S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8133--A
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 5, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GOTTFRIED -- (at request of the Department of
Health) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to immunization of
health care workers and repealing section 2190 of such law relating
thereto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The article heading of article 21-A of the public health
law, as added by chapter 580 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as
follows:
LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENT AND
[EMPLOYEE] PERSONNEL IMMUNIZATION ACT
S 2. Section 2190 of the public health law is REPEALED.
S 3. Section 2191 of the public health law, as added by chapter 580 of
the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
S 2191. Definitions. For the purposes of this article:
1. "Long-term care facility" or "facility" means a residential health
care facility as defined in section twenty-eight hundred one of this
chapter, adult home as defined in subdivision twenty-five of section two
of the social services law or enriched housing program as defined in
subdivision twenty-eight of section two of the social services law,
adult day health care program in accordance with regulations of the
department, and any other facility providing residential housing for
five or more persons over the age of sixty-five unrelated to the opera-
tor and supportive services including, but not limited to, food service,
housekeeping, laundry, arranging for medical care, and assistance with
daily living.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05617-05-9
A. 8133--A 2
2. ["Documentation" means written evidence from an individual's health
care provider indicating the date and place when the individual received
the influenza vaccine or the pneumococcal vaccine.
3.] "Medically contraindicated" means [influenza or pneumococcal
vaccine should not be administered to an individual because it may be
detrimental to the individual's health if the individual receives the
vaccine] A PHYSICIAN LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR A
NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFIED TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK CERTI-
FIES THAT IMMUNIZATION WITH INFLUENZA OR PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE IS DETRI-
MENTAL TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH. MEDICAL CONTRAINDICATION SHALL
CONTINUE UNTIL SUCH IMMUNIZATION IS FOUND NO LONGER TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO
THE INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH.
[4. "Employee" means an individual employed (whether directly, by
contract with another entity or as an independent contractor) by a long-
term care facility, on a part-time or full-time basis.] 3. "PERSONNEL"
MEANS ALL PERSONS EMPLOYED OR AFFILIATED WITH A FACILITY, WHETHER PAID
OR UNPAID, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS OF THE
MEDICAL STAFF, CONTRACT STAFF, STUDENTS, AND VOLUNTEERS, WHOSE ACTIV-
ITIES ARE SUCH THAT IF THEY WERE INFECTED WITH INFLUENZA, THEY COULD
POTENTIALLY EXPOSE RESIDENTS, OR OTHERS WHO HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH
RESIDENTS, TO INFLUENZA. PERSONNEL SHALL NOT MEAN THOSE WHO REGULARLY
VISIT SPECIFIC PATIENTS IN THE FACILITY OR THOSE WHO REPRESENT COMMUNITY
GROUPS DURING OCCASIONAL VISITS TO THE FACILITY.
S 4. Section 2192 of the public health law, as added by chapter 580 of
the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
S 2192. Long-term care resident and [employee] PERSONNEL immunization
required. Except as provided in section twenty-one hundred ninety-five
of this article, every long-term care facility in this state shall
require residents [and employees] to be immunized for influenza virus
and pneumococcal disease [in accordance with regulations of the commis-
sioner] AND PERSONNEL TO BE IMMUNIZED FOR INFLUENZA VIRUS.
S 5. Subdivision 2 of section 2193 of the public health law, as added
by chapter 580 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
2. Every long-term care facility shall document the annual immuniza-
tion against influenza virus and immunization against pneumococcal
disease for each resident. THE FACILITY SHALL DOCUMENT THE DATE, SITE
OF ADMINISTRATION, TYPE OF VACCINE, DOSE, MANUFACTURER AND LOT NUMBER OF
THE VACCINE, REACTIONS IF ANY, VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT GIVEN, AND
THE NAME OF THE PERSON ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE. IF ANY RESIDENT
RECEIVES AN INFLUENZA VACCINATION FROM OTHER THAN FACILITY STAFF, THE
FACILITY SHALL DOCUMENT THE DATE, TYPE OF VACCINE, DOSE AND NAME OF THE
PERSON ORDERING OR ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE, OR AN OFFICIAL RECORD FROM
THE FACILITY WHERE THE VACCINATION WAS RECEIVED. Upon finding that a
resident is lacking such immunization or the long-term care facility or
individual is unable to provide documentation that the individual has
received the appropriate immunization, the long-term care facility shall
provide or arrange for immunization. Immunization and the documentation
thereof shall take place no later than November thirtieth of each year.
