S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5979
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 4, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WALKER, JEAN-PIERRE -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Health
AN ACT authorizing the commissioner of health to conduct a study and
issue a report examining unmet health and resource needs facing women
with polycystic ovarian syndrome in New York state and the impact of
limited service centers and resources for women to obtain accurate,
non-coercive health care information and timely access to a comprehen-
sive range of reproductive and sexual health care services
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Definition. As used in this act, "polycystic ovarian
syndrome" is a hormonal imbalance disorder that is common among 1 in 10
women during their reproductive age, meaning that:
1. (a) there is an elevated amount of testosterone and releasing of
sex hormones called androgens, caused by a condition called hyperandro-
genism; and
(b) too much of these hormones within the body can cause irregular
periods, heavy periods, excessive body and facial hair, oily skin or
acne, thinning or hair loss, weight gain, and difficulty getting preg-
nant; with hyperandrogenism and abnormal levels of sex hormones, there
is a prevention of eggs being normally released from the ovaries, irreg-
ular menstrual periods, and infertility.
2. Within the United States, approximately twelve percent of women
face difficulties getting pregnant.
§ 2. Authorization of study and study scope. 1. The commissioner of
health (hereinafter "the commissioner") is hereby authorized and
directed to conduct a study and issue a report examining the unmet
health and resource needs facing women with polycystic ovarian syndrome
in New York state, and the impact of service and resources for women to
obtain accurate non-coercive health care information and timely access
to a comprehensive range of reproductive and sexual health care services
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07610-01-1
A. 5979 2
in alignment with their health care and that supports personal deci-
sion-making.
2. The commissioner may request, and shall receive upon request, data
and information from such entities and other relevant sources to meet
the purposes of the study. This information shall include but not be
limited to:
(a) what state and/or federal funds or taxes or other subsidies, if
any, are directly or indirectly allocated to limited service centers and
resources for women to obtain accurate, non-coercive health care infor-
mation and timely access to a comprehensive range of reproductive and
sexual health care services;
(b) whether the limited service centers for sexual and reproductive
centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, in the state are
part of larger umbrella organizations that operate limited service sexu-
al and reproductive centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian
syndrome, across the country, and if so, whether those umbrella organ-
izations receive state and/or federal funding;
(c) the services provided by limited service sexual and reproductive
centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, and what services
are most frequently sought at limited service sexual and reproductive
centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian syndrome;
(d) the number of women who access services at limited service sexual
and reproductive centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian syndrome,
the geographic regions in which each woman accessing the services of
these centers resides, the distance to the nearest licensed medical
facility providing these services, the prices charged for such services,
and the basic demographic information about each woman, including race,
age, and marital status. Basic demographic information included in any
report shall be published in the aggregate so that it is impossible to
identify any particular individual;
(e) whether sexual and reproductive centers, specifically for polycys-
tic ovarian syndrome, hold themselves out to the public, either in
person, through community participation of events or through their
advertising or websites, as medical facilities or entities in which
comprehensive, polycystic ovarian syndrome, are available.
(f) whether sexual and reproductive services, specifically for poly-
cystic ovarian syndrome, are seeking comprehensive options counseling or
services at medical facilities and whether women have experienced a
delay in receiving health care, including receiving birth control, due
to a visit to a limited service sexual and reproduction center;
(g) whether limited service sexual and reproductive service centers
enroll women in any public benefits programs or connect women to other
services, and if so, which services limited service sexual and reproduc-
tive centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, connect
women to;
(h) the nature of information given to clients or potential clients at
sexual and reproductive centers specifically for polycystic ovarian
syndrome; and the nature of limited service sexual and reproductive
service centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, opera-
tional manuals, handbooks or guidelines, in connection to the provision
or services to clients;
(i) the number of state-certified medical professionals on staff or
volunteering at limited service sexual and reproductive centers, specif-
ically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, and the number who are providing
medical services or counseling on site during regular business hours at
limited service sexual and reproductive centers and whether sexual and
A. 5979 3
reproductive centers inform women whether or not they have any medical
professionals on the premises, on staff, or in a volunteer capacity; and
(j) whether limited service sexual and reproductive centers, specif-
ically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, collect medical information and
what other information is collected upon intake, how limited service
sexual and reproductive centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian
syndrome, handle medical and other client records, and whether the
medical records are in compliance with federal and state requirements
governing medical privacy.
§ 3. Study timeline and taskforce structure. The study shall commence
no later than six months following the effective date of this act. The
commissioner shall establish a temporary taskforce of nine members to
support the department of health in the development of the study, the
review of the findings and the establishment of specific recommendations
for solutions to address any service gaps or negative impact in the
state identified through the study. The taskforce shall have adequate
geographical representation and include but not necessarily be limited
to: a representative of the division of consumer protection; a member
for the New York State Council on Women and Girls, a member of American
college of obstetricians and gynecologists whose practice includes the
provision of all sexual and reproductive related care, specifically for
polycystic ovarian syndrome, including receiving birth control; individ-
uals with professional experience in the fields of reproductive rights,
health and/or justice; a member with professional experience and exper-
tise in the first amendment and free speech rights; and a staff member
from the bureau of social justice within the office of the New York
state attorney general. The members of the taskforce shall be appointed
as follows: three members by the governor; three members to be appointed
by the temporary president of the senate; and three members to be
appointed by the speaker of the assembly. The members of the commission
shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reim-
bursed for any expenses incurred in the performance of their duties
hereunder. The commissioner shall issue a report to the governor and the
legislature; and shall post such report on the department of health's
public website, containing the findings and policy recommendations no
later than eighteen months following the effective date of this act.
Such report may include de-identified patient information in the
aggregate, but shall not include personally identifiable information.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.