NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A10517
SPONSOR: Rules (Aubry)
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to require the department of health to conduct a study on the
health impacts of COVID-19 on minorities in New York state
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the bill is to study the disparate impact of the corona-
virus and its effect on the minority population of New York.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides that the purpose of the study is to identify state-
wide and regional rates of infection, hospitalization, recovery and
mortality and any racial and ethnic disparities. The study will also
examine the extent to which racial and ethnic disparities indicate the
needs to increase access to health care in certain geographic area, and
identify ways to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that
contributed to COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, recovery and mortal-
ity.
Section 2 provides that within one year after the effective date, the
department shall prepare and submit a report containing the study's
findings and any recommendations.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The coronavirus disease has infected more than 450,000 people across the
country. A patchwork of studies are demonstrating that the virus is
disproportionately affecting African Americans and Hispanics. A report
from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a handful
of other states show that African Americans are dying at disproportional
rates from COVID-19, and in New York City, Hispanic Americans are most
likely to succumb to virus and related illness. Clearly, there are
social and economic elements that we must study and acknowledged to
prevent further and future harm to minorities.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.