What's happening
This bill requires a review of blood donation policies for people with a history of Lyme or tick-borne illnesses and mandates recommendations on collection and testing.
Why it matters
Ensures up-to-date safety standards. By requiring a review of the latest medical research on blood donation from those with Lyme or tick-borne diseases, the bill aims to keep blood donation policies aligned with evolving scientific understanding, potentially reducing risks of disease transmission.
Includes a range of tick-borne illnesses. The legislation covers not just Lyme disease, but also related infections like anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and others—addressing a broader spectrum of possible threats to the blood supply.
Mandates actionable recommendations. The bill sets a 90-day deadline for the state health council to recommend specific actions, including possible moratoriums (temporary or permanent bans) on collecting blood from affected donors, ensuring prompt policy responses.
Promotes government transparency and accountability. By requiring that recommendations be sent directly to legislative leaders, the bill creates a clear channel for oversight and potential legislative action based on the council’s findings.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Review Blood Donation Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
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.
Review Blood Donations for Lyme
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1303
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 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 donation of blood by patients with a history of Lyme or tick-borne illnesses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3121 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. (a) The council shall review all current medical research and guidance regarding the donation of blood by patients with a history of Lyme or tick-borne illnesses, including but not limited to:
(i) human anaplasmosis;
(ii) babesiosis;
(iii) human ehrlichiosis;
(iv) Rocky Mountain spotted fever;
(v) Powassan virus;
(vi) Southern tick-associated rash illness; and
(vii) other related illnesses and co-infections.
(b) (i) The council shall, within ninety days after the effective date of this subdivision, issue recommendations to the commissioner regarding the collection, testing, and distribution of blood donations with Lyme and tick-borne illnesses present or reported in a patient history, including but not limited to:
(1) considerations of the current state of medical research; and
(2) recommendations for temporary or permanent moratoriums on the collection of blood with Lyme and tick-borne related illnesses present.
(ii) Upon immediate receipt of such recommendation, the commissioner shall provide a copy of such to the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06812-01-9
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 donation of blood by patients with a history of Lyme or tick-borne illnesses
Purpose
Relates to review of blood donations of patients with certain illnesses
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends section 3121 of the public health law to add a new subdivision 6 to require the council on human blood and transfusion services in the Department of Health to review current medical research and guidance related to the donation of blood by patients with a history of Lyme and tick-borne diseases and issue recommendations to the Commis- sioner related to the collection and distribution of such blood.
Section 2: Establishes the effective date.
Justification
In August 2017, the New York State Senate Task Force on Lyme and Tick- Borne Diseases, in conjunction with the Standing Committee on Health, conducted a public hearing to examine the impacts of Lyme and tick-borne illnesses in the state. While New York's history with these illnesses has been extensive, recent cases have highlighted their tragic conse- quences. At the hearing, public health officials, practitioners, and patients, spoke to the need for continued research, public awareness, and medical guidance in the identification, treatment, and prevention of Lyme and tick-borne illnesses.
Included in these discussions, has been concerns expressed over blood donations and transfusions of blood that has Lyme or tick-borne illnesses present. Recent information has shown that these concerns are not unfounded. In 2012, the New York State Council on Human Blood and Transfusion Services issued a report on considerations related to babe- siosis, human ehrlichiosis, and human anaplasmosis infections and blood transfusions. The report noted that transmission of Babesia from blood or blood components was occurring with "increasing frequency," and at that time, there were four cases of transmission of human anaplasmosis in other areas of the country. The same year, the New England Journal of Medicine noted that babesiosis was the pathogen most often spread by blood transfusions. Nationally, it has been estimated that the number of cases of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis have almost quadrupled from the period of 1995-1999 and 2005-2009.
In light of the high rates of infection in New York of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses, as well as this state's unique status as the epicenter of this public health crisis, the implications these infections have on donated blood is ever-more significant. The FDA, as well as the American Red Cross, have begun research to examine these concerns, along with medical researchers and academic institutions. This legislation will require the Council to reexamine the issues surrounding blood donations and Lyme and tick-borne related illnesses, and issue recommendations to the Commissioner based on current medical knowledge. As information continues to emerge, it is important that the threats of Lyme and tick-borne diseases be reanalyzed in light of new medical information and research.
Legislative history
2018: S.7208 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
No cost.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.