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History
- Referred to health
- Print number 873a
- Amend and recommit to health
- Referred to health
Full text
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Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S873A
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, the environmental conservation law, the labor law and the education law, in relation to creating the environmental health tracking system
Purpose
To track and evaluate a variety of chronic diseases in relation to environmental exposures by developing an environmental health tracking system. A working group is created within the department of health in consultation with the departments of environmental conservation, labor, and the state University of New York school of public health to determine the best approach in developing such a system.
Summary of provisions
Section one adds a new section 804 to the public health law establishing a new environmental health tracking system and creates a working group of technical experts to determine the most effective way to develop such a system.
Section two adds a new section 3-0319 to the environmental conservation law requiring the department of environmental conservation's cooperation with all appropriate state agencies, universities and their consultants in providing information and necessary expertise to develop an environmental health tracking system.
Section three adds a new section 888 to the labor law requiring the department of labor's cooperation with all appropriate state agencies, universities and their consultants in providing information and necessary expertise to develop an environmental health tracking system.
Section four adds a new section 355-d to the education law requiring the state university of New York school of public health and their consultants to participate in the creation of the environmental health tracking system.
Section five sets the effective date.
Justification
Chronic diseases account for the majority of deaths, illnesses, and disabilities in New York State and the united States. A study funded by the Pew Environmental Health Commission at the Johns Hopkins School of public Health reports that chronic diseases are now responsible for 7 of every 10 deaths in the country each year, with economic costs totaling $325 billion annually. Many chronic diseases, including cancer, birth
defects, reproductive disorders, neurological diseases, lead poisoning, thyroid disease, and asthma, have links to environmental exposure. The ongoing fight to prevent chronic diseases affecting New Yorkers requires that comprehensive data be made available to communities and Public health officials regarding such diseases and their links to actual environmental exposures. By tracking and monitoring selected chronic diseases on a geographic basis, the state will be able to: 1) gather evidence that leads to new scientific understanding of the cause of chronic diseases; 2) assess the impact of diseases to disabilities and premature mortality; 3) determine the most effective strategies for disease prevention; and 4) measure the effectiveness of prevention strategies. The State lacks critical knowledge about the direct correlation between environmental health hazards and chronic diseases. Basic information communities and public health professionals need to assess this connection is not readily available. Without critical information obtained through the tracking and monitoring of chronic diseases and their potential link to environmental exposure, the State will continue to fight chronic diseases with costly treatment rather than cost-effective prevention. The creation of a working group of technical experts to identify possible approaches to developing such a monitoring and tracking system is a first step in addressing the problem.
Legislative history
2001-2002: A.10243 2003-2004: A.4295A 2005-2006: A.969-A/S.2626-A (Alesi) 2007-2008: A.1958/S.3935 (Alesi) 2009-2010: A.5343-A/S.5298-A
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Undetermined. However it has been indicated many resources currently exist within agencies which could be used for this initiative.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.