SEN. FARLEY REPORTS SENATE GIVES FINAL PASSAGE TO LEGISLATION TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT LYME AND OTHER TICK-BORNE DISEASES

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) announced that he and his colleagues in the New York State Senate recently gave final passage to legislation that would help educate and increase awareness among school-aged children to protect them from Lyme disease and tick-borne infections. Bill S5804A requires the state to create age-appropriate educational materials that would be readily available to schools so students can learn how to identify ticks, the procedures for safe removal, and the best practices for protection from ticks.

Under the provisions of the bill, the state Department of Education will work in collaboration with the departments of Health and Environmental Conservation to develop age-appropriate educational materials to be available upon request, free of cost, to schools and libraries throughout the state.

According to the Center for Disease Control, New York has the third highest number of confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the country. Providing age-appropriate materials to schools will increase community awareness to help prevent the incidence of Lyme disease and tick-borne infections.

The bill will be sent to the Governor.