S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2581
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 17, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the creation of  a
   department  of  health  education and outreach program on reproductive
   health services
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  public health law is amended by adding a new section
 2599-bb-2 to read as follows:
   § 2599-BB-2.   REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH  SERVICES  EDUCATION  AND  OUTREACH
 PROGRAM.    1. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT A REPRODUC-
 TIVE HEALTH SERVICES EDUCATION  AND  OUTREACH  PROGRAM.  THE  DEPARTMENT
 SHALL CONDUCT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR CONSUMERS, PATIENTS, EDUCATORS,
 AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS RELATED TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AVAIL-
 ABLE IN NEW YORK STATE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ACCESS TO SERVICES
 SUCH  AS CONTRACEPTIVES AND PREGNANCY TESTING, TESTING AND TREATMENT FOR
 SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED  INFECTIONS,  AND  ANY  OTHER  REPRODUCTIVE  HEALTH
 CONDITION  OR INFORMATION THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEEM APPROPRIATE.  SUCH
 INFORMATION SHALL ALSO INCLUDE:
   (A) AVAILABLE COUNSELING FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES;
   (B) ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND  COUNSELING  VIA  TELE-
 HEALTH;
   (C)  RESOURCES  FOR  LOCATING CLINICS THAT PROVIDE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
 SERVICES AND COUNSELING FOR THESE SERVICES;
   (D) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR  REPRODUCTIVE  HEALTH  SERVICES
 AND COUNSELING FOR THESE SERVICES; AND
   (E)  PROGRAMS  FOR  REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH OTHER
 STATE AGENCIES AS DEFINED BY SECTION FOUR HUNDRED ONE OF  THE  EXECUTIVE
 LAW.
   2.  THE  PROGRAM  SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE LIMITED TO, ANY OF THE
 FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06611-03-5
              

 A. 2581                             2
 
   (A) EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS IN PRINT,  AUDIO,  VISUAL,
 OR OTHER MEDIA;
   (B)  EDUCATIONAL  AND  INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY
 VIA THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE;
   (C) PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADVERTISEMENTS; AND
   (D) ESTABLISHMENT OF TOLL-FREE  TELEPHONE  HOTLINES,  A  WEBSITE,  AND
 OTHER ELECTRONIC SERVICES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION.
   3.  THE  DEPARTMENT  MAY PRODUCE, MAKE AVAILABLE TO OTHERS FOR REPROD-
 UCTION, OR CONTRACT WITH OTHERS TO DEVELOP  SUCH  MATERIALS  UNDER  THIS
 SECTION  AS  THE COMMISSIONER DEEMS APPROPRIATE. SUCH MATERIALS SHALL BE
 MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND TO PROVIDERS AND EDUCATORS.
   4. IN EXERCISING ANY OF THE COMMISSIONER'S POWERS UNDER THIS  SECTION,
 THE COMMISSIONER MAY CONSULT WITH APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS,
 PROVIDERS, CONSUMERS, EDUCATORS AND PATIENTS OR ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENT-
 ING THEM.
   5.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL INFORMATION AND MATERIALS
 PRODUCED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION ARE MAINTAINED AND UPDATED TO  REFLECT
 BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS.
   6.  THE  COMMISSIONER  MAY  MAKE  RULES  AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY AND
 APPROPRIATE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
   7. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE THE  CONFI-
 DENTIALITY OF PROVIDERS OF THESE SERVICES AND OF THE INDIVIDUALS RECEIV-
 ING  SERVICES  UNLESS NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE OF REFERRING INDIVIDUALS
 FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES. A  PROVIDER  MAY  REQUEST  THAT  THEIR
 INFORMATION  BE  OMITTED  FROM  DISSEMINATION  UNDER THIS PROGRAM.   THE
 COMMISSIONER MAY MAINTAIN AGGREGATE, DE-IDENTIFIED INFORMATION, PROVIDED
 THAT NO INFORMATION  WHICH  ALONE  OR  IN  COMBINATION  WOULD  PERMIT  A
 PATIENT,  PROVIDER,  OR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO SOUGHT, RECEIVED, PROVIDED, OR
 SUPPORTED HEALTH CARE SERVICES UNDER THE PROGRAM TO BE IDENTIFIED MAY BE
 REQUESTED OR SHARED.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth 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.