S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2152
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 12, 2009
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Introduced by Sens. MAZIARZ, ALESI, DIAZ, O. JOHNSON, LANZA, MORAHAN,
VOLKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be
committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing a
bladder cancer screening program for firefighters
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new article
27-JJ to read as follows:
ARTICLE 27-JJ
BLADDER CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM; FIREFIGHTERS
S 2799-JJ. BLADDER CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM; FIREFIGHTERS.
S 2799-JJ. BLADDER CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM; FIREFIGHTERS. THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH, PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN A PUBLIC INFORMATION
PROGRAM REGARDING THE INCIDENCE OF BLADDER CANCER IN FIREFIGHTERS IN
ORDER TO ENCOURAGE SUCH PERSONS TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE FOR THE PREVENTION
OR TREATMENT OF ANY MALIGNANT CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM OCCUPATIONAL
EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL BE CONDUCTED
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, PRE-EM-
PLOYMENT TESTING, ANNUAL TESTING, AND OTHER FOLLOW-UP TESTING AS MAY BE
RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT; DATA COLLECTION OF ALL INCIDENCES OF
BLADDER CANCER IN FIREFIGHTERS AND RELATED PROFESSIONS IN THIS STATE;
AND A PROGRAM OF EDUCATION FOR SUCH GROUPS. ALL PARTICIPATION BY FIRE-
FIGHTERS IN THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE VOLUNTARY.
SUCH PROGRAM SHALL EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR ANNUAL TESTING AND THE NEED TO
REMAIN INFORMED ABOUT ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING LINKS BETWEEN
FIREFIGHTERS' OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND BLADDER
CANCER.
THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DESIGNATE AND MAY ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH
PROVIDERS OF HEALTH CARE AND/OR BLADDER CANCER TESTING MATERIALS FOR THE
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02608-01-9
S. 2152 2
PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING REGIONAL SCREENING PROGRAMS FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND
RELATED PROFESSIONS. IN SELECTING SUCH PROVIDER, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
CONSIDER SUCH PROVIDER'S COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL STANDARDS,
SUCH PROVIDER'S LOCATION IN RELATION TO GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF
FIREFIGHTERS, AND THE CAPACITY OF SUCH PROVIDER TO PROPERLY SCREEN FOR
BLADDER CANCER USING THE MOST ACCURATE AND ECONOMICALLY EFFICIENT MEANS
AVAILABLE.
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE OF ITS
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS, IMPACT AND
BENEFITS DERIVED FROM SUCH SPECIAL PROGRAMS. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE FILED
WITH THE ASSEMBLY ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY AND SHALL
CONTAIN EVALUATIONS OF SUCH SPECIAL PROGRAMS, AND ANY RECOMMENDED LEGIS-
LATION.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.