BILL NUMBER: S8829

SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to requiring that COVID-19 contact tracers be repre-
sentative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the communities in
which they serve to the greatest extent possible; and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

To promote, encourage, and ensure that, contact tracers performing trac-
ing pertaining to COVID-19 infections are representative of the cultural
and linguistic diversity of the communities in which they serve.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 requires that all contact tracers hired by the Department of
Health a county department of health, or other entity to perform contact
tracing pertaining to COVID-19, except within New York City, be repre-
              

sentative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the communities in
which they serve.

Section 2 requires the county departments of health, except within New
York City, to compile the data and post on their website, any informa-
tion about contact tracer worker diversity within the county.  This
information must be updated annually.

Section 3 provides for the effective date of immediately and the sunset
date of January 1, 2022.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Chapter 115 of 2020 requires contact tracers in New York City to be
representative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the communi-
ties they serve. While New York City has the largest contact tracing
program in the state, every county in New York State has some sort of
contact tracing program run either by the local health department or the
State Department of Health.

Contact Tracers act a "disease detectives" and work with people who have
tested positive for COVID-19 to identify people they have had contact
with and let such contacts know they may have been exposed to the
disease. Contact tracers are put into direct contact with members of the
public that have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus. To ensure that New
Yorkers feel safe, confident, and have trust in these tracers and to
increase program success they should be representative of the areas in
which they serve.

Shortly following the launch of the contact tracing program, the New
York State legislature passed legislation to create such a requirement
for tracers working within New York City only. This bill will expand
that requirement to capture contact tracers that are performing contact
tracing throughout the rest of the state.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed January 1, 2022.