S 6. Section 2194 of the public health law, as added by chapter 580 of
the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
S 2194. [Employee] PERSONNEL immunization. 1. Every long-term care
facility shall notify [every employee] ALL PERSONNEL of the immunization
requirements of this article and [request that the employee agree to]
REQUIRE THAT PERSONNEL be immunized against influenza virus [and pneumo-
coccal disease].
A. 8133--A 3
2. The long-term care facility shall [require documentation of] DOCU-
MENT THE annual immunization against influenza virus [and immunization
against pneumococcal disease for each employee] OF ALL PERSONNEL IN ITS
PERSONNEL FILES, INCLUDING THE DATE, SITE OF ADMINISTRATION, TYPE OF
VACCINE, DOSE, MANUFACTURER AND LOT NUMBER OF THE VACCINE, REACTIONS IF
ANY, VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT GIVEN, AND THE NAME OF THE PERSON
ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE. IF ANY PERSONNEL MEMBER RECEIVES AN INFLUENZA
VACCINATION FROM OTHER THAN FACILITY STAFF, THE FACILITY SHALL DOCUMENT
IN THE PERSONNEL FILE THE DATE, TYPE OF VACCINE, DOSE AND NAME OF THE
PERSON ORDERING THE ADMINISTERING OF THE VACCINE. Upon finding that [an
employee] ANY PERSONNEL MEMBER is lacking such immunization or the long-
term care facility or individual is unable to provide documentation that
the individual has received the appropriate immunization, the long-term
care facility [must] SHALL provide or arrange for immunization, AT NO
COST TO THE PERSONNEL MEMBER. Immunization and the documentation there-
of shall take place no later than November thirtieth of each year.
3. [An individual who is newly employed as an employee] A PERSONNEL
MEMBER NEWLY ENTERING INTO SERVICE AT A FACILITY after November thirti-
eth but before April first shall have his or her status for influenza
[and pneumococcal] immunization determined by the facility, and if found
to be deficient, the facility shall provide or arrange for the necessary
immunization, AT NO COST TO THE NEW PERSONNEL MEMBER.
S 7. Section 2195 of the public health law, as added by chapter 580 of
the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
S 2195. Exceptions. 1. No [individual] RESIDENT OR PERSONNEL MEMBER
shall be required to receive either an influenza vaccine or pneumococcal
vaccine if the [vaccine] VACCINATION is medically contraindicated, or if
it is against his or her religious beliefs[, or].
2. NO RESIDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE EITHER AN INFLUENZA
VACCINE OR PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE if he or she refuses the [vaccine]
VACCINATION after being fully informed of the health risks of such
action.
3. NO RESIDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE IN A
PARTICULAR YEAR IF THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES THAT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY
OF SUCH VACCINE IS NOT AVAILABLE THAT YEAR.
4. NO RESIDENT OR PERSONNEL MEMBER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE INFLU-
ENZA VACCINE IF THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES THAT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF
SUCH VACCINE IS NOT AVAILABLE THAT YEAR.
S 8. Subdivision 1 of section 2196 of the public health law, as added
by chapter 580 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
1. The commissioner [shall] MAY promulgate regulations relating to the
immunization requirements of this article, taking into consideration the
recommendations of the FEDERAL centers for disease control and
prevention ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES.
S 9. Section 2196 of the public health law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. ANNUALLY EACH FACILITY SHALL COLLECT AGGREGATE DATA ON PERSONNEL
INFLUENZA VACCINATION STATUS AND RESIDENT INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL
DISEASE VACCINATION STATUS FOR THE PERIOD APRIL FIRST TO MARCH
THIRTY-FIRST AND REPORT THAT DATA TO THE DEPARTMENT BY MAY FIRST OF EACH
YEAR.
S 10. This act shall take effect September 1, 2010.