BILL NUMBER: S3851             Revised 2/11/2025

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to donation of blood
by patients with a history of Lyme or tick-borne illnesses

 
PURPOSE:

Relates to review of blood donations of patients with certain illnesses

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends section 3121 of the public health law to add a new
subdivision 6 to require the council on human blood and transfusion
services in the Department of Health to review current medical research
and guidance related to the donation of blood by patients with a history
of Lyme and tick-borne diseases and issue recommendations to the Commis-
sioner related to the collection and distribution of such blood.

Section 2: Establishes the effective date.
              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In August 2017, the New York State Senate Task Force on Lyme and Tick-
Borne Diseases, in conjunction with the Standing Committee on Health,
conducted a public hearing to examine the impacts of Lyme and tick-borne
illnesses in the state. While New York's history with these illnesses
has been extensive, recent cases have highlighted their tragic conse-
quences. At the hearing, public health officials, practitioners, and
patients, spoke to the need for continued research, public awareness,
and medical guidance in the identification, treatment, and prevention of
Lyme and tick-borne illnesses.

Included in these discussions, has been concerns expressed over blood
donations and transfusions of blood that has Lyme or tick-borne
illnesses present. Recent information has shown that these concerns are
not unfounded. In 2012, the New York State Council on Human Blood and
Transfusion Services issued a report on considerations related to babe-
siosis, human ehrlichiosis, and human anaplasmosis infections and blood
transfusions. The report noted that transmission of Babesia from blood
or blood components was occurring with "increasing frequency," and at
that time, there were four cases of transmission of human anaplasmosis
in other areas of the country. The same year, the New England Journal of
Medicine noted that babesiosis was the pathogen most often spread by
blood transfusions. Nationally, it has been estimated that the number of
cases of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis have almost quadrupled from
the period of 1995-1999 and 2005-2009.

In light of the high rates of infection in New York of Lyme and other
tick-borne illnesses, as well as this state's unique status as the
epicenter of this public health crisis, the implications these
infections have on donated blood is ever-more significant. The FDA, as
well as the American Red Cross, have begun research to examine these
concerns, along with medical researchers and academic institutions. This
legislation will require the Council to reexamine the issues surrounding
blood donations and Lyme and tick-borne related illnesses, and issue
recommendations to the Commissioner based on current medical knowledge.
As information continues to emerge, it is important that the threats of
Lyme and tick-borne diseases be reanalyzed in light of new medical
information and research.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24: S.5060 - Passed Senate

2021-22: S.2217 - Referred to Health

2019-20: S.1303/A.3513 Referred to Health/ Referred to Health

2017-18: S.7208/A.9830 Passed Senate/ Referred to Health

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.