BILL NUMBER:  S8091

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to direct the New York state department of health to conduct a
study on the high incidence of asthma in the city of New York and to
prepare a remedial plan

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

The general purpose of the bill is to ensure that the State Department
of Health conducts a study of the high incidence of asthma in the City
of New York and provide the Governor and the Legislature with a
remedial plan addressing high risk neighborhoods by examining
disparities in: income, race and ethnicity, public and private
housing, proximity to major sources of air pollution, and an
evaluation of the effectiveness of existing medical facilities.

 SUMMARY AND SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of this bill directs the Commissioner of the New York State
Department of Health to prepare a remedial plan to address high
incidence of asthma in the City of New York.

Section 2 of this bill provides that a study and remedial plan shall
be completed within twelve months of the effective date of this act.
              

Section 3 of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on the
one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law. The results
of the remedial plan shall be provided to the Governor and the
Legislature no later than eighteen months from the beginning of such
study.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Asthma is a respiratory disease that kills nearly 255,000 people
worldwide each year. Asthma affects more than one million people in
the state of New York. This legislation addresses the severe problem
of asthma in the City of New York by utilizing the talents of some of
the best public health professionals in the State of New York by
requiring the Department of Health to prepare what will be in affect a
road map to address this pressing public health issue.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This bill shall take effect the 120th day after becoming law.