Senate Bill S7456

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S7456

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend chapter 104 of the laws of 2005 enacting the September
11th worker protection task force act, in relation to increasing the
composition of the September 11th worker protection task force and
extending the expiration of such chapter

 PURPOSE :
Makes provisions for the appointment to the Task Force for the medical
director of the Mount Sinai Center for Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, or his or her designee and extends the Task Force for
another 5 years.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
§1- adds the medical director of the Mount Sinai Center for
Occupational and environmental Medicine, or his or her designee to the
Task Force.

§2 - Extends the Task Force for an additional five years until June
10, 2015.

§3 - Provides for an immediate effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :
The Task Force established by Chapter 104 of the laws of 2005 is set
              

to be repealed on June 10, 2010.

The current composition of the Task Force is as follows:

The Task Force will consist of 19 members; among its members include
the following:

* Six by the governor;
* Three members by the temporary president of the senate, two of whom
shall be representatives from the organizations representing workers
at the World Trade Center side and one of whom shall be a
representative of
* a recognized health organization with appropriate expertise;
* Three members by the speaker of the assembly, two of whom shall be
representatives from the organizations representing workers at the
World Trade Center site and one of whom shall be a representative of a
recognized health organization with appropriate expertise;
* The state comptroller or his or her representative;
* The comptroller of the city of New York or his or her
representative;
* The mayor of the city of New York or his or her representative;
* A representative from the Department of Labor;
* A representative from the Department of Health;
* A representative from the Civil Service Commission; and
* A representative from the Division of Budget.

 JUSTIFICATION :
The Task force has been very successful in identifying additional
issues that have arisen from the rescue, recovery and clean-up of the
former World Trade Center site but there are still issues to be
addressed therefore it is necessary to extend the Task Force for an
additional five years.

The Task Force was charged with and will continue to monitor workers
and retirees and provide recommendations:

Duties: The task force shall have the following duties relating to
workers who participated in the World Trade Center rescue, recovery
and cleanup:

* to obtain from the department of health and the New York City
department of health, such departments' review of statistical and
qualitative data on the prevalence and incidence of sickness, illness
and disability of such workers;
* to obtain from other sources reviews of statistical and qualitative
data on the prevalence and incidence of sickness, illness and
disability of such workers;
* assess based upon evidence presented, the nature, scope and
magnitude of the health impacts caused by exposure to air and
elements;
* measure the adverse health effects of exposure on such workers;
* to consult with any organization, health institution, governmental
agency or person including, but not limited to, the department of
health, the department of health of the city of New York, the federal
department of health, the department of environmental conservation,
the federal environmental protection agency, the New York committee
for occupational safety and health and the occupational safety and
health administration;
* to identify and examine the limitations of any existing laws,
regulations, programs, and services with regard to coverage, extent of
disability, process for determination, adequacy of coverage and
treatment of specific types of disabilities and to undertake any
recommendations; and
* to receive and to consider reports and testimony from individuals,
the health department, community-based organizations, voluntary health
organizations, and other public and private organizations statewide to
learn more about the diagnosis, care, and treatment of such workers at
these designated sites.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
New legislation.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately.