BILL NUMBER:  S2967

 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; and making an
appropriation therefor

 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 OF 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 appropriates the sum of five million dollars to
the Department of Audit and Control out of any moneys in the State
treasury in the general fund to the credit of the Department of Health
and shall be made immediately available for the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of this act.

Section 4 of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on the
one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law and the
results of such study and 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 chronic lung disease that affects one in every 10 adults
and one in every 10 children in New York State. According to a 2013
New York State Asthma Surveillance Summary Report, New York State had
higher asthma emergency department and hospital discharges rates than
the rest of the nation. Furthermore, in 2011, adults living in New
York City had a higher prevalence of asthma, hospital discharge, and
mortality rates for 2009-2011 than residents in the rest of the State.
Regarding the economic burden of asthma, the total cost of asthma
hospitalization for 2011 was approximately $660 million, a 61%
increase since 2002.

This legislation addresses the severe problem of asthma in the City of
New York by requiring the Department of Health to better study the
high incidence of asthma in the City and to prepare a plan to address
this pressing public health issue.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2016: S.8091 - Passed the Senate

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Five million dollars has been appropriated.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become law and the results of such study and remedial plan
shall be provided to the Governor and the Legislature no later than
eighteen months from the beginning of such study.