What's happening
This bill requires the New York health commissioner to study and report on the high incidence of asthma, considering demographic and environmental factors.
Why it matters
Asthma’s links to social and environmental factors will be formally studied. , including how income, race, gender, age, housing type, proximity to pollution sources, and health insurance coverage affect who develops asthma.
Findings could spotlight health disparities and environmental injustice. , revealing how vulnerable populations (such as low-income or minority groups) may be disproportionately affected by asthma due to their living conditions or exposure to pollution.
The mandated report may drive future policy or funding decisions. , providing lawmakers with concrete data and recommendations that could justify targeted interventions, regulation of environmental hazards, or resource allocation to address asthma-related health issues.
Requiring this analysis adds accountability for state health leadership. , ensuring that the state’s top health officials actively address a significant public health concern and propose actionable solutions.
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Who cares
State Department of Health
The commissioner would have to begin an asthma study within 90 days and report findings and any recommendations to the governor and legislature within one year.
New Yorkers with asthma
The study would examine differences in asthma incidence by income, race, gender and age group.
Residents near industrial sites and highways
The commissioner would study proximity to these locations, along with housing type, as factors related to asthma incidence.
Private insurers and state health coverage programs
The study would examine the type of coverage held by people with asthma, including private insurance, Medicaid, Child Health Insurance Plan and Family Health Plus.
Headline styles
Report on Asthma Rates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4203
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. DILAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to direct the commissioner of health to report upon the high incidence of asthma in the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. (a) Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, the commissioner of health shall commence to examine and evaluate the alarmingly high and disproportionate incidence of asthma in the state. Such commissioner shall specifically study and evaluate the following factors related to those persons who have asthma:
(i) income level;
(ii) race;
(iii) gender;
(iv) age group;
(v) housing accommodations: single family dwelling, two to six family dwelling or housing project;
(vi) residence proximity to industrial sites;
(vii) residence proximity to highways; and
(viii) type of health insurance providing coverage to the person with asthma (private, Medicaid, child health insurance plan or family health plus).
(b) Within one year of the effective date of this act, such commissioner shall report to the governor and the legislature, his or her findings and any recommendations he or she shall deem necessary.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09222-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to direct the commissioner of health to report upon the high incidence of asthma in the state
Purpose or general idea of bill
Directs the Commissioner of health to study and report on the very high incidence of asthma in New York State.
Summary of specific provisions
The bill directs the commissioner of health, within 90 days of passage of this legislation, to commence a study, examine and evaluate the alarming and disproportionate incidence of asthma in New York State. The following factors need to be evaluated: income level; race; gender; age group; housing accommodations: single family dwelling, two to six family dwelling or housing project; residence proximity to industrial sites. Within one year of the effective date of this act, the commissioner shall report to the governor and the legislature his or her findings and any recommendations he or she deem necessary.
Justification
Almost one in 13 school children suffer from asthma making it the leading serious chronic illness in children and the leading cause of hospitalizations for children under the age of 15. More than 4.8 million children nationwide suffer from asthma and more than 5,000 Americans die from the illness each year. It is estimated that asthmatic children lose 10 million school days each year.
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation has recently identified over 50,000 school-aged children with asthma. The NYC Department of Health has reported that in 2004, there were 10,603 emergency room admissions for pediatric asthma cases. In the entire state there are over 1.6 million New Yorkers suffering from asthma of which more than 380,000 are children. This health problem is serious and growing. In addition, the health costs related to hospitalizations for this disease are tremendous. The New York State Department of Health estimates that cost at over $380 million annually, of which $132 million is the Medicaid share of that expense.
From rural areas to small cities the asthma epidemic is impacting children adversely. In the Bronx County alone there were 10,135 hospital cases of asthma in children younger than 17 reported in 2002, at a rate of more than 902 per 100,000. That is comparing to an average rate of approximately 150 per 100,000 for the rest of the state. Poor children under the age of 4 are four times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than children in high-income areas. Asthma is an illness that is far too common among our poorest citizens. In New York City, children are almost twice as likely to be hospitalized as children nationwide.
Rural areas such as Fulton County have an asthma hospitalization rate of 407 per 100,000 children under 17 years of age. Other parts of New York State are also severely impacted.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma's impact on health, quality of life, and the economy are substantial. The CDC has also found that the rates of severe asthma continue to disproportionately affect poor and minority populations. For example African-Americans visit emergency departments, are hospitalized and die due to asthma at rates three times higher than rates for white Americans. This legislation will direct New York State to report on the increasing rate of asthma in New York and to report
their findings and recommendation on reducing those rates within one year.
Prior legislative history
2013-2014 S.421: Referred to health 2015-2016 5.2288: Referred to health
Fiscal implications
Not applicable.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.