S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7695
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 16, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to physician course-
work or training in nutrition
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
264 to read as follows:
§ 264. COURSEWORK OR TRAINING IN NUTRITION. (A) EVERY PHYSICIAN PRAC-
TICING IN THE STATE SHALL, ON OR BEFORE JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWEN-
TY-THREE AND EVERY TWO YEARS THEREAFTER, COMPLETE SIX HOURS OF COURSE-
WORK OR TRAINING, APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT REGARDING NUTRITION, WHICH
SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO PLANT-BASED NUTRITION AND OTHER
CLINICALLY PROVEN METHODS FOR THE PREVENTION, REVERSAL, AND TREATMENT OF
DIET-RELATED ILLNESSES.
(B) EVERY PHYSICIAN MUST PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT DOCUMENTATION DEMON-
STRATING THE COMPLETION OF AND COMPETENCE IN THE COURSEWORK OR TRAINING
REQUIRED UNDER SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION.
(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FOR THE REQUIREMENTS
IMPOSED BY SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION TO ANYONE WHO REQUESTS SUCH
EXEMPTION AND WHO: (I) DOES NOT ENGAGE IN DIRECT PATIENT CARE; (II) DOES
NOT PROVIDE PATIENT CONSULTATIONS; OR (III) DOES NOT RESIDE IN THE STATE
OF NEW YORK.
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONSULT WITH ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTATIVE OF
PROFESSIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND THOSE WITH EXPERTISE IN NUTRITION AND THE
PREVENTION, REVERSAL, AND TREATMENT OF DIET-RELATED ILLNESSES WITH
RESPECT TO THE REGULATORY STANDARDS PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION. COURSEWORK OR TRAINING FUNDED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY
COMMERCIAL FOOD PRODUCTION ENTITIES OR THEIR TRADE ORGANIZATIONS SHALL
NOT SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.