What's happening
This bill requires the creation and distribution of age-appropriate informational materials about menstrual disorders for students and patients.
Why it matters
Addresses a gap in awareness. Many people—especially adolescents—are unaware of the signs and symptoms of menstrual disorders like endometriosis; this bill aims to reduce diagnostic delays and unnecessary suffering by arming students and patients with early warning information.
Promotes self-advocacy. By including best practices on being one’s own healthcare advocate, the bill empowers individuals to seek timely medical help and communicate more effectively with healthcare providers, which can improve outcomes.
Acknowledges broader impacts. The required materials must highlight not just the physical, but also the emotional, social, and academic impacts of menstrual health, helping to destigmatize these conditions and validate the experiences of those affected.
Supports informed decision-making. By providing information on treatment options and the need for follow-up care, the bill equips students and patients to make better-informed choices about their health and encourages continuity of care.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Educate Youth on Menstrual Health
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Substituted by A484
- Ordered to third reading cal.1454
- Referred to rules
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 Menstrual Disorder Awareness
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6368
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 6, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to informational materials concerning menstrual disorders
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 268 to read as follows:
§ 268. Informational materials concerning menstrual disorders. Subject to appropriation, the commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioner of education, shall create age specific informational materials to be provided to school districts and health care practitioners upon request to distribute to students and patients educating them about menstrual disorders and their symptoms. The materials shall include, but be not limited to:
1. the timing, signs and symptoms of endometriosis and other menstrual disorders;
2. the importance of menstrual health and its impacts on one's physical, emotional, social, and academic life;
3. basic statistics on endometriosis and other menstrual disorders;
4. best practices on how to be one's own healthcare advocate; and
5. basic treatment options for endometriosis and other menstrual disorders, as well as recommendations for follow-up care from a healthcare provider.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02164-01-9
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 informational materials concerning menstrual disorders
Purpose
To provide informational materials concerning menstrual disorders for school districts and health care practitioners
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Instructs the Commissioner of Health, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Education, to create materials to be provided to school districts and health care practitioners upon request regarding menstrual disorders. Such materials will include information on symptoms, the importance of menstrual health, statistics on endometriosis and other menstrual disorders, best practices on being one's own healthcare advo- cate, and basic treatment options and recommendations for follow-up care.
Section 2: Provides the effective date.
Justification
It is imperative that as we educate young men and women about their health, that we instill in them the importance of being their own healthcare advocate. This is particularly important as young people, particularly young women, may begin to experience conditions and symp- toms that they are unfamiliar with, especially menstrual conditions, and are deterred from asking about them because of certain social stigmas or personal discomfort. As such, this legislation will begin these impor- tant conversations by requiring the Commissioner of Health, and the Commissioner of Education to create materials that can be utilized by school districts and health care practitioners for educating young women on menstrual disorders, and in particular, endometriosis.
Approximately 1 out of every 10 women in the United States suffer from endometriosis, a painful condition where lining similar to that of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. While this is a common menstrual condition, many people, and unfortunately many young women, are completely unaware of the disease. This lack of awareness explains why women typically suffer from endometriosis for 10 or more years before being correctly diagnosed - often with bouts of serious pain that can disrupt their social, academic, and professional lives. In addition, endometriosis is the leading cause of infertility and hysterectomies and is the only known precursor to ovarian cancer. Given the seriousness of this disease, and the stigma often associated with discussing menstrual health, it is critical that the state makes an effort to educate young women on this and similar menstrual conditions.
This legislation will help promote conversations regarding these issues and ensure young women have the education they need so they can take proactive steps to ensure their menstrual health and become their own healthcare advocate.
Legislative history
2018: S.8543 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
Subject to appropriation.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 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.