What's happening
This bill creates the Health Emergency Response Data System (HERDS) to collect and share real-time public health emergency data in New York.
Why it matters
Promotes rapid, transparent public health responses. By requiring near real-time sharing of emergency data (within seven days of receipt), the system aims to improve the speed and coordination of state and local responses to health crises.
Balances privacy with actionable detail. The legislation mandates that while data must not be individually identifiable, it should be detailed enough to inform specific geographic areas and hospitals—supporting targeted interventions without compromising patient privacy.
Strengthens accountability and preparedness. By formalizing regular data collection from hospitals and care providers, HERDS establishes a standardized, regulated process that could improve oversight and readiness for future emergencies.
Expands public and provider access to critical health data. Making aggregated emergency response data available not just to government and providers but also to the public could empower communities, strengthen trust in public health measures, and facilitate informed decision-making.
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Who cares
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Create Health Data System
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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
11132
IN ASSEMBLY
November 6, 2020
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Gottfried) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to creating the health emergency response data system
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 206-c to read as follows:
§ 206-c. Health emergency response data system. 1. a. The health emergency response data system, referred to in this section as "HERDS", is hereby created in the department. The HERDS shall collect information and statistical data, referred to in this section as "HERDS information", relating to public health emergencies and health care services related to public health emergencies, in order to assist the department, other government entities, health care providers, and the public in understanding and responding to public health emergencies.
b. Individually identifiable HERDS information shall be kept confidential. HERDS information disclosed under this section shall be aggregated so it cannot be individually identifiable, but it shall contain sufficient detail, so it refers to specific geographic areas and hospitals, as defined in article twenty-eight of this chapter.
c. The commissioner shall make regulations implementing this section.
2. a. The HERDS shall collect HERDS information, including from surveys submitted by hospitals and other health care providers.
b. The HERDS shall be operated by the department, including the collecting and making available information, in conjunction with and to improve the department's fulfillment of its responsibilities under articles twenty-one and forty-one of this chapter.
§ 2. Paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 206-c of the public health law, as added by section one of this act, is amended to read as follows:
b. HERDS shall make HERDS information available to government entities, health care providers, and the public, including posting on the department's website, as soon and as close to real time as practicable
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD17468-02-0
A. 11132 2
after it is collected but no later than seven days after it is received by the department.
c. The HERDS shall be operated by the department, including the collecting and making available information, in conjunction with and to improve the department's fulfillment of its responsibilities under articles twenty-one and forty-one of this chapter.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, section two of this act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the commissioner of health shall make regulations and take other actions reasonably necessary to implement each section of this act on its 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.