NY State Senate Bill 2023-S6082

Senate Bill S6082

Signed By Governor

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Relates to education and outreach programs for individuals who have suffered a pregnancy loss or infant loss

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Oct 17, 2023	signed chap.533
Oct 13, 2023	delivered to governor
Jun 08, 2023	returned to senate passed assembly ordered to third reading rules cal.705 substituted for a5734a
May 31, 2023	referred to ways and means delivered to assembly passed senate
May 30, 2023	advanced to third reading
May 24, 2023	2nd report cal. amended (t) 6082a
May 23, 2023	1st report cal.1263
Mar 28, 2023	referred to women's issues

Votes

- May 31, 2023 - Floor Vote
  S6082
  
  58
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  5
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: May 31, 2023
      
      aye (58)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Bailey
      
      Borrello
      
      Breslin
      
      Brisport
      
      Brouk
      
      Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick
      
      Chu
      
      Cleare
      
      Comrie
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gallivan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Gonzalez
      
      Gounardes
      
      Griffo
      
      Harckham
      
      Helming
      
      Hinchey
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Jackson
      
      Kavanagh
      
      Kennedy
      
      Krueger
      
      Lanza
      
      Liu
      
      Mannion
      
      Martinez
      
      Mattera
      
      May
      
      Mayer
      
      Murray
      
      Myrie
      
      O'Mara
      
      Oberacker
      
      Ortt
      
      Palumbo
      
      Parker
      
      Persaud
      
      Ramos
      
      Rhoads
      
      Rivera
      
      Rolison
      
      Ryan
      
      Salazar
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      Scarcella-Spanton
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Serrano
      
      Skoufis
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stec
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Tedisco
      
      Thomas
      
      Walczyk
      
      Webb
      
      Weber
      
      excused (5)
      
      Ashby
      
      Cooney
      
      Felder
      
      Martins
      
      Weik
  May 23, 2023 - Women's Issues Committee Vote
  S6082
  
  7
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Women's Issues Committee Vote: May 23, 2023
      
      aye (7)
      
      Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick
      
      Persaud
      
      Salazar
      
      Scarcella-Spanton
      
      Serrano
      
      Webb
      
      Weik

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2023-S6082 - Details

Law Section:: Public Health Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§206 & 266, Pub Health L

2023-S6082 - Summary

Includes within the health care and wellness education and outreach program offered by the department of health resources for individuals who have suffered a pregnancy loss or infant loss.

2023-S6082 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6082

SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the
commissioner of health to develop an informational pamphlet providing
resources to individuals who have suffered a pregnancy loss or infant
loss

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To provide informational pamphlets for those experiencing pregnancy loss
or infant loss on what to expect and resources to help them navigate
through the healing process.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 titles the act "Ava's Law".

Section 2 amends the public health law to create pamphlets containing
information on pregnancy or infant loss and provide those pamphlets to

patients.

Section 3 requires the pamphlet to be included on the department's
website.

Section 4 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:;

Pregnancy and infant loss are commonly defined as the unintended or
involuntary loss of a child which includes but not limited to; miscar-
riage, stillbirth, or termination for medical reasons. Though not openly
discussed, it's a common experience with a reported 1 in 4 mothers expe-
riencing such loss.

As expected, this form of loss has a pervasive and devastating impact on
families who are not adequately informed of what to expect throughout
the following days, weeks, months, years, after their loss.

The purpose of, "Ava's Law", is to dose the information gap by mandating
the Commissioner of Health to coordinate with the American College of
OBGYN's and the NYS Association of Licensed Midwives in creating infor-
mation pamphlets for those impacted by pregnancy loss or infant loss.
This will include information on hormone changes and its potential
effects, options if the body produces milk, etc.; and contact informa-
tion (provided by county administrations) to local resources including:
mental health services, milk banks, free gynecological care, and post-
partum doula services.

This information will be made available state-wide through the health
department's maternal health website. Healthcare providers who provide
direct medical care to individuals and their partners (when applicable)
experiencing pregnancy loss or infant loss will provide them with a
printed and/or digital version of the pamphlet as supplemental informa-
tion.


New York is among the leading states in the effort to provide quality
reproductive care. This legislation is a step toward further assisting
healthcare professionals in making a positive difference in how pregnan-
cy loss or infant loss is experienced.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.

