Senate Bill S1714B

                                BILL NUMBER:S1714                REVISED 4/30/15

TITLE OF BILL:  An act relating to the distribution of potassium
iodide in a radiological emergency

PURPOSE OF BILL:  To update New York State's radiological emergency
preparedness plan to increase the radius for pre-distribution of
potassium iodide.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Directs the disaster preparedness commission to revise the
New York State radiological emergency preparedness plan to mandate the
pre-distribution of potassium iodide to personnel monitoring centers,
primary MS-1 hospital facilities, and state emergency management
facilities located within a fifty mile radius of nuclear power sites
for distribution to populations in the event of a radiological
emergency.

Section 2. Effective date

JUSTIFICATION:  In 2001, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
issued emergency preparedness guidelines for responses to radiological
incidents or nuclear releases, which is the current policy. Under
these guidelines, states with a population within a 10-mile zone of
commercial nuclear power plants are urged to consider including
              

potassium iodide as a protective measure for the general public in the
event of a severe nuclear power plant accident. A potassium iodide
stockpile is maintained by the NRC and is made available to all such
states.

The nuclear-reactor incidents at Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl
(1986), and Fukushima (2011), as well as the leaks at the Hanford
Nuclear Reservation in Washington State (2013), however, demonstrate
the urgency and concern over the possible hazards of ionizing
radiation to the thyroid from radioactive Iodine-131, a byproduct from
nuclear fission of Uranium-235. Although Iodine-131 occurs naturally
in extremely miniscule amounts, exposure to large amounts, such as
those resulting from a nuclear accident, leads to adverse health
effects, including cancer of the thyroid Radioactive Iodine-131 is a
primary health agent associated with nuclear accidents, and its plume
radius can reach out as far as 300 miles from the site of the
accident. Exposure to Iodine-131 can occur through inhalation,
ingestion or epidermal contact.

Potassium Iodide, which is available in tablet or liquid form, is a
non-radioactive salt of stable iodine that is used to protect against
inhaled or ingested radioactive iodine in an emergency situation
Taking Potassium Iodide essentially blocks radioactive iodine from
collecting in the thyroid, which significantly increases the future
risk of developing thyroid cancer. Potassium Iodide causes the
radioactive Iodine to pass through the body, which is much less
harmful than radioiodine that collects in the thyroid.

As we learned from Poland in the immediate aftermath of the Chernobyl
disaster, although there was widespread panic because of evacuation
and sheltering in the days following the accident, Polish children


were protected to a great degree because the Polish government had
several days to react to the oncoming radioactive plume  Potassium
Iodide was distributed to 95% of Polish children, and seven million
doses were given to adults, accounting for 23% of the total
population  Because of the Potassium Iodide prophylaxis of the general
public, it was estimated that Poland was able to reduce the projected
dose of radiation to individuals that were given Potassium Iodide
within 24 hours by nearly 40%.

Clearly, the 10-mile Potassium Iodide distribution zone is
insufficient. The American Thyroid Association advocates that
Potassium Iodide tablets be part of an emergency plan in response to a
radiological event, available within up to 200 miles of a nuclear
power plant, and pre-distributed within 50 miles of a nuclear power
plant By mandating expanded distribution of Potassium Iodide we will
provide a great measure of security from nuclear power plant accidents
and terroristic attacks involving so-called "dirty bombs" to our
citizens.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New Bill

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect immediately

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S1714A

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act relating to the distribution of potassium
iodide in a radiological emergency

 PURPOSE OF BILL :

To update New York State's radiological emergency preparedness plan to
increase the radius for pre-distribution of potassium iodide, and to
ensure state reimbursement to counties.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1. Directs the disaster preparedness commission to revise the
New York State radiological emergency preparedness plan to mandate the
pre-distribution of potassium iodide to personnel monitoring centers,
primary MS-1 hospital facilities, and state emergency management
facilities located within a fifty mile radius of nuclear power sites
for distribution to populations in the event of a radiological
emergency. Furthermore, this section states that the State shall
reimburse Counties in the fifty mile radius for the pre-distribution
of potassium iodide.

Section 2. Effective date

 JUSTIFICATION :
              

In 2001, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued emergency
preparedness guidelines for responses to radiological incidents or
nuclear releases, which is the current policy. Under these guidelines,
states with a population within a 10-mile zone of commercial nuclear
power plants are urged to consider including potassium iodide as a
protective measure for the general public in the event of a severe
nuclear power plant accident. A potassium iodide stockpile is
maintained by the NRC and is made available to all such states.

The nuclear-reactor incidents at Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl
(1986), and Fukushima (2011), as well as the leaks at the Hanford
Nuclear Reservation in Washington State (2013), however, demonstrate
the urgency and concern over the possible hazards of ionizing
radiation to the thyroid from radioactive Iodine-131, a byproduct from
nuclear fission of Uranium-235. Although Iodine-131 occurs naturally
in extremely miniscule amounts, exposure to large amounts, such as
those resulting from a nuclear accident, leads to adverse health
effects, including cancer of the thyroid Radioactive Iodine-131 is a
primary health agent associated with nuclear accidents, and its plume
radius can reach out as far as 300 miles from the site of the
accident.  Exposure to Iodine-131 can occur through inhalation,
ingestion or epidermal contact.

Potassium Iodide, which is available in tablet or liquid form, is a
non-radioactive salt of stable iodine that is used to protect against
inhaled or ingested radioactive iodine in an emergency situation
Taking Potassium Iodide essentially blocks radioactive iodine from
collecting in the thyroid, which significantly increases the future
risk of developing thyroid cancer. Potassium Iodide causes the
radioactive Iodine to pass through the body, which is much less
harmful than radioiodine that collects in the thyroid.

As we learned from Poland in the immediate aftermath of the Chernobyl
disaster, although there was widespread panic because of evacuation
and sheltering in the days following the accident, Polish children
were protected to a great degree because the Polish government had
several days to react to the oncoming radioactive plume, Potassium
Iodide was distributed to 95% of Polish children, and seven million
doses were given to adults, accounting for 23% of the total
population" Because of the Potassium Iodide prophylaxis of the general
public, it was estimated that Poland was able to reduce the projected
dose of radiation to individuals that were given Potassium Iodide
within 24 hours by nearly 40%.

Clearly, the 10-mile Potassium Iodide distribution zone is
insufficient. The American Thyroid Association advocates that
Potassium Iodide tablets be part of an emergency plan in response to a
radiological event, available within up to 200 miles of a nuclear
power plant, and pre-distributed within 50 miles of a nuclear power
plant By mandating expanded distribution of Potassium Iodide we will
provide a great measure of security from nuclear power plant accidents
and terroristic attacks involving so-called "dirty bombs" to our
citizens.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately