What's happening
This bill requires the creation of rules and procedures for schools regarding tick removal from students, including notification and educational materials for parents.
Why it matters
Standardizes how schools respond to tick bites. by requiring the Department of Education and Department of Health to set clear protocols for tick removal, aiming to ensure all students receive appropriate and consistent care if bitten while at school.
Improves parental awareness and response. by mandating that parents are notified in writing when a tick is removed from their child at school, along with educational materials about tick-borne diseases—helping families recognize symptoms early and seek timely medical treatment.
Promotes public health education. by requiring schools and health departments to provide accessible information about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases on their websites, increasing community knowledge and prevention efforts.
Establishes minimum standards statewide. for public schools regarding tick removal and notification, while allowing nonpublic schools to adopt these standards voluntarily, potentially raising safety and awareness across more educational settings.
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Who cares
State education and health commissioners
They would develop rules for tick removal during instruction and school-sponsored or related activities, including health guidance and informational materials.
Public school districts, nurses, physicians and teachers
Public schools would have to meet minimum standards covering tick removal guidelines and written notification to parents or guardians.
Parents and guardians of pupils
They would receive written notice after a tick is removed, including information on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, symptoms and when to seek medical treatment.
Nonpublic schools
They could choose to implement the state's tick removal rules.
Headline styles
Set Tick Removal Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1297
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sens. SERINO, CARLUCCI, JACOBS, LAVALLE, LITTLE, RITCHIE, SEWARD, TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to rules and regulations concerning removal of ticks from pupils
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 60 to read as follows:
60. The commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioner of health, shall promulgate and review as necessary rules and regulations related to pupils who have a tick removed from them while receiving instruction or engaging in any school sponsored or related activity. Such regulations shall include but not be limited to:
(a) Tick removal guidelines for school nurses, school physicians, teachers or employees of a school district to be developed by the commissioner of health.
(b) Procedures for written notification to a parent or guardian after a tick has been removed from a pupil. Written notification shall include, but not be limited to, the inclusion of informational materials developed by the commissioner of health about the spread of Lyme disease and tick-borne disease, signs and symptoms of Lyme or tick-borne diseases, and recommendations for how and when to seek medical treatment if needed.
(c) The development of informational materials for school districts and parents to be provided on the websites of the department and the department of health.
The rules and regulations established pursuant to this subdivision shall be deemed to be the minimum standards that must be complied with by every public school relating to the removal of ticks on pupils. Such
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06839-01-9
S. 1297 2
rules and regulations may also be implemented by nonpublic schools if they so authorize.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to rules and regulations concerning removal of ticks from pupils
Purpose
To promulgate and review rules and regulations related to pupils who have a tick removed from them during school or a school sponsored activ- ity.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Directs the Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Health, to promulgate and review rules and regu- lations related to pupils who have a tick removed from them during school or a school sponsored activity. Such regulations shall include tick removal guidelines, procedures for written notification to a parent or guardian after removing a tick and the development of informational materials for school districts and parents. Such rules and regulations shall be deemed to be the minimum standards for public schools and may be implemented by nonpublic schools if they so authorize.
Section 2: Provides the effective date.
Justification
Lyme and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) continue to spread across the state at an alarming rate, and often impact children the most as they play and explore outside. While these diseases have devastating impacts to all of those infected, they can present serious and even life-threatening symp- toms in children. As such, it is important that our schools and educa- tors are equipped with the knowledge and guidance to handle tick infections in students as they are often the first line of recognition and identification of health care concerns besides parents.
This legislation will require the Commissioner of Health to issue guid- ance for educators, particularly school nurses, regarding the removal of ticks from students and notification of parents. Because timely iden- tification of a tick bite, and immediate medical treatment, can be significant in the development of Lyme and TBDs, this legislation provides a vital step in the timeline of treating these infections in children. For example, the safe removal of ticks is incredibly important for the prevention of spreading Lyme, as the chances of contracting the disease are reduced if the tick is attached to the skin for less than 24 hours.
Moreover, this legislation will provide for informational materials to be made available to parents so they are aware of the symptoms of TBDs, especially since they are commonly misdiagnosed and many erroneously believe that a bull's-eye rash need be present to indicate the contraction of Lyme. By providing parents or guardians with a notifica- tion that a tick was removed from their child, along with information regarding Lyme and other TBDs, parents can be on the lookout for signs and symptoms.
Legislative history
2018: S.8534 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately 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.