BILL NUMBER:  S6710

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the public health law, in relation
to allow children attending camps to carry and use insect repellant

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one amends the Public Health law by adding a new subdivision 5
to section 1394. The proposed legislation requires each children's
overnight camp, summer day camp and travelling summer day camp to
allow children attending such camp to carry and use insect for the
purpose of decreasing the risk of Lyme disease and tick-borne
infections. For those insect repellents required to be registered with
the United State Environmental Protection Agency, prior written
permission would be required. A record of such permission shall be
maintained in the camp office.  This legislation would permit
unlicensed personnel to assist a child unable to physically apply
insect repellent if permitted by a parent or guardian and authorized
by the camp.

Section two establishes that this law shall take effect immediately
after it shall have become law.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Summer Camps are important partners in protecting children when they
              

are away from home. Whether it is during the day or the entire summer,
parents make an informed decision to entrust the care and supervision
of their children to the camp they have selected.

In order for camps to fulfill their mission to provide a safe and fun
summer, camp must be able to protect their campers from Lyme disease
and other tick-borne infections. Ensuring that insect repellent is
readily available and used responsibly by campers under the
supervision of counselors is paramount to a camper's safety.

New York State and the Department of Health has done a tremendous
amount of work to inform and advise the public of the dangers from
Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. In fact, last year, the
Legislature passed legislation, which the Governor signed into law,
creating a Lyme disease and tick-borne infection awareness and
prevention program to, among other things, reduce exposure to Lyme
disease.

This legislation goes a long way to pursuing this end and is a common
sense approach to protecting our young people, who are outside more
frequently and for much longer periods of time.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

None.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately.