Senate Bill S2137

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S2137            REVISED 2/27/2020

SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to direct the New York state department of health to conduct a
study on the incidences of asthma in cities having a population of one
hundred thousand or more and to prepare a report

 
PURPOSE:

To require the New York State Department of Health to conduct a study on
the incidences of asthma in cities having a population over 100,000
people. The study should be completed by September 30, 2021.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

§ 1. The commissioner of the New York State Department of Health shall
prepare a study of the incidences of asthma in all cities having a popu-
lation of one hundred thousand or more. The study and report shall
include a map of each city indicating incidents of asthma.
              

§ 2. The study shall be completed by September 30, 2021.

§ 3 Once the study is completed, the study and an interactive map of
each city indicating incidents of asthma shall be placed on the depart-
ment's website by January 1, 2022.

§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

 
EXISTING LAW:

The commissioner is not currently directed to prepare such a report.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Mayo Clinic defines Asthma as a "condition in which your airways
narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing diffi-
cult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath."  The Mayo
Clinic further states, "For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. For
others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities
and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack."

Asthma rates have been surging in the United States for many years. On
October 12, 2013 The New York Times reported that Asthma affects about
40 million Americans making it the most common chronic disease that
affects Americans of all ages. The New York Times further stated that,
"The Centers for Disease. Control and Prevention puts the annual cost of
asthma in the United States at more than $56 billion, including millions
of potentially avoidable hospital visits and more than 3,300 deaths..."

Asthma rates tend to be higher in urban areas with clusters in poorer
neighborhoods. This bill will require the Department of Health to
research the depth of the Asthma crisis in New York's cities and
pinpoint the areas of Asthma clusters.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2015 PASSED SENATE
2015 referred to assembly health

2016 PASSED SENATE

2016 referred to assembly health

2017 PASSED SENATE

2017 referred to assembly health

2018 REFERRED TO SENATE FINANCE

2018 referred to ways and means

2019 REFERRED TO SENATE HEALTH

2019 referred to assembly health

2020 REPORTED FROM SENATE HEALTH REFERRED TO FINANCE

2020 referred to assembly health

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

No substantial cost to state

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.