What's happening
This bill requires the creation and distribution of age-specific informational materials about menstrual disorders to students and patients.
Why it matters
Addresses a significant knowledge gap. By ensuring students and patients receive information about menstrual disorders—including endometriosis—the bill tackles widespread underdiagnosis and delays in treatment, which are common due to lack of awareness.
Promotes self-advocacy and early intervention. The inclusion of best practices for being one’s own healthcare advocate empowers young people and patients to seek medical attention earlier and communicate symptoms more effectively, potentially improving health outcomes.
Acknowledges the broader impact of menstrual health. By highlighting the physical, emotional, social, and academic effects of menstrual disorders, the bill validates the experiences of those affected and could reduce stigma, supporting better mental health and educational attainment.
Standardizes and legitimizes menstrual health education. Mandating age-appropriate, evidence-based materials from state health and education authorities helps ensure consistency and credibility in what is taught, moving menstrual health into mainstream public health and education conversations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Menstrual Disorder Awareness
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Teach Menstrual Disorder Awareness
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1016
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to informational materials concerning menstrual disorders
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 268 to read as follows:
§ 268. Informational materials concerning menstrual disorders. Subject to appropriation, the commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioner of education, shall create age specific informational materials to be provided to school districts and health care practitioners upon request to distribute to students and patients educating them about menstrual disorders and their symptoms. The materials shall include, but be not limited to:
1. the timing, signs and symptoms of endometriosis and other menstrual disorders;
2. the importance of menstrual health and its impacts on one's physical, emotional, social, and academic life;
3. basic statistics on endometriosis and other menstrual disorders;
4. best practices on how to be one's own healthcare advocate; and
5. basic treatment options for endometriosis and other menstrual disorders, as well as recommendations for follow-up care from a healthcare provider.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02164-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to informational materials concerning menstrual disorders
Purpose
To provide informational materials concerning menstrual disorders for school districts and health care practitioners
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Instructs the Commissioner of Health, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Education, to create materials to be provided to school districts and health care practitioners upon request regarding menstrual disorders. Such materials will include information on symptoms, the importance of menstrual health, statistics on endometriosis and other menstrual disorders, best practices on being one's own healthcare advo- cate, and basic treatment options and recommendations for follow-up care.
Section 2: Provides the effective date.
Justification
It is imperative that as we educate young men and women about their health, that we instill in them the importance of being their own healthcare advocate. This is particularly important as young people, particularly young women, may begin to experience conditions and symp- toms that they are unfamiliar with, especially menstrual conditions, and are deterred from asking about them because of certain social stigmas or personal discomfort. As such, this legislation will begin these impor- tant conversations by requiring the Commissioner of Health, and the Commissioner of Education to create materials that can be utilized by school districts and health care practitioners for educating young women on menstrual disorders, and in particular, endometriosis.
Approximately 1 out of every 10 women in the United States suffer from endometriosis, a painful condition where lining similar to that of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. While this is a common menstrual condition, many people, and unfortunately many young women, are completely unaware of the disease. This lack of awareness explains why women typically suffer from endometriosis for 10 or more years before being correctly diagnosed - often with bouts of serious pain that can disrupt their social, academic, and professional lives. In addition, endometriosis is the leading cause of infertility and hysterectomies and is the only known precursor to ovarian cancer. Given the seriousness of this disease, and the stigma often associated with discussing menstrual health, it is critical that the state makes an effort to educate young women on this and similar menstrual conditions.
This legislation will help promote conversations regarding these issues and ensure young women have the education they need so they can take proactive steps to ensure their menstrual health and become their own healthcare advocate.
Legislative history
2018: S.8543 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
Subject to appropriation.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.