Senate Bill S5011B

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S5011

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the education law and the public health law, in
relation to course work or training in early recognition of and
intervention for eating disorders


 PURPOSE :
This bill requires certain health care professionals to complete
coursework or training in early recognition of and intervention for
eating disorders.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 6505-d of the education law
to require physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses,
licensed practical nurses, psychiatrists, psychologist, licensed
master social worker, licensed clinical social workers, licensed
mental health counselors, and licensed psychoanalysts practicing in
new York to complete coursework or training approved by the department
regarding the early recognition of and intervention for eating
disorders beginning on or before July 1, 2011 and every 4 years
thereafter. The department shall provide exemptions to anyone
requesting one who demonstrates there is no need for them to be
trained, they've completed equivalent training or some other good
cause prevents completion of the training.
              

Section 2 of the bill amends Sec. 2805-k to include a reference to
section 1 of this bill so that a hospital or facility receives
documentation of appropriate training when granting or renewing
privileges.

Section 3 of the bill provides an immediate effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :
Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders are established
pursuant to Article 27-J of the public health law. The Child Performer
Advisory Board to Prevent Eating Disorders is established pursuant to
Section 154 of the labor law.

 JUSTIFICATION :
According to the National Eating Disorder Association, there as many
as 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States
fighting a life and death battle with anorexia or bulimia and another
25 million with binge-eating disorder. Millions practice disordered
eating due to an obsession with dieting. Over the years these numbers
have continued to rise, along with the stigma and lack of awareness of
eating disorders.

The peak onset of eating disorders occurs during puberty and the late
teen/early adult years, but symptoms can occur as young as
kindergarten. According to the National Institute of Mental Health,
eating disorders are serious illnesses with a biological basis
modified and influenced by emotional and cultural factors. Eating
disorders are preventable and treatable, yet hundreds of people die
from them each year. Anorexia has the highest morality rate of any
mental illness.

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses with often severe
physical consequences. They also cross all racial lines. A recent 10
year study found that African American girls are 50% more likely to be
bulimic than are white girls. Sadly, many of these and other cases go
undetected and untreated.

New York State recognizes the importance of addressing this problem
and has already taken some important first. In 2004 the Legislature
established and funded a network of Comprehensive Care Centers for
Eating Disorders around the state. In 2007 the Legislature took
another step and established the Child Performer Advisory Board to
Prevent Eating Disorders.  This board is expected to report its
recommendations in the near future.

Despite the State's leadership role in this area, many misconceptions
and misdiagnosis continue to surround eating disorders. New York State
must take the next step and pass this bill to ensure that our health
care professionals are given the appropriate training and resources to
adequately identify eating disorders and intervene so that these
diseases are caught early and lives are saved.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately.

                                BILL NUMBER:S5011A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law and the public health law, in relation
to  course work or training in early recognition of and intervention for
eating disorders

PURPOSE:;
This bill requires certain health care professionals to complete course-
work or training in early recognition of  and  intervention  for  eating
disorders.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section  1 of the bill adds a new section 6505-d of the education law to
require physicians, physician assistants,  registered  nurses,  licensed
practical  nurses,  psychiatrists,  psychologist, licensed master social
worker, licensed clinical social workers, licensed mental health counse-
lors, and licensed psychoanalysts practicing in  New  York  to  complete
coursework  or  training  approved by the department regarding the early
recognition of and intervention for eating  disorders  beginning  on  or
before  July  1, 2011. The department shall provide exemptions to anyone
requesting one who demonstrates there is no need for them to be trained,
they've created equivalent training or some other  good  cause  prevents
completion of the training.

Section  2  of  the bill amends Sec. 2805-k to include a reference to of
              

this bill so that a  hospital  or  facility  receives  documentation  of
appropriate training when granting or renewing privileges.

Section 3 of the bill provides an immediate effective date.

EXISTING LAW:

Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders are established pursuant
to  Article  27-J of the public health law. The Child Performer Advisory
Board to Prevent Eating Disorders is established pursuant to Section 154
of the labor law.

JUSTIFICATION:
According to the National Eating Disorder Association, there are as many
as 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States  fighting
a  life and death battle with anorexia or bulimia and another 25 million
with binge-eating disorder.  Millions practice disordered eating due  to
an  obsession with dieting.  Over the years these numbers have continued
to rise, along with the stigma and lack of awareness  of  eating  disor-
ders.

The  peak  onset  of eating disorders occurs during puberty and the late
teen/early adult years, but symptoms can occur as young as kindergarten.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health,  eating  disorders
are serious illnesses with a biological basis modified and influenced by

emotional  and  cultural  factors.  Eating disorders are preventable and
treatable, yet hundreds of people die from them each year.  Anorexia has
the highest morality rate of any mental illness.

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses often with severe physical
consequences.  They  also cross all racial lines. A recent 10 year study
found that African American girls are 50% more likely to be bulimic than
are Caucasian girls. Sadly, many of these and other cases go  undetected
and untreated.

New  York State recognizes the importance of addressing this problem and
has already taken some important first steps. In  2004  the  Legislature
established  and  funded  a  network  of  Comprehensive Care Centers for
Eating Disorders around the state. In 2007 the Legislature took  another
step  and  established  the  Child  Performer  Advisory Board to Prevent
Eating Disorders. This board is expected to report  its  recommendations
in the near future.

Despite  the  State's  leadership role in this area, many misconceptions
and misdiagnosis continue to surround eating disorders. New  York  State
must  take  the  next  step and pass this bill to ensure that our health
care professionals are given the appropriate training and  resources  to
adequately  identify  eating  disorders  and  intervene  so  that  these
diseases are caught early and lives are saved.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.