Relates to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, its causes, mortality rates, methods of treatment, methods of prevention, and cure

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the control of progressive neurological diseases

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to provide for the reporting of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis cases in New York State.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill would add a new Article 20-B to the public health law to establish a reporting mechanism for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis cases in New York State.

Justification

The public health law registry for cancer has provided great success for identification, classification and research in the battle against cancer. Through this registry, which is strictly confidential, physicians and researchers can obtain valuable information on the disease and the environment in which it was contracted. Advocates for those suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, sometimes referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease, have suggested that the same public health benefits seen from the cancer registry would also be seen with a similar registry for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

This bill would provide for the establishment in the public health law of a reporting system, similar to that established in Article 24 for cancer, for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It should be noted that, the state of Massachusetts, recently became the first state to establish an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis registry within its public health law. Now other states, all across the nation, are following suit with this idea. This bill would add New York to this effort, so that treatment and cure may be discovered for this extremely devastating disease.

Prior legislative history

2005-2006:- S.5090 (Passed Senate) 2007-2008: A.3072A/S.2388A (Passed Senate in 2007)

Fiscal implications

None noted.

Effective date

This bill would take effect immediately.