Governor Hochul officially signs Addabbo/Pheffer Amato's "Fred's Law" bill

New Yorkers with disabilities now have the ability to bring a primary care person with them if they are admitted to a hospital during a state of emergency or pandemic because on Tuesday, December 21, Governor Kathy Hochul signed bill S.1035A — introduced by State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. and Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato — into law.

The new law — known as Fred’s Law — prohibits hospitals from disallowing individuals with disabilities, who are unable to describe for themselves their medical condition, from having an essential support person accompany them for the duration of their hospitalization in response to a pandemic or state disaster emergency.

This means that during an emergency situation or a pandemic those with a disability, such as autism, would be able to have an essential person with them in the hospital to assist in their medical care.

Addabbo drafted the bill after hearing the story of Fred D'Amico, an adult with autism that lived within the Senator’s district, who passed away at the hospital on March 31, 2020 after medical staff would not allow his mother or father, who were Fred’s life-long caretakers, to be with him at the hospital to advocate on his behalf due to COVID restrictions.

“This law, known as Fred’s Law, is a major step forward in protecting our citizens with disabilities if they need to enter a hospital by allowing an essential support person to accompany them for the duration of their stay,” State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. said. “The D’Amico family has fought hard to make sure that no other family goes through the pain they felt when they lost Fred because no one was allowed to be with him when he entered the hospital in 2020. I want to thank Assemblymember Pheffer Amato for co-sponsoring this in the Assembly, and Governor Hochul for signing this important piece of legislation into law.”

“People with disabilities and their families must be heard in New York State and this bill accomplishes that, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato said. “Fred’s Law is a major victory for people with disabilities and their families that have a hard time receiving the proper medical care. This legislation will ensure that families with folks in Fred’s position will never go through what they went through, and that everyone has a voice in their own healthcare. I want to thank Governor Hochul for signing this important legislation, and Senator Addabbo for his partnership in the State Senate.”

Addabbo stated his preference for legislation that originates from issues confronting his constituents. Recently, the Senator’s bill prohibiting the sale of whippet cartridges to minors was a measure to address complaints from constituents about the cartridges littering the streets of many local communities and minors misusing the canisters to get a quick, dangerous high. Similarly, Fred’s Law originated from a concerned brought to Addabbo’s attention by the D’Amico family.