2023-S6082 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6082
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 28, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. FERNANDEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Women's Issues
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  public health law, in relation to requiring the
   commissioner of health to develop an informational pamphlet  providing
   resources  to individuals who have suffered a pregnancy loss or infant
   loss

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 "Ava's law".
   § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 206 of the public health law is  amended
 by adding a new paragraph (w) to read as follows:
   (W)  DEVELOP  AND  TRANSMIT  TO  MATERNAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN THE
 STATE  A  PAMPHLET  CONTAINING  INFORMATION  FOR  INDIVIDUALS  WHO  HAVE
 SUFFERED A PREGNANCY LOSS OR INFANT LOSS, WHICH FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
 PARAGRAPH  SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, MISCARRIAGE, STILLBIRTH,
 OR TERMINATION FOR MEDICAL REASONS.  EACH MATERNAL HEALTH CARE  PROVIDER
 SHALL  MAKE THE PAMPHLET AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED A PREG-
 NANCY LOSS OR INFANT  LOSS AND APPLICABLE PARTNERS, SPOUSES  OR  SIGNIF-
 ICANT  OTHERS  DURING  THE DISCHARGE OF THE PATIENT, IN PRINT AND WITH A
 LINK TO SUCH INFORMATION ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WOMEN'S HEALTH WEBSITE.
   (1) SUCH PAMPHLET SHALL INCLUDE:
   (I) STANDARDIZED INFORMATION ON WHAT TO EXPECT FOLLOWING  A  PREGNANCY
 LOSS  OR  INFANT LOSS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE POTENTIAL EFFECT
 OF SUCH A LOSS ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, NAVIGATING GRIEF,  HORMONE
 CHANGES,  AND OPTIONS TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL MILK PRODUCTION.  THE COMMIS-
 SIONER SHALL WORK WITH THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS  AND  GYNE-
 COLOGISTS  AND  THE  NEW  YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED MIDWIVES TO
 DEVELOP THE INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH. SUCH PAMPHLET
 SHALL ALSO INCLUDE STANDARDIZED LANGUAGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING
 AND RECEIVING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOLLOW-UP CARE.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06322-02-3

 S. 6082                             2
 
   (II) CONTACT INFORMATION FOR LOCAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN  THE  COUNTY
 IN  WHICH SUCH PAMPHLET WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.  THE COUNTY SHALL SUBMIT TO
 THE DEPARTMENT ANNUALLY, BY A DATE TO BE DETERMINED BY SUCH  DEPARTMENT,
 CONTACT  INFORMATION  FOR  SUCH  LOCAL  RESOURCES.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
 INCORPORATE SUCH CONTACT INFORMATION INTO THE PAMPHLET TO BE PROVIDED TO
 THE COUNTY PRIOR TO DISTRIBUTING SUCH PAMPHLET TO EACH COUNTY. THE COUN-
 TY, AT A MINIMUM, SHALL PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR:
   (A) MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND COUNSELING;
   (B)  MILK BANKS WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN DONATE BREASTMILK EITHER LOCALLY
 OR BY MAIL;
   (C) FREE FOLLOW-UP GYNECOLOGICAL CARE; AND
   (D) POSTPARTUM DOULA CARE RESOURCES.
   IF ANY OF THE RESOURCES REQUIRED BY THIS CLAUSE ARE NOT  AVAILABLE  IN
 SUCH  COUNTY,  CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SUCH RESOURCES IN NEARBY COUNTIES
 SHALL BE PROVIDED.
   (2) SUCH PAMPHLET MAY ALSO INCLUDE ANY OTHER  ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION,
 RESOURCES,  OR  CONTACT  INFORMATION THE COUNTY PROVIDES ANNUALLY TO THE
 DEPARTMENT FOR INCLUSION IN SUCH PAMPHLET.
   (3) SUCH PAMPHLET SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT'S  WOMEN'S
 HEALTH  WEBSITE,  ESTABLISHED  UNDER  SUBDIVISION  SEVEN  OF SECTION TWO
 HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF  THIS  ARTICLE.  ADDITIONALLY,  REFERENCE  TO  SUCH
 WEBSITE  SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE PAMPHLET AS A SOURCE OF FURTHER INFOR-
 MATION.
   (4) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE  TERM  "MATERNAL  HEALTH  CARE
 PROVIDER" SHALL INCLUDE A PHYSICIAN, MIDWIFE, NURSE PRACTITIONER, PHYSI-
 CIAN  ASSISTANT,  OTHER  HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER, AND ANY OTHER PROFES-
 SIONAL PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE OR ASSISTANCE TO AN INDIVIDUAL  EXPERIENC-
 ING A PREGNANCY LOSS OR INFANT LOSS.
   §  3.  Section 266 of the public health law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 7 to read as follows:
   7. THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE SHALL INCLUDE THE  INFORMATIONAL  PAMPHLET
 ON  PREGNANCY  LOSS AND INFANT LOSS CREATED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (W) OF
 SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED SIX OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2023-S6082A (ACTIVE) - Details

