What's happening
This bill amends the public health law to include "embryo" in the definition of "tissue" for tissue storage purposes.
Why it matters
Expands regulatory oversight. By including "embryo" in the legal definition of "tissue," the bill brings embryo storage under the same public health regulations that govern other stored human tissues (like sperm, ova, and bone marrow). This could lead to higher standards for storage, recordkeeping, and handling.
Affects fertility clinics and patients. The change directly impacts fertility clinics, laboratories, and patients using assisted reproductive technologies, as embryos created and stored for IVF or other procedures will now be subject to state tissue storage laws.
Potential for improved protections and accountability. This amendment may help clarify responsibilities, improve safeguards against embryo loss or mishandling, and provide clearer recourse for patients if stored embryos are damaged or mishandled.
Could influence legal and ethical considerations. Recognizing embryos as "tissue" for storage purposes may have downstream effects on legal agreements, dispute resolution, and ethical standards in reproductive medicine.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Include Embryos as Tissue
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported referred to rules
- Print number 7214a
- Amend (t) and recommit to health
- 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.
Add Embryo to Tissue Definition
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7214--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 12, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health -- recommitted to the Committee on Health in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to adding "embryo" to the definition of "tissue" for purposes of tissue storage
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 4360 of the public health law, as added by chapter 589 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
10. "Tissue" means a human eye, skin, bone, bone marrow, heart valve, spermatozoon, ova, embryo, artery, vein, tendon, ligament, pituitary gland or a fluid other than blood or a blood derivative.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11044-05-0
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.