What's happening
This bill requires the New York State Department of Health to study and report on racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality.
Why it matters
Addresses root causes. By identifying both medical and non-medical (social, economic, and systemic) factors contributing to racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality, the study aims to uncover the underlying reasons for these inequities rather than just reporting statistics.
Focuses on actionable solutions. The requirement for recommendations on legislative or other actions means the study is designed to lead to concrete policy changes, not just data collection, potentially impacting healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for vulnerable communities.
Encourages expert and community input. The Department of Health is empowered to consult specialists in neonatal care, maternal health, and minority health advocacy, ensuring that the analysis and proposed solutions are informed by those with relevant expertise and lived experience.
Builds in accountability and ongoing evaluation. By mandating follow-up reports that assess the implementation and impact of previous recommendations, the bill creates a mechanism for tracking progress and ensuring that efforts to reduce disparities remain an ongoing state priority.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Racial Disparities in Infant Deaths
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A6987A
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.478
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to health
- 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.
Study Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6662
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
August 21, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BENJAMIN -- 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 requiring the department of health of the state of New York to conduct a study of the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality and prepare and submit a report to the governor and the legislature
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 2500-l to read as follows:
§ 2500-l. Study of the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality. 1. The department shall conduct a study on the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality. The purpose of the study shall be to:
(a) identify statewide and regional infant death rates, trends, patterns, and racial and ethnic disparities in adverse birth outcomes, and medical, non-medical, and system-related factors that may have contributed to infant deaths and treatment disparities;
(b) review the extent to which racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality in a geographic area indicate the need to increase access to health care services in that area; and
(c) identify ways to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that contribute to infant mortality.
2. In conducting the study, the department may seek the advice of persons specializing in the fields of neonatal and post neonatal pathology, maternal and infant health, minority health advocacy, or other related fields.
3. Within one year after the effective date of this section, the department shall prepare and submit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly a report containing
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10112-03-9
S. 6662 2
the study's findings concerning the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality and recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be undertaken to:
(a) reduce infant mortality and improve birth outcomes in the state;
(b) reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that contribute to infant mortality; and
(c) increase access to health care services in the state.
4. The department may prepare and submit additional reports when the department deems it appropriate, and each report, with the exception of the first report prepared under this section, shall additionally identify the extent to which the department's prior recommendations have been successfully implemented in practice and the apparent impact that the implementation of such recommended changes has had on infant mortality in the preceding years.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth 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 requiring the department of health of the state of New York to conduct a study of the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortal- ity and prepare and submit a report to the governor and the legislature
Purpose
This bill establishes a department of persons specializing in the fields of neonatal and post neonatal pathology, maternal and infant health, minority health advocacy, or other related field. Within a year after the effective date of this section, the department shall prepare and submit a report containing the study's findings concerning the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality and recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be undertaken to reduce infant mortality and improve birth outcomes in the states, reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that contribute to infant mortality and to increase access to health care services among racial and ethnic popu- lations in the state.
Summary of provisions
The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2500-1 to conduct a study on the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortality. The purpose of the study shall be to identify state- wide and regional infant death rates, trends, patterns, and racial and ethnic disparities in adverse birth outcomes, and medical, non-medical, and system-related factors that may have contributed to infant deaths and treatment disparities. In addition, the study reviews the extent to which racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality in a geographic area indicate the need to increase access to health care services among racial and ethnic populations in that area. Lastly, the study plans to identify ways to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities that contribute to infant mortality.
Justification
In 2018, New York State had 4.5 infant deaths rate per 1,000 live births. Albeit a decrease since 2016, New York State's infant death rate is still one of the highest in the country. With black woman effected more than any other racial or social group, this bill requires the department of health of the state of New York to conduct a study to determine the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on infant mortal- ity and prepare and submit a report to the governor and the legislature. The study will provide legislatures with external factors affecting statewide and regional infant death rates, trends, patterns, and racial and ethnic disparities in adverse birth outcomes, and medical, non-medi- cal, and system-related factors that may have contributed to infant deaths and treatment disparities.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None
Local fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Thirtieth day after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.