Law Section:: Public Health Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§206 & 266, Pub Health L

2023-S6082A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Includes within the health care and wellness education and outreach program offered by the department of health resources for individuals who have suffered a pregnancy loss or infant loss.

2023-S6082A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6082A

SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to conducting educa-
tion and outreach programs for individuals who have suffered a pregnancy
loss or infant loss

 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:

This bill will provide informational pamphlets for those experiencing
pregnancy loss or infant loss on what to expect and resources to help
them navigate through the healing process.

 
JUSTIFICATION OF THE BILL:

Pregnancy and infant loss are commonly defined as the unintended or
involuntary loss of a child which includes but not limited to; miscar-
riage, stillbirth, or termination for medical reasons. Though not openly
discussed, its a common experience with a reported 1 in 4 mothers expe-
riencing such loss.

As expected, this form of loss has a pervasive and devastating impact on
families who are not adequately informed of what to expect throughout
the following days, weeks, months, years, after their loss.

The purpose of, "Ava's Law", is to close the information gap by mandat-
ing the Commissioner of Health to coordinate with the American College
of OBGYN's and the NYS Association of Licensed Midwives in creating
information pamphlets for those impacted by pregnancy loss or infant
loss. This will include information on hormone changes and its potential
effects, options if the body produces milk, etc.; and contact informa-
tion (provided by county administrations) to local resources including:
mental health services, milk banks, free gynecological care, and post-
partum doula services.

This information will be made available state-wide through the health
department's maternal health website. Healthcare providers who provide
direct medical care to individuals and their partners (when applicable)
experiencing pregnancy loss or infant loss will provide them with a
printed and/or digital version of the pamphlet as supplemental informa-
tion.

New York is among the leading states in the effort to provide quality
reproductive care. This legislation is a step toward further assisting
healthcare professionals in making a positive difference in how pregnan-
cy loss or infant loss is experienced.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2022-2023: This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATION:

TBA

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2023-S6082A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6082--A
     Cal. No. 1263
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 28, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  FERNANDEZ, BAILEY, CHU, GOUNARDES, HOYLMAN-SIGAL,
   PARKER, SALAZAR, SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed,  and  when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Women's Issues -- reported
   favorably  from  said  committee,  ordered to first report, amended on
   first report, ordered  to  a  second  report  and  ordered  reprinted,
   retaining its place in the order of second report
 
 AN  ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to conducting educa-
   tion and outreach programs for individuals who have suffered  a  preg-
   nancy loss or infant loss
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 207 of the public  health  law  is
 amended by adding a new paragraph (r) to read as follows:
   (R)  FOR  THOSE  WHO  ARE  EXPERIENCING PREGNANCY LOSS OR INFANT LOSS,
 WHICH SHALL FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMIT-
 ED TO, MISCARRIAGE, STILLBIRTH,  OR  TERMINATION  FOR  MEDICAL  REASONS,
 INFORMATION REGARDING:
   (I) THE POTENTIAL MENTAL AND PHYSICAL IMPACT FROM SUCH LOSS; AND
   (II) RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT AND FOLLOW-UP CARE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06322-04-3

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Senate Bill S6082

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Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2023-S6082 - Details

2023-S6082 - Summary

2023-S6082 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S6082 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2023-S6082A (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S6082A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S6082A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S6082A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments