What's happening
This bill streamlines hospital construction project approvals by clarifying self-certification procedures and establishing specific departmental review timelines.
Why it matters
Creates clear timelines for state health department action. By requiring the department to review and respond to hospital construction contingencies within 30 days, and issue a final approval letter within 15 days of all conditions being met, the bill reduces bureaucratic delays that can stall hospital upgrades or expansions.
Expands and clarifies self-certification. Hospitals can now use architect or engineer self-certification for certain projects, with the state required to accept these certifications as fulfilling architectural/engineering review requirements. This could speed up lower-risk projects while still allowing the department to require corrections if issues are found during inspections.
Mandates timely pre-opening surveys. The department must conduct pre-opening reviews within 30 days of completion and notification, ensuring that new or renovated hospital spaces can open and serve patients promptly, rather than waiting indefinitely for final state approval.
Potential impact on hospital costs and patient care. By streamlining the construction approval process, the bill may help hospitals control costs and more quickly modernize or expand facilities, potentially improving patient access to updated care environments.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Speed Up Hospital Approvals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- 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.
Establishes time limits for the consideration of applications for the construction of hospitals
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Addie Jenne
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3294
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HANNON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to applications for construction of hospitals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1-a of section 2802 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 174 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
The following types of construction projects by a hospital possessing a valid operating certificate shall not require prior approval pursuant to this section, provided that a written notice has been submitted to the department [together with, where appropriate], the hospital obtains, where appropriate, and makes available to the department by request upon survey, a written architect and/or engineering certification that the project meets the applicable statutes, codes and regulations specified in the certification statement and, where required by the department, the hospital shall implement a plan to protect patient safety during construction:
§ 2. Section 2802 of the public health law is amended by adding two new subdivisions 8 and 9 to read as follows:
8. (a) Where the commissioner or department requires the applicant to submit information to satisfy a contingency for a construction project, the commissioner or department shall have thirty calendar days to review and approve or disapprove the submitted information. If the commissioner or department determines that the submitted information is incomplete, it shall so notify the applicant in writing and provide the applicant with the opportunity to correct the deficiency or provide additional information. If the commissioner or department determines that the submitted information does not satisfy the contingency, the basis for such disapproval shall be provided in writing; however, disapproval
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02444-01-7
S. 3294 2
shall not be based on the incompleteness of the application. Within fifteen calendar days of complete satisfaction of a contingency, the commissioner or department shall transmit the final approval letter to the applicant.
(b) The department shall develop expedited pre-opening survey processes for applications approved under this section, but under no circumstances shall pre-opening survey reviews be conducted later than thirty calendar days after final approval, construction completion and notification of such completion of the department.
9. With regard to any construction project requiring submission of an application pursuant to this section where the commissioner has determined that a written certification by an architect or engineer licensed pursuant to article one hundred forty-five or one hundred forty-seven of the education law that the project meets applicable regulations of the department can be accepted, the submission by the applicant of such complete and fully executed self-certification by certified or registered mail with a return receipt signed by the department shall constitute a fulfillment of the architectural and/or engineering review and certification requirement and the department shall proceed with the processing of such application. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the department upon survey from requiring subsequent corrections to the project to meet the applicable regulations.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to applications for construction of hospitals
Purpose
This bill amends the public health law to improve the timeliness of processing applications.
Summary of provisions
Section One: Amends subdivision 1-a of section 2802 of the public health law to clarify the notification process.
Section Two: amends section 2802 to add two new subdivisions to streamline processing of information related to contingencies, clarify implementation or architectural and/or engineering attestations, and timely pre-opening surveys.
Section Three: Effective date.
Justification
This bill will better ensure timely processing of certain projects and the conduct of pre-opening surveys. It also clarifies the current process for architectural and electrical attestations, thereby helping to implement the more streamlined approach.
Previous efforts to improve administrative processes brought a much needed focus that highlighted the urgent need for further reform efforts. While payment systems and health care delivery are changing at a rapid pace, health care providers continue to struggle with outdated and lengthy application processes that create unnecessary yet significant delays that hinder health care transformation to meet the goals of the triple aim of improving quality, improving health, and lowering costs. It is critical that, at a minimum, timely processing requirements be adhered to along with other streamlining efforts. Developing more timely processing timeframes is an important step in creating an integrated health care delivery system.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.5907 - Passed Senate.
Fiscal implications
Savings to the state as processes are streamlined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 120 days after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.