BILL NUMBER: S3905A

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to conducting a study on the use of solid antimicro-
bial materials for touch surfaces in the construction of public build-
ings

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to require the Department of Health
in consultation with the Office of General Services, in order to conduct
a study on the use of solid antimicrobial materials for touch surfaces
in the construction of public buildings in New York.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill defines solid antimicrobial materials and touch
surface as used in this section.

              

Section 2 authorizes the Department of Health in consultation with the
Office of General Services to conduct a study on the use of solid anti-
microbial materials for touch surfaces in the construction of public
buildings in New York.

Section 3 outlines what specifically this study is intended to examine
and discover, including the identification of different types of solid
antimicrobial materials, including copper and silver, and their effec-
tiveness, the potential costs and cost benefits of the materials, the
feasibility of using these materials for touch surfaces, identification
of frequently touched surfaces that present infection risks, and recom-
mendations for the type or types of antimicrobial materials to be used
for touch surfaces in construction of public buildings.

Section 4 requires the Department of Health to deliver a report of the
findings of the study to the governor, the temporary president of the
senate, and the speaker of the assembly, no later than one year after
the effective date.

Section 5 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

By using approved antimicrobial materials, including copper and silver,
for touch surfaces including door handles, bathroom fixtures, bed rails
and handrails, we could significantly reduce the spread of disease-caus-
ing organisms. The use of antimicrobial touch surfaces is a strategy to
reduce transmission of viruses and infections which is especially effec-
tive because it does not fall victim to the fallacies of human behavior.
Other strategies, such as disinfecting and hand washing, require cooper-
ation on an individual basis, and therefore lack ideal effectiveness.
The use of antimicrobial touch surfaces, however, is a passive measure
that requires no human intervention and its action is continuous rather
than episodic.

This legislation would enable the legislature to obtain important infor-
mation regarding the use of solid antimicrobial materials for touch
surfaces in the construction of public buildings in New York, in order
to examine whether the use of antimicrobial materials for touch surfaces
presents a feasible and cost-effective method for protecting New York-
ers.

It requires the Department of Health, in consultation with the Office of
General Services, to examine and discover the identification of differ-
ent types of solid antimicrobial materials, their effectiveness, the
potential costs and cost benefits of the materials, the feasibility of
using these materials for touch surfaces, identification of frequently
touched surfaces that present infection risks, and recommendations for
the type or types of antimicrobial materials to be used for touch
surfaces in construction of public buildings.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.