BILL NUMBER: S1785

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring
infection updates and infection control planning in residential health
care facilities

 
PURPOSE:

To require residential health care facilities, as part of their pandemic
emergency plan, to establish and implement a plan or procedure designat-
ing a cohort area during an infectious disease outbreak in the residen-
tial health care facility and to require residential health care facili-
ties to update resident and designated contacts within twelve hours of
the detection of the presence of an infection by a resident or staff
member.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

              

Section 1: Amends subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 12 of
section 2803 of the public health law to add a new clause (c) to require
residential facilities to update all residents, authorized family
members and guardians of residents within twelve hours of the detection
of the presence of an infection by a resident or staff member.

Section 2: Amends subparagraph (ii) of a paragraph (a) of subdivision 12
of section 2803 of the public health law to add a new clause (c) to
require residential health care facilities, as part of their pandemic
emergency plan, to establish and implement a plan or procedure designat-
ing a cohort area during an infection disease outbreak in the residen-
tial health care facility for the separation of residents that are
suspected of being infectious, including the creation of a designated
infectious disease care unit.

Section 3: Effective date

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Given the congregate nature and traditional population residing in resi-
dential health care facilities, it is imperative that such facilities
have a comprehensive plan or procedure in place in advance of public
health emergencies, such as the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, in
order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protect the
health and wellbeing of facility residents, personnel and visitors.

This legislation directs health care facilities to implement a plan or
procedure to designate a separate cohort area during an infectious
disease outbreak in the facility. This legislation also requires resi-
dential health care facilities to notify residents and their designated
contacts within twelve hours of the detection of the presence of an
infectious disease in the facility.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.

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