What's happening
This bill requires the New York State Health Commissioner to establish and manage a strategic stockpile of medical supplies, drugs, and vaccines.
Why it matters
Proactively preparing for health emergencies. By mandating an annual review and regular updates of the stockpile, the bill aims to ensure New York is better equipped for future disease outbreaks or public health threats—reducing delays and shortages when crises hit.
Expert-driven oversight and coordination. The requirement for the Commissioner to consult a disease elimination workgroup and coordinate with state, local, and private healthcare entities means stockpile decisions will be informed by broad expertise, potentially improving the relevance and effectiveness of stored supplies.
Focus on security, management, and supply chain. Emphasizing inventory management, physical security, and robust supply chain planning addresses past problems seen during emergencies, such as expired or missing supplies, logistical bottlenecks, and theft or misuse.
Clear accountability for procurement. Giving the Health Commissioner direct responsibility for procurement, negotiations, and contracts may streamline acquisition and improve transparency, responding to past criticisms of fragmented or inefficient purchasing during emergencies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create State Emergency Stockpile
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- 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.
Create Emergency Supply Stockpile
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10938
IN ASSEMBLY
August 17, 2020
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Hunter) -read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing a state stockpile
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 article 2-C to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2-C
STRATEGIC STATE STOCKPILE Section 297. State stockpile.
§ 297. State stockpile. 1. The commissioner shall maintain a stockpile or stockpiles of drugs, vaccines and other biological products, medical devices and other supplies in such numbers, types and amounts as determined by the governor. The commissioner shall conduct an annual review of the contents of such stockpile, including, but not limited to, nonpharmaceutical supplies, and make necessary additions or modifications to the contents of such stockpile based on such review.
2. The commissioner, in managing the stockpile pursuant to subdivision one of this section, shall:
(a) consult with the workgroup for disease elimination and reduction established pursuant to section two hundred sixty-six of this chapter;
(b) ensure that adequate procedures are followed with respect to such stockpile for inventory management and accounting and for the physical security of such stockpile;
(c) review and revise, as appropriate, the contents of such stockpile on a regular basis to ensure that emerging threats and the potential depletion of countermeasures currently in the stockpile are identified and appropriately addressed, including through necessary replenishment; and
(d) devise plans for the effective and timely supply-chain management of such stockpile, in consultation with the appropriate state and local agencies and the public and private healthcare infrastructure.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16285-01-0
A. 10938 2
3. The commissioner shall be responsible for the procurement of supplies to be stored in such stockpile pursuant to this section, including negotiating terms such as the quantity, production schedule, and price of supplies, and entering into contracts and cooperative agreements.
§ 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.