Relates to instructional tools and materials for school districts and libraries to assist in the education and awareness program to protect children from lyme disease and tick-borne infections

10 Co-sponsors

• George Amedore
• John J. Bonacic
• Hugh T. Farley
• William J. Larkin Jr.
• Kenneth P. LaValle
• Betty Little
• Kathleen A. Marchione
• Michael F. Nozzolio
• Thomas F. O'Mara
• Patty Ritchie

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to an education and awareness program on tick identification and protection

Purpose

This bill directs the commissioner of education in collaboration with the Commissioners of Health and Environmental Conservation to develop instructional tools and materials to assist in the education and awareness program to protect children from Lyme disease and tick-borne infections.

Summary of provisions

Section one directs the Commissioner of Education to collaborate with the Commission of Health and the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to develop instructional tools and materials to assist in the education and awareness program to protect children from Lyme disease and tick-borne infections. Resources and materials should be age appropriate for school age children to help identify ticks, provide procedures for safe removal and best practices for protection from ticks. Such materials shall be available to schools and libraries at no cost and available upon request.

Section two sets an immediate effective date.

Justification

According to the most recent reporting by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), New York State has the third highest number of confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the entire country and according to the NYS Department of Health, what started as a predominantly in Long Island and the Hudson Valley, the reports illustrate a growing number of infected ticks have migrated to counties throughout New York. It is all too common for families to be affected, or know someone who has been affected by Lyme, many of whom never fully recover. While there is great debate throughout the medical community regarding how best to treat Lyme, it is commonly accepted that early education and prevention are key to controlling the spread of the disease.

Children should have a visual instructional tool that helps them identify ticks which vary in size from the time they are nymphs to adults and change in size when engorged. Children should also understand the importance of how to respond when they find a tick on their body, as it's best to have a knowledgeable adult remove the tick once it starts to engorge. Finally, children should know where exposure to ticks is greatest and how to check for ticks before they attach to the body. Providing age appropriate materials is a critical component necessary for the education and awareness campaign against ticks to help stop the spread of Lyme disease and tick-borne infections.

Given the recent overwhelming requests from New York schools and libraries to receive free brochures on the issue that included Lyme disease facts and prevention tips to share with their students, it is clear there is, in fact, a need and demand for educational and instructional tools and materials on the topic of Lyme disease.

We have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of New York's children and this bill aims to do that and raise awareness by placing the issue in directly in the classroom and in our libraries to best educate our youth with age appropriate materials they can understand. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill

Fiscal implications

Nominal to the state

Effective date

Immediately