STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7408
IN SENATE
January 12, 2018
___________
Introduced by Sens. HANNON, LARKIN -- 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 the newborn health
and safe sleep study
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 2508 of the public health law, as added by chapter
2 401 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 2508. Newborn health and safe sleep [pilot program] study. There
4 shall be established in the department, by the commissioner, a newborn
5 health and safe sleep [pilot program] study designed to reduce infant
6 mortality rates across the state and enhance existing strategies to
7 improve safe sleep practices. The department, in consultation with
8 health care providers, hospitals, safe sleep product manufacturers,
9 provider groups, the New York state office of children and family
10 services, and any other person or entity the commissioner deems neces-
11 sary, shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of existing safe sleep
12 practices and identify additional safe sleep practices that reduce
13 infant mortality rates. The study shall include a review of baby boxes
14 and other products aimed at encouraging safe and healthy sleep prac-
15 tices. The department shall report to the legislature within twelve
16 months of the effective date of this section on the results of this
17 study. [Through the pilot program, the commissioner shall provide baby
18 boxes or other products aimed at encouraging safe sleep practices and
19 other sudden infant death syndrome prevention measures in areas of
20 greatest need, such as counties or areas with high infant mortality
21 rates, or counties or areas with poor birth outcomes. For purposes of
22 this section, "baby boxes" shall mean boxes lined with a firm mattress
23 and a fitted sheet such that it can serve as a safe sleep place for a
24 newborn, and shall contain newborn infant care essentials aimed at
25 promoting safe sleeping practices and reducing sudden infant death
26 syndrome, as well as items to encourage safe and healthy habits for
27 families transitioning to parenting. Such boxes or other products may
28 vary by region, in the discretion of the commissioner, to meet the needs
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09076-09-8
S. 7408 2
1 of the relevant community. The department] Within twelve months after
2 the completion of the study, the department shall conduct a pilot
3 program aimed at improving caregiver education and continued safe sleep
4 practices in counties or areas with high infant mortality rates, and
5 also shall pursue available funding options and make efforts to estab-
6 lish a public-private partnership with organizations that promote such
7 causes or manufacture such products in order to seek to obtain donations
8 for these purposes.
9 [The department shall be responsible for monitoring the quality,
10 appropriateness and effectiveness of the program and shall report to the
11 legislature within one year of the effective date of this section on the
12 program's effectiveness.]
13 § 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
14 manner as section 1 of chapter 401 of the laws of 2017 took effect;
15 provided, however, that the department of health shall commence the
16 study authorized by section 2508 of the public health law as amended by
17 section one of this act on the same date that this act shall have become
18 a law; and provided further that the pilot program authorized under
19 section 2508 of the public health law as amended by section one of this
20 act shall expire 24 months after it has been established.