Senate Bill S2815

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S2815

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing the
New York state healthy community program


 PURPOSE :
To establish within the Department of Health the New York State
Healthy Community Program. This program will promote community-based
approaches to chronic disease prevention and control.  It will build
on the success of the model communities in the federal Steps to a
Healthier NY Program.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :
Section 1 amends the public health law by adding a new section 2704.
Section 2704 has three subsections.  Subsection 1 establishes the
healthy community program within the jurisdiction of the Department of
Health. It instructs the department to develop this program with
community-based approaches to chronic disease prevention and control
which build on the success of the model communities in the federal
Steps to a Healthier NY Program.  Subsection 2 establishes criteria
the department must meet in order to develop the healthy community
program. Subsection 3 authorizes the commissioner to expend any
funding the program may receive. In addition, it gives the
commissioner the authority to conduct an audit of the program as
              

provided for in state law. Lastly, subsection three also provides for
fifteen percent of the appropriations to be transferred to the state
operations account for the administration of the program.

Section 2 states that the act shall take effect immediately.

 EXISTING LAW :
None.

 JUSTIFICATION :
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and asthma,
as well as the health complications caused by these diseases, are
often preventable. The adoption of healthy behaviors such as eating
nutritious foods, being physically active and avoiding tobacco use can
prevent or control the effects of chronic diseases and their
complications. The prevention of chronic diseases is necessary because
recent research has shown that such diseases are the leading cause of
death among New Yorkers. In fact, 73% of the deaths in New York State
occur every year because a person has at least one chronic disease.
Not only do chronic diseases account for a significant loss of life in
our state every year, they account for a substantial amount of our
health care expenditures nationally. For example, more than 75% of the
nation's health care costs are related to fighting chronic diseases.
By implementing efforts to promote the prevention of chronic diseases,
such as this legislation, it is estimated that the costs of national
health care can be reduced by $100 billion to $125 billion a year.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
None.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None to the state unless appropriations are specifically authorized.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately.