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History
- Amended on third reading 1723a
- Ordered to third reading cal.151
- Returned to assembly
- Died in senate
- Referred to health
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.427
- Reported
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires installation and use of ceiling lifts in hospitals and nursing homes
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor George D. Maziarz
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A1723A
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the installation and use of ceiling lifts in hospitals and nursing homes
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would require the commissioner of the Department of Health (DOH) to promulgate rules and regulations relating to the installation and safe use of ceiling lifts. The bill also requires the commissioner to ensure that new hospitals and nursing homes, and those undergoing major renovations, are designed and built appropriate to support the installation and use of ceiling lifts.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends Section 206 of the Public Health Law by adding a new paragraph 19. This paragraph requires the commissioner of the DOH to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to ensuring that the construction or major renovation of hospitals and nursing homes is done appropriately to support the installation and use of ceiling lifts. The paragraph also requires the commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations to ensure the actual installation and safe use of ceiling lifts in a manner and number consistent with other similar facilities and patient needs. Section 2 is the effective date of this act.
Justification
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently shows the health care industry has among the highest occupational injury rates of all industries. Injury rates are particularly high among nursing home and hospital staff that are responsible for manually moving, transferring and repositioning mobility-impaired patients. Nearly one-half of all nursing home injuries are the direct result of lifting and moving patients.
Most states, including New York, have begun to recognize that manual lifting of patients should be thing of the past. No-lift policies substantially reduce injuries amongst patients and staff and the resulting savings more than offset the costs of using lifts. While mobile lifts are a marked improvement over manual lifting, data and case studies demonstrate overwhelmingly that ceiling lifts are far superior to mobile lifts in nearly every respect: greater reduction in patient and employee injuries; greater financial savings from lower insurance costs and injury costs; greater reductions in lost hours and staff turnover.
While it is generally accepted in the nursing home and hospital industries that ceiling lifts can and do provide great benefits in relation to patient care and employee-injuries, health care facilities are often not designed to support their use. This legislation would require that the major renovation or construction of nursing homes and hospitals in New York State be done in such a way as to allow for the safe installation and use of ceiling lifts. This legislation would also require the actual installation and use of ceiling lifts where they can be safely installed.
Prior legislative history
2006: A 11863 - referred to Health 2007-08: A8165 - passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall 120 days after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.