licensed Midwives in creating
information pamphlets for those impacted by pregnancy loss or infant
loss. This will include information on hormone changes and its potential
effects, options if the body produces milk, etc.; and contact informa-
tion (provided by county administrations) to local resources including:
mental health services, milk banks, free gynecological care, and post-
partum doula services.
This information will be made available state-wide through the health
department's maternal health website. Healthcare providers who provide
direct medical care to individuals and their partners (when applicable)
experiencing pregnancy loss or infant loss will provide them with a
printed and/or digital version of the pamphlet as supplemental informa-
tion.
New York is among the leading states in the effort to provide quality
reproductive care. This legislation is a step toward further assisting
healthcare professionals in making a positive difference in how pregnan-
cy loss or infant loss is experienced.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022-2023: This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATION:
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5734--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 23, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW, DINOWITZ, REYES, BURGOS, SAYEGH, McMA-
HON, COLTON, HYNDMAN, AUBRY, TAYLOR, WILLIAMS, SOLAGES, ROZIC, KELLES,
CUNNINGHAM, CRUZ, CHANDLER-WATERMAN, GUNTHER, BENEDETTO, LUNSFORD,
LEVENBERG, SANTABARBARA, STERN, GIBBS, WALLACE, DAVILA, COOK, ANDER-
SON, ALVAREZ, ZINERMAN, JOYNER, SEPTIMO, BENDETT, K. BROWN, MORINELLO,
PIROZZOLO, DeSTEFANO, FLOOD, HEVESI, MEEKS, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, SIMONE,
LUCAS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BYRNES -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Health -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to conducting educa-
tion and outreach programs for individuals who have suffered a preg-
nancy loss or infant loss
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 207 of the public health law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph (r) to read as follows:
3 (r) For those who are experiencing pregnancy loss or infant loss,
4 which shall for the purposes of this paragraph include but not be limit-
5 ed to, miscarriage, stillbirth, or termination for medical reasons,
6 information regarding:
7 (i) the potential mental and physical impact from such loss; and
8 (ii) resources for support and follow-up care.
9 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06322-03-3
