S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7273
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 21, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  BICHOTTE HERMELYN,  ALVAREZ,  REYES, SLATER,
   SEAWRIGHT, ZACCARO, LEVENBERG, DAVILA, HYNDMAN, LUCAS, FORREST -- read
   once and referred to the Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in  relation  to  establishing  a
   public  awareness campaign for maternal depression; to amend the state
   finance law, in relation to establishing the maternal depression fund;
   and making an appropriation therefor
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Article 25 of the public health law is amended by adding a
 new title 7-a to read as follows:
                                 TITLE VII-A
                            MATERNAL DEPRESSION
 SECTION 2597. PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR MATERNAL DEPRESSION.
   § 2597. PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR MATERNAL  DEPRESSION.  THERE  IS
 HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT A MATERNAL DEPRESSION AWARENESS
 PROGRAM  TO  EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND MATERNAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ABOUT
 THE RISKS AND REMEDIES ASSOCIATED WITH MATERNAL DEPRESSION.
   § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-n  to
 read as follows:
   §  97-N.  MATERNAL  DEPRESSION FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN
 THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXA-
 TION AND FINANCE A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE "MATERNAL DEPRESSION FUND".
   2. THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONIES APPROPRIATED FOR ITS  PURPOSE,
 AND  ALL  MONEYS TRANSFERRED TO SUCH FUND PURSUANT TO LAW, CONTRIBUTIONS
 CONSISTING OF PROMISES OR GRANTS OF ANY MONEY OR PROPERTY OF ANY KIND OR
 VALUE, OR ANY OTHER THING OF VALUE, INCLUDING GRANTS OR OTHER  FINANCIAL
 ASSISTANCE  FROM ANY AGENCY OF GOVERNMENT AND ALL MONEYS REQUIRED BY THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION OR ANY OTHER LAW TO BE PAID INTO OR  CREDITED
 TO THIS FUND.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11049-01-5
 A. 7273                             2
              

 
   3.    THE MONEYS OF THE FUND SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT
 OF HEALTH FOR THE  PURPOSE  OF  IMPLEMENTING  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  TITLE
 SEVEN-A OF ARTICLE TWENTY-FIVE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   4.  MONIES  SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM THE FUND ON THE AUDIT AND WARRANT OF
 THE STATE COMPTROLLER ON VOUCHERS APPROVED AND CERTIFIED BY THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER OF HEALTH.
   §  3. The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) is hereby appro-
 priated to the department of health out of any moneys in the state trea-
 sury in the general fund to the credit of the  state  purposes  account,
 not  otherwise  appropriated,  and  made  immediately available, for the
 purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be
 payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on  vouchers  certi-
 fied  or approved by the commissioner of health in the manner prescribed
 by law.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.