What's happening
This bill requires public colleges and universities in New York to provide information and materials about emergency contraception to students.
Why it matters
Ensures all SUNY and CUNY campuses must display clear, accessible information about emergency contraception, aiming to standardize awareness and reduce confusion or stigma among students across New York State’s public colleges.
Clarifies that emergency contraception is FDA-approved, safe, effective, and does not cause abortions—addressing common misconceptions and potentially reducing misinformation on college campuses.
Mandates collaboration between health care providers, students, and university officials in developing these educational materials, fostering materials that are medically accurate and relevant to campus communities.
May lead to quicker, more informed access to emergency contraception for students, which could help prevent unwanted pregnancies and support students’ ability to make timely, informed health decisions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Educate Students on Emergency Contraception
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.519
- Referred to women's issues
- Referred to women's issues
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 Emergency Contraception on Campus
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5089
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Women's Issues
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to enacting the "public university emergency contraception education act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that access to emergency contraception is a basic measure that can prevent college students from having an unwanted pregnancy. The federal Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of emergency contraception as safe and effective in the prevention of pregnancy. Emergency contraception has been found to have no effect on an established pregnancy. Medical research strongly indicates that the sooner emergency contraception is administered, the better the chance of preventing an unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, the legislature deems it essential that each college and university of the state university of New York and the city university of New York provide information on emergency contraception to its students and makes it available to any student who seeks it whenever practicable and in accordance with applicable law and professional standards of practice.
§ 2. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "public university emergency contraception education act".
§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 207 of the public health law is amended by adding a new paragraph (p) to read as follows:
(p) A statewide emergency contraception college education and awareness program. For the purpose of this paragraph, "emergency contraception" shall mean one or more prescription drugs, used separately or in combination, in a dosage and manner for preventing pregnancy when used after intercourse, found safe and effective for that use by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and dispensed for that purpose in accordance with applicable law and professional standards of practice.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09027-01-9
S. 5089 2
The department shall develop, produce and distribute to every college and university of the state university of New York and the city university of New York informational materials and posters relating to the safety and efficacy of emergency contraception, to be conspicuously displayed at appropriate locations around each campus and distributed to students in a manner to be determined by each college and university. The materials and posters shall explain the nature of emergency contraception, including that it is deemed safe and effective in preventing pregnancy by the federal Food and Drug Administration, and cannot and does not cause abortions.
In implementing the provisions of this paragraph the department shall consult with representatives of reproductive health care providers, students and appropriate university officials.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
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 enacting the "public university emergency contraception education act"
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill enacts the "public university emergency contraception educa- tion act", which creates a statewide emergency contraception education and awareness program at every state college and university.
Summary of provisions
Section 207 of the public health law is amended by authorizing the commissioner to establish a statewide emergency contraception college education and awareness program for each college and university of the state of New York.
The Department of Health shall develop, produce and distribute to every SUNY and CUNY campus informational materials and posters with clear and concise language that is readily comprehensible.
Justification
Access to emergency contraception, approved as safe and effective by the federal Food and Drug Administration, is a basic measure that can prevent students from having an unwanted pregnancy. College students should have access to information regarding emergency contraception. Medical research strongly indicates that the sooner emergency contracep- tion is administered, the better the chance of preventing an unwanted pregnancy.
Prior legislative history
2001-02 A3577C referred to health 2003-04 A384 reported referred to ways and means 2005-06 A5174A reported referred to ways and means 2007-08 A885 held in ways and means 2009-10 A1702 referred to health 2011-12 A4051 referred to health 2013-14 A5043 referred to health 2015-16 A6275 referred to health 2017-18: S7367-A - PRINT NUMBER 7367A
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law; provided that any rules and regulations and any other action necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed, on or before such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.