What's happening
This bill requires the New York State Department of Health to track military-related toxic exposures and mandates doctors ask patients about military service and possible exposure.
Why it matters
Improves identification of military-related health risks. By requiring doctors to ask every patient about military service and specific toxic exposures, the bill helps ensure that relevant service-related health risks are considered during medical diagnosis—potentially leading to quicker and more accurate identification of conditions linked to toxic exposures.
Creates a centralized, updated reference for healthcare providers. The Department of Health will regularly update and distribute a list of military-related toxic materials and harmful agents, arming all New York doctors with current information that could be critical for diagnosing veterans and others exposed during service.
Bridges the gap between military and civilian healthcare. Since many veterans receive care outside the VA system, this law helps bring awareness of military exposures into the broader healthcare community, promoting continuity and consistency of care for veterans in New York.
May lead to better health outcomes and support for veterans. By mandating consideration of toxic exposure in the diagnostic process, the bill could improve recognition of service-connected illnesses, potentially resulting in more timely treatment, eligibility for benefits, and targeted public health responses.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Track Military Toxin Exposure
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10900
IN ASSEMBLY
May 25, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. SMITH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the department of health to establish and maintain a list of toxins which members of the military may have come into contact with and requiring doctors to ask patients whether they have served in the military
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 206 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 31 to read as follows:
31. The commissioner shall compile and periodically update a list of toxic materials or harmful physical agents which members of the military may have come into contact with as a result of military service. The commissioner may consult with the Veterans Administration to assist in the compilation of such list. The list shall be provided to all persons licensed to practice medicine in accordance with article one hundred thirty-one of the education law.
§ 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new article thirtyeight-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE 38-A
VETERANS HEALTH Section 3810. Toxic materials and harmful physical agents.
§ 3810. Toxic materials and harmful physical agents. All doctors licensed to practice medicine in accordance with article one hundred thirty-one of the education law shall ask each patient whether he or she has served in the military and whether he or she has been exposed to any of the toxic materials or harmful physical agents included in the list compiled by the commissioner, pursuant to subdivision thirty-one of section two hundred six of this chapter. When a doctor is diagnosing a patient who has served in the military and who may have been exposed to any of the toxic materials or harmful physical agents included in such list, the doctor shall include consideration of the patient's known or possible exposure to such toxic materials or harmful physical agents when forming a diagnosis.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05659-01-7
A. 10900 2
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.