Directs the commissioner of health to cause the distribution of crib safety information to maternity patients

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to directing the commissioner of health to cause the distribution of crib safety information to maternity patients

Purpose

This bill directs the commissioner of health to cause the distribution of crib safety information to maternity patients.

Summary of provisions

Section one of this bill amends subdivision 1 of section 206 of the Public Health Law by adding a new paragraph (v). Subparagraph 1 of this new paragraph requires hospitals and birth centers to distribute a leaflet detailing crib safety information to maternity patients at the time of discharge. Subparagraph 2 requires the leaflet to be made available on the New York State Department of Health website and printed in English and the top six languages spoken in the state. Subparagraph 3 required hospital staff to inquire whether maternity patients have new cribs available, and to distribute information on obtaining new cribs if they are not available.

Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on the first of May next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or before such date.

Existing law

Currently, there are no laws in New York requiring the distribution of information to parents regarding cribs and crib safety.

Justification

In 2011, the Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CSPC") put new crib safety regulations into effect that prohibit the manufacture or sale of drop-side cribs and impose stricter safety guidelines for crib manufacturers. While this constitutes a significant improvement in the safety of cribs, more needs to be done to inform parents and other guardians about the dangers that unsafe cribs pose to babies.

Unfortunately, many parents and other caregivers are unaware of the risks associated with unsafe cribs, such as drop-side cribs, which have caused the unnecessary and preventable deaths of many infants and toddlers in the last decade.

To facilitate the dissemination of information relating to unsafe cribs, this legislation requires every hospital and birthing facility in the State to provide parents with informational literature on crib safety, for example, "Safe Sleep for Babies" from Keeping Babies Safe, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CPSC. Such literature shall include information about safe sleeping procedures, product recalls and the federal standards on the manufacture and sale of cribs. The bill takes the next step in ensuring that all babies and their caregivers can sleep soundly through the night.

Legislative history

New bill

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of May next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or before such date.