What's happening
This bill updates public health law language and procedures regarding health care agents, proxies, decision-making standards, and nonhospital do-not-resuscitate orders.
Why it matters
Reflects Modern Terminology and Inclusivity. Updates outdated and potentially offensive language (e.g., replacing “mental retardation” with “developmental disabilities”) and aligns legal language with current best practices and sensitivity, which can affect how individuals and families interact with the healthcare and legal systems.
Expands and Clarifies Who Can Participate in Health Care Decisions. Broadens the list of professionals (including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, licensed master social workers) whom health care agents must consult, and clarifies notification and decision-making procedures. This could improve the quality and responsiveness of decisions, especially in complex or emergency situations.
Strengthens Documentation and Notification Requirements. Imposes more explicit requirements for documenting decision-making capacity (especially for emancipated minors) and for making and documenting diligent efforts to notify family or guardians about critical health care decisions. This increases transparency and could reduce disputes or misunderstandings during emotionally charged times.
Improves Accessibility and Understanding of Patient Rights. Mandates clearer communication of patient rights (e.g., do-not-resuscitate and life-sustaining treatment options) to patients, their surrogates, and hospital staff, aiming to ensure that patients and families are better informed and able to exercise their rights more effectively.
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Who cares
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Update Health Care Proxy Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Update Health Proxy Rules
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Richard Gottfried
Full text
5 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5940
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RIVERA -- 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 making technical, minor and coordinating amendments regarding health care agents and proxies, decisions under the family health care decisions act, and nonhospital orders not to resuscitate
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 2980 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 23 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
10. "Mental hygiene facility" means a residential facility, excluding family care homes, operated or licensed by the office of mental health or the office [of mental retardation and] for people with developmental disabilities.
§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 2981 of the public health law, as added by chapter 752 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
(b) For the purposes of this section, every adult shall be presumed competent to appoint a health care agent unless such person has been adjudged incompetent or otherwise adjudged not competent to appoint a health care agent, or unless a [committee or] guardian of the person has been appointed for the adult pursuant to article [seventy-eight] eighty-one of the mental hygiene law or article seventeen-A of the surrogate's court procedure act.
§ 3. Subdivision 2 of section 2982 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 230 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
2. Decision-making standard. After consultation with a licensed physician, registered nurse, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, licensed psychologist, licensed master social worker, or a licensed
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09564-03-9
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clinical social worker, the agent shall make health care decisions: (a) in accordance with the principal's wishes, including the principal's religious and moral beliefs; or (b) if the principal's wishes are not reasonably known and cannot with reasonable diligence be ascertained, in accordance with the principal's best interests; provided, however, that if the principal's wishes regarding the administration of artificial nutrition and hydration are not reasonably known and cannot with reasonable diligence be ascertained, the agent shall not have the authority to make decisions regarding these measures.
§ 4. Subdivision 3 of section 2983 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 342 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
3. Notice of determination. Notice of a determination that a principal lacks capacity to make health care decisions shall promptly be given: (a) to the principal, orally and in writing, where there is any indication of the principal's ability to comprehend such notice; (b) to the agent; (c) if the principal is in or is transferred from a mental hygiene facility, to the facility director; and (d) to the [conservator for, or committee of, the principal] guardian, if any.
§ 5. Subdivision 2 of section 2991 of the public health law, as added by chapter 752 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
2. Such procedures shall be established in accordance with regulations issued by the commissioners of health, mental health, and [mental retardation and] developmental disabilities for facilities subject to their respective regulatory authorities.
§ 6. The opening paragraph of section 2992 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 93 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
The health care provider[, the conservator for, or committee] of the principal under article eighty-one of the mental hygiene law or article seventeen-A of the surrogate's court procedure act, members of the principal's family, a close friend of the principal as defined in subdivision [five] four of section [two thousand nine] twenty-nine hundred [sixty-one] ninety-four-a of this chapter, or the commissioner [of health], the commissioner of mental health, or the commissioner of developmental disabilities may commence a special proceeding pursuant to article four of the civil practice law and rules, in a court of competent jurisdiction, with respect to any dispute arising under this article, including, but not limited to, a proceeding to:
§ 7. Section 2993 of the public health law, as added by chapter 752 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
§ 2993. Regulations. The commissioner [of health], in consultation with the commissioners of [the office of] mental health and [the office of mental retardation and] developmental disabilities, shall establish such regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of this article, subject to the provisions of subdivision two of section [two thousand nine] twenty-nine hundred ninety-one of this article.
§ 8. Subdivisions 17, 20 and 26 of section 2994-a of the public health law, as added by chapter 8 of the laws of 2010, are amended to read as follows:
17. "Health or social [service] services practitioner" means a registered professional nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant, psychologist, licensed master social worker or licensed clinical social worker, licensed or certified pursuant to the education law acting within his or her scope of practice.
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20. "Mental hygiene facility" means a facility operated or licensed by the office of mental health or the office [of mental retardation and] for people with developmental disabilities as defined in subdivision six of section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law.
26. "Person connected with the case" means the patient, any person on the surrogate list, a parent or guardian of a minor patient, [the] a hospital administrator, an attending physician, any other health or social services practitioner who is or has been directly involved in the patient's care, and any duly authorized state agency, including the facility director or regional director for a patient transferred from a mental hygiene facility and the facility director for a patient transferred from a correctional facility.
§ 9. The opening paragraph of subdivision 3 of section 2994-b of the public health law, as amended by chapter 430 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
Prior to seeking or relying upon a health care decision by a surrogate for a patient under this article, if the attending physician or attending nurse practitioner has reason to believe that the patient has a history of receiving services for [mental retardation or] a developmental disability; it reasonably appears to the attending physician or attending nurse practitioner that the patient has [mental retardation or] a developmental disability; or the attending physician or attending nurse practitioner has reason to believe that the patient has been transferred from a mental hygiene facility operated or licensed by the office of mental health, then such physician or nurse practitioner shall make reasonable efforts to determine whether paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this subdivision are applicable:
§ 10. Subdivision 3 of section 2994-e of the public health law, as amended by chapter 430 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
3. Decision-making standards and procedures for emancipated minor patient. (a) If an attending physician or attending nurse practitioner determines that a patient is an emancipated minor patient with decision-making capacity and documents the basis for such determination in the patient's medical record, the patient shall have the authority to decide about life-sustaining treatment. Such authority shall include a decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment if an attending physician or attending nurse practitioner and the ethics review committee determine that the decision accords with the standards for surrogate decisions for adults, and the ethics review committee approves the decision.
(b) If the hospital can with reasonable efforts ascertain the identity of the parents or guardian of an emancipated minor patient, the hospital shall make diligent efforts to notify such persons, and document such diligent efforts in the patient's medical record, prior to withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment pursuant to this subdivision.
§ 11. Subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section 2994-m of the public health law, as amended by chapter 430 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(iv) Following ethics review committee consideration of a case concerning the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment, treatment shall not be withdrawn or withheld until the hospital makes diligent efforts to inform the persons identified in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph [have been informed] of the committee's response to the case and documents such diligent efforts in the patient's medical record.
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§ 12. Subdivision 2 of section 2994-t of the public health law, as added by chapter 8 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
2. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioners of [the office of] mental health and [the office of mental retardation and] developmental disabilities, shall promulgate regulations identifying the credentials of health care professionals qualified to provide an independent determination, pursuant to subdivision three of section twentynine hundred ninety-four-c of this article, that a patient lacks decision-making capacity because of mental illness or developmental disability.
§ 13. Section 2994-u of the public health law, as added by chapter 8 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 2994-u. Rights to be publicized. The commissioner shall prepare a statement summarizing the rights, duties, and requirements of this article and shall require that a copy of such statement be furnished to [patients] a patient or to [persons on] the surrogate [list known to the hospital], or to the [parents or guardians] parent or guardian of a minor [patients] patient, at or prior to admission to the hospital, or within a reasonable time thereafter, and to [each member of the hospital's staff directly involved with patient care] any person on the surrogate list who requests a copy of such statement from the hospital. The statement shall also be made available to the hospital clinical staff.
§ 14. The commissioner of health shall revise the statement of rights that hospitals are required to post (known as the Patient's Bill of Rights) pursuant to paragraph (g) of subdivision 1 of section 2803 of the public health law, by replacing the clause regarding orders not to resuscitate with a statement that more generally informs patients of their right to receive from the hospital upon admission, and upon request, a more complete statement of their rights with respect to deciding about health care, including appointing a health care agent, consenting to do-not-resuscitate orders and making other life-sustaining treatment decisions. The clause should also state in substance that the hospital will also provide such statement upon request to any family member or friend of a patient who lacks decision-making capacity.
§ 15. Subdivisions 12 and 13 of section 2994-aa of the public health law, subdivision 12 as added by chapter 8 of the laws of 2010 and subdivision 13 as amended by chapter 167 of the laws of 2011, are amended to read as follows:
12. "Mental hygiene facility" means a residential facility operated or licensed by the office of mental health [or the office of mental retardation and developmental disabilities].
13. "Nonhospital order not to resuscitate" means an order that directs emergency medical services personnel, hospice personnel, home care services agency personnel and hospital emergency services personnel not to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the event a patient suffers cardiac or respiratory arrest.
§ 16. Subdivisions 2 and 6 of section 2994-dd of the public health law, as amended by chapter 430 of the laws of 2017, are amended to read as follows:
2. A nonhospital order not to resuscitate shall be issued upon a standard form prescribed by the commissioner. [The commissioner shall also develop a] A standard bracelet [that] or other article may be worn by a patient with a nonhospital order not to resuscitate to identify that status; provided, however, that no person may require a patient to wear such a bracelet or other article and that no person may require a
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patient to wear such a bracelet as a condition for honoring a nonhospital order not to resuscitate or for providing health care services.
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 making technical, minor and coordinating amendments regarding health care agents and proxies, decisions under the family health care deci- sions act, and nonhospital orders not to resuscitate
Purpose of general idea of bill
This is one of a series of seven bills, informally referred to as the "Surrogate Decision-Making Improvement Acts." The bills make technical/minor, clarifying and coordinating amendments and other improvements to the Family Health Care Decisions Act (FHCDA) (Ch. 8, Laws of 2010) and other laws that govern health care decisions, includ- ing life-sustaining treatment decisions, for patients who lack deci- sion-making capacity. This bill makes technical changes to the FHCDA and other laws.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends PHL § 2980, subdivision 10, to substitute the name "office for people with developmental disabilities" (hereinafter OPWDD)for the former name, office of mental retardation and develop- mental disabilities" (hereinafter, OMRDD).
Read the full memo (756 words)
Section 2 amends PHL § 2981(b) to delete the outdated term "committee" and to insert the correct reference to MPL Article 81.
Section 3 amends PHL § 2982(2) to add "physician assistant" to the list of professionals, one of whom an agent must consult with before making a decision.
Section 4 amends PHL § 2983(4) to eliminate outdated references to "the conservator for, or committee of a principal with the correct reference to "the guardian" of the principal.
Section 5 amends PHL § 2991 to substitute OPWDD for OMRDD.
Section 6 amends PHL § 2992 to replace outdated references to "the conservator for, or committee of a principal with the correct reference to "the guardian" of the principal.
Section 7 amends § 2993 to substitute OPWDD for OMRDD.
Section 8 amends three subdivisions in PHL § 2994-a (Definitions): Amends "Health or social services practitioner" to include "licens ed master social worker." Substitutes OPWDD for OMRDD. Changes "the hospi- tal administrator" to "a hospital administrator."
Section 9 amends PHL § 2994-b(3)(a) to change "mental retardation or a developmental disability" to "a developmental disability." Corrects a spelling error.
Section 10 amends PHL § 2994-e to clarify that the obligation a hospital has to notify the parents or guardian of an emancipated minor is to make "diligent efforts" to notify such persons.
Section 11 amends PHL § 2994-m(4)(b)(iv) to clarify that the obligation an ethics committee has to notify certain persons is to make "diligent efforts" to notify such persons. Section 20 amends PHL § 29944(2) to substitute OPWDD for OMRDD.
Section 12 amends PHL § 2994-t to correct references to the commission- ers of OMH and OPWDD.
Section 13 amends PHL § 2994-u to direct the commissioner of health to require that a copy of the statement of rights under this article be furnished "to a patient or to the surrogate, or to the parent or guardi- an of a minor patient, at or prior to admission to the hospital, or within a reasonable time thereafter, and to any person on the surrogate list who requests a copy of such statement from the hospital. The state- ment shall also be made available to the hospital clinical staff."
Section 14 directs the commissioner of health to revise the statement of rights that hospitals are required to post (known as the Patient's Bill of Rights) by replacing the clause regarding orders not to resuscitate with a statement about a broader range health care decision-making rights.
Section 15 amends § 2994-aa subdivisions 12 and 13 and adds 14-a: to, substitute OPWDD for OMRDD, to provide that a nonhospital order not to resuscitate also applies to home care services agency personnel and school health personnel, and to define "school health personnel.
Section 16 amends PHL § 2994-dd (2 and 6) to make the nonhospital DNR provisions applicable to school health personnel.
Section 17 amends PHL § 2994-gg to substitute the word "article" for the word "section" in two places.
Section 18 is the effective date: ninety days after it becomes a law.
Justification
This bill amends the Family Health Care Decisions Act (Ch.8, Laws of 2010) (FHCDA). It makes technical, minor and coordinating amendments to related laws.
Bill history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect ninety days after the date on which this act shall have become a law. The amendments to article 29-C of th e public health law shall apply to decisions made pursuant to health care proxies created prior to this act becoming law as well as those created there- after.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.