What's happening
This bill requires the New York Department of Health to study racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality and report recommendations to address them.
Why it matters
The bill requires a comprehensive analysis of both medical and non-medical factors. such as healthcare access, systemic issues, and community trends—that contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality, going beyond simply reporting statistics.
It mandates targeted recommendations. to reduce or eliminate these disparities, which could lead to policy changes or new programs specifically designed to address the underlying causes of higher infant mortality rates in certain racial and ethnic groups.
Expert input is encouraged. , meaning the Department of Health can consult with specialists in neonatal health, minority health advocacy, and related fields, potentially bringing a wide range of perspectives and expertise to bear on the issue.
Ongoing accountability is built in. , as future reports must assess how previous recommendations have been implemented and what impact they have had, ensuring the issue remains a legislative and policy focus over time.
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Study Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Approval memo.58
- Signed chap.356
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- 3rd reading cal.478
- Substituted for S6662
- Referred to health
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.252
- Returned to assembly
Show 11 earlier actions
- Died in senate
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.501
- Rules report cal.501
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Print number 6987a
- Amend and recommit 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.
Study Racial Disparities in Infant Deaths
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Brian Benjamin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6987--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 3, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the department of health of the state of New York to conduct a study of the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality and prepare and submit a report to the governor and the legislature
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 2500-l to read as follows:
§ 2500-l. Study of the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality. 1. The department shall conduct a study on the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality. The purpose of the study shall be to:
(a) identify statewide and regional infant death rates, trends, patterns, and racial and ethnic disparities in adverse birth outcomes, and medical, non-medical, and system-related factors that may have contributed to infant deaths and treatment disparities;
(b) review the extent to which racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality in a geographic area indicate the need to increase access to health care services in that area; and
(c) identify ways to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that contribute to infant mortality.
2. In conducting the study, the department may seek the advice of persons specializing in the fields of neonatal and post neonatal pathology, maternal and infant health, minority health advocacy, or other related fields.
3. Within one year after the effective date of this section, the department shall prepare and submit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10112-02-9
A. 6987--A 2
the senate and the minority leader of the assembly a report containing the study's findings concerning the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality and recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be undertaken to:
(a) reduce infant mortality and improve birth outcomes in the state;
(b) reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that contribute to infant mortality; and
(c) increase access to health care services in the state.
4. The department may prepare and submit additional reports when the department deems it appropriate, and each report, with the exception of the first report prepared under this section, shall additionally identify the extent to which the department's prior recommendations have been successfully implemented in practice and the apparent impact that the implementation of such recommended changes has had on infant mortality in the preceding years.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such 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.