What's happening
This bill directs the New York State Department of Health to study and address high asthma rates in New York's fifth congressional district.
Why it matters
Targets Root Causes. By requiring analysis of income, race, ethnicity, housing, and proximity to pollution sources, the study aims to uncover underlying social and environmental drivers of asthma, not just medical factors—potentially leading to more effective, equity-focused interventions.
Localizes Attention. Focusing specifically on New York’s fifth congressional district means resources and policy attention could be directed to a community that may have been overlooked, addressing specific local needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Accountability and Timelines. The law sets a clear deadline for both the study and the remedial plan, ensuring that the issue won’t be indefinitely delayed and that findings will be reported to both the governor and legislature, making government more accountable for follow-up action.
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Who cares
New York State Department of Health
The commissioner would be required to prepare or commission a study and remedial plan addressing high asthma incidence in New York City's fifth congressional district.
Residents with asthma in the fifth congressional district
The study would examine high-risk neighborhoods for disparities involving income, race and ethnicity, housing, and proximity to major air pollution sources.
Medical facilities serving the district
The study would evaluate the effectiveness of existing medical facilities as part of developing a remedial plan.
Governor and state legislators
They would receive the study results and remedial plan no later than eighteen months after the study begins.
Headline styles
Study Asthma in Queens District
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7832
IN SENATE
February 25, 2020
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to direct the New York state department of health to conduct a study on the high incidence of asthma in the fifth congressional district in the city of New York and to prepare a remedial plan
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The commissioner of the New York state department of health is hereby authorized and directed to prepare or have prepared a study of and a remedial plan for the high incidence of asthma in the fifth congressional district in the city of New York. Such study shall include an analysis of high risk neighborhoods examining disparities in: income, race and ethnicity, public and private housing, proximity to major sources of air pollution, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of existing medical facilities.
§ 2. Such study and remedial plan shall be completed within twelve months of the effective date of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law and the results of such study and the remedial plan shall be provided to the governor and the legislature no later than eighteen months from the beginning of such study.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06243-02-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to direct the New York state department of health to conduct a study on the high incidence of asthma in the fifth congressional district in the city of New York and to prepare a remedial plan
Purpose
To require the New York State Department of Health to conduct a year study on Asthma in Southeast Queens with a report and solutions to be given to the Governor and Legislature.
Summary of provisions
§1. The commissioner of the New York State Department of Health shall prepare a study of high incidences of asthma.
§ 2. The study shall be completed within one year after enacted.
§3. Once study is completed, the study and remedial plan shall be deliv- ered to the Governor and the Legislature.
§ 4. Sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Asthma is a disease of the lungs which your airways narrow and swell and preclude extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Though some may endure mild cases of it; others can have it so severely, it is life-threatening. Asthma can be inherent and also be caused by things such as Airborne substances like as pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander or parti- cles of cockroach waste; Respiratory infections, such as the common cold; Physical activity (exercise-induced asthma); Cold air; air pollu- tants and irritants like smoke (Mayo Clinic). Attacks are often trig- gered by one or more of the causes outside of being inherent.
The New York Times reported Asthma affects about 40 million Americans making it the most common chronic disease that affects Americans of all ages. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated the annual cost for asthma to cost over $56 billion dollars; including millions of potentially avoidable hospital visits and more than 3,300 deaths. CDC reports Asthma rates tend to be higher in urban areas with clusters in poorer neighborhoods.
JFK Airport being one of our Nation's busiest international airports yielding many air pollutants and irritants. There are many instances where Southeast Queens is referenced as 'Ground Zero' for pollutants due to the airport location. This bill will require the Department of Health to research the depth of Asthma in the communities surrounding JFK Airport, pinpoint the areas of Asthma clusters, and submit a report with solutions.
Legislative history
Comparable Legislation 2010-current.
Fiscal implications
No substantial cost to state.
Local fiscal implications
None.
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.