Senator Bonacic Supports a Package of Bills that Raises Awareness, Prevents, and Treats Lyme and Tick Borne Illnesses

(Albany, NY)- State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt. Hope) voted today in favor of a package of legislation that strengthens the state’s efforts to combat Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases. Senator Bonacic is a member of the Senate Task Force on Lyme and Tick Borne Diseases and has worked with his colleagues to implement the Task Force’s goals of improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to better protect the health of New Yorkers.

The bills passed today include:

• S2168, which requires the State Health Care Quality and Cost Containment Commission to meet annually and to submit a report on the impact of providing insurance coverage for Lyme and Tick-Borne disease;

• S2588, which provides homeowners with vital and reliable information on the best way to protect their property from ticks. The bill directs the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to develop guidelines for best practices in treating residential properties to reduce exposure to ticks; and

• S2621, which authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) to award grants for graduate medical education in Lyme and tick-borne diseases, designate organizations as centers of excellence for Lyme and tick-borne diseases, and designate Lyme and tick-borne-disease resource centers.

“My colleagues and I in the Senate have committed ourselves to doing all we can to raise awareness about the effects of Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases, and pass bills that help prevent these diseases,” said Senator Bonacic. “I’m pleased to have voted in favor of these bills because I know that they will have an impact in our communities.”

In addition to voting on these bills today, Senator Bonacic joined some of his colleagues to participate in the “Take a Bite out of Lyme” challenge. Senator Bonacic and the other members took a bite out of a Lime to help raise awareness about the disease. For more information on the challenge, visit http://lymediseasechallenge.org/.