BILL NUMBER: S8569A

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to allowing for unli-
censed individuals to collect throat or nasopharyngeal swab specimens
and to perform certain nursing tasks during certain state of disaster
emergencies

 
PURPOSE:

To permit volunteers to collect throat or nasal swabs from individuals
suspected of being infected by an infectious disease in a declared state
of emergency. Also permit non-nursing staff, under the supervision of a
nurse, to perform tasks otherwise limited to the scope of practice of a
licensed or registered nurse. Volunteers and non-nursing staff will be
required to complete training deemed adequate by the Commissioner of
Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
              

Section 1: Amends education law by adding to Section 6526, subdivision
11, to permit any person during a declared state of disaster emergