What's happening
This bill creates a temporary commission to study and recommend solutions for high asthma rates in the Bronx, especially among youth.
Why it matters
Focuses on Environmental and Socioeconomic Disparities. By concentrating on Bronx communities with youth and high unemployment, the commission is poised to examine how poverty, environment, and public health intersect, potentially leading to targeted interventions for the most vulnerable groups.
Brings Together Diverse Perspectives. With members appointed by both executive and legislative branches—including representatives from the departments of health and environmental conservation—the commission blends expertise in health, environment, and local community needs, increasing the chance of holistic and actionable recommendations.
Mandates Community Engagement. The requirement for quarterly public hearings ensures local voices, especially those directly affected by asthma, are heard and considered, fostering transparency and building trust in proposed solutions.
Time-Bound, Action-Oriented Approach. By setting a one-year deadline for findings and recommendations, the bill aims to expedite the development of solutions, increasing the likelihood of rapid policy responses to a persistent public health crisis.
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
Bronx youth in high-unemployment communities
The commission would emphasize youth in communities where unemployment exceeds 125 percent of the statewide rate when studying asthma in the Bronx.
State health and environmental conservation departments
Each department would have a representative among the governor’s appointees to the commission.
Bronx residents with asthma and their families
The commission would study asthma incidence, hold at least one public hearing each quarter and recommend potential responses.
Governor and legislative leaders
They would appoint the commission’s 11 members, and the governor, Senate temporary president and Assembly speaker would receive its findings and recommendations within one year of the act taking effect.
Headline styles
Study Bronx Asthma Rates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
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.
Creates a temporary state commission concerning the incidence of asthma in the Bronx
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor José M. Serrano
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1195
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER, DINOWITZ, ORTIZ, COOK, JAFFEE, BARRON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GALEF, SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to create a temporary state commission to study and make recommendations concerning the incidence of asthma in the borough of the Bronx in New York city
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. A temporary state commission is hereby created to study and make recommendations relating to the incidence of asthma in the borough of the Bronx in New York, which has the highest incidence of asthma in the state. The commission will place particular emphasis on youth in communities with an unemployment rate exceeding one hundred twenty-five percent of the statewide level.
§ 2. The commission shall consist of eleven members to be appointed as follows: five shall be appointed by the governor; two shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate and one by the minority leader of the senate; and two shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly and one by the minority leader of the assembly. The members of the commission shall serve at the pleasure of the official making the appointment of such member. Of the five members appointed by the governor, one shall be from the department of health and one shall be from the department of environmental conservation. The remaining nine members of the commission must reside in a city with a population of one million or more. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Membership on the commission shall not constitute a public office. A chairperson and vicechairperson of the commission shall be elected by a majority of its members, all members being present.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00163-01-9
A. 1195 2
§ 3. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
§ 4. The commission may meet within and without the state, shall hold at least one public hearing each quarter, and shall have all the powers of a legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law.
§ 5. The commission shall make a report of its findings and make any recommendations it may deem necessary and appropriate to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than one year after the effective date of this act.
§ 6. 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.