What's happening
This bill creates a pilot program providing "baby boxes" and safe sleep products to reduce infant mortality in high-need areas.
Why it matters
Targets highest-risk communities. By focusing on areas with high infant mortality or poor birth outcomes, the program aims resources where they could have the greatest impact, potentially addressing longstanding health disparities.
Baby boxes as both a tool and an incentive. The boxes are not just safe sleep spaces but also contain essentials and educational materials, which can help new parents adopt safer practices and feel supported during a critical transition.
Flexibility and local adaptation. The program allows the Department of Health to tailor the contents and approach to different regions, making the intervention more relevant and culturally appropriate for each community’s needs.
Accountability and sustainability. The department is required to monitor outcomes and report back to the legislature, ensuring oversight, and it is encouraged to seek public-private partnerships, which could make the program more sustainable and less reliant on taxpayer funding.
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Who cares
Families with newborns in high-need areas
The pilot would provide baby boxes or other safe-sleep products in areas with high infant mortality rates or poor birth outcomes.
- Watching
New York State Department of Health
The department would run the pilot, pursue funding and donations, monitor program quality and effectiveness, and report to the Legislature within one year.
Baby box and infant-care product manufacturers
The department would seek public-private partnerships with manufacturers to obtain donated products for the pilot.
- Likely support
Safe-sleep and infant-health organizations
Organizations promoting these causes could partner with the department to support a program aimed at reducing infant mortality and encouraging safe sleep.
Headline styles
Give Baby Boxes to Newborns
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Substituted by S3867A
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.484
- Rules report cal.484
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Print number 6044a
- Amend (t) and recommit to ways and means
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provide Safe Sleep Baby Boxes
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Kemp Hannon
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6044--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 21, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS, PAULIN, BARNWELL, McDONALD, ROZIC -read once and referred to the Committee on Health -- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing the newborn health and safe sleep pilot program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2508 to read as follows:
§ 2508. Newborn health and safe sleep pilot program. There shall be established in the department, by the commissioner, a newborn health and safe sleep pilot program designed to reduce infant mortality rates across the state. Through the pilot program, the commissioner shall provide baby boxes or other products aimed at encouraging safe sleep practices and other sudden infant death syndrome prevention measures in areas of greatest need, such as counties or areas with high infant mortality rates, or counties or areas with poor birth outcomes. For purposes of this section, "baby boxes" shall mean boxes lined with a firm mattress and a fitted sheet such that it can serve as a safe sleep place for a newborn, and shall contain newborn infant care essentials aimed at promoting safe sleeping practices and reducing sudden infant death syndrome, as well as items to encourage safe and healthy habits for families transitioning to parenting. Such boxes or other products may vary by region, in the discretion of the commissioner, to meet the needs of the relevant community. The department shall pursue available funding options and make efforts to establish a public-private partnership with organizations that promote such causes or manufacture such products in order to seek to obtain donations for these purposes.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09076-07-7
A. 6044--A 2
The department shall be responsible for monitoring the quality, appropriateness and effectiveness of the program and shall report to the legislature within one year of the effective date of this section on the program's effectiveness.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.