BILL NUMBER: S8543

SPONSOR: SERINO
 
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:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Subject to appropriation.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become law.