What's happening
This bill creates a statewide program to provide "baby boxes" with safe sleep essentials to all newborns in New York.
Why it matters
Targets infant mortality and SIDS. By providing every newborn with a safe sleep space and education on safe sleeping practices, the program aims to directly reduce deaths from unsafe sleep environments and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Universal accessibility. The program is not income-based, ensuring all families—regardless of socioeconomic status—have access to safe sleep essentials and newborn care items, potentially helping to level disparities in infant health outcomes.
Public-private collaboration and funding efficiency. The Department of Health will seek partnerships and donations from relevant organizations and companies, which could reduce public costs and foster community investment in child health.
Accountability and continuous evaluation. Mandated reporting on the program’s effectiveness requires the state to assess outcomes and adjust as needed, increasing transparency and the likelihood of meaningful impact.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Provide Baby Boxes Statewide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3017
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 31, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- 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 establishing a statewide newborn health and safety program
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 2509 to read as follows:
§ 2509. New born health and safety program. 1. For the purposes of this section, the term "baby box" shall mean a cardboard box lined with a firm mattress, such that it can double as a bassinet.
2. a. There shall be established in the department, by the commissioner, a baby box program designed to reduce infant mortality rates across the state. Through the baby box program, the commissioner shall provide baby boxes, for each infant born in the state of New York, regardless of family income. The baby boxes shall be designed to be a safe sleep place for newborn infants. Each mattress shall be covered with a fitted sheet and all baby boxes shall contain newborn infant care essentials aimed at promoting safe sleeping practices and other methods of reducing sudden infant death syndrome, as well as items to encourage safe and healthy habits for families transitioning to parenting. All such infant care essentials shall be chosen at the discretion of the commissioner and shall include, but not be limited to clothing, hats, socks, thermometers and bath towels.
b. The department shall pursue available funding options and make efforts to establish a public-private partnership with organizations that promote such causes or manufacture such products in order to seek to obtain donations for these purposes. The department shall be responsible for monitoring the quality, appropriateness and effectiveness of the program and shall report to the legislature within two years of the effective date of this section on the program's effectiveness, and then provide periodic updates every year thereafter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03955-01-9
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 establishing a statewide newborn health and safety program
Purpose
Establishes the Newborn Health and Safety Pilot Program in order to reduce infant mortality rates across New York State regardless of location or income.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the section 2508 of the Public Health Law, to direct the Commissioner of the Department of Health to establish the Newborn Health and Safety Pilot Program to reduce infant mortality rates in New York State regardless of location or income levels.
Section two establishes the effective date.
Justification
In New York State, infants die each year due to unsafe sleep practices and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). These practices include infants sleeping on their stomachs, sides, or in inappropriate places such as adult beds, car seats, couches, and armchairs. Additionally SIDS can occur when babies become suffocated by soft bedding or entrapped in crib railings.
Unfortunately, even with the literature distributed by hospitals, parenting books as well as internet resources, many new parents do not have the basic skills or knowledge necessary to care for a newborn.
Establishing the Newborn Health and Safety Pilot Program would work to not only provide supplies that new parents need, but it would also provide supplemental educational materials that are simple and accessi- ble to everyone regardless of education levels, income, or region.
SIDS and unsafe sleeping practices are the leading cause of death in infants between one month and one year of age, the majority of which occur between two and four months. Though the direct cause of SIDS is often unknown, it is proven that with education and information the unsafe sleep practices that lead to infant mortality can be greatly decreased.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
TBD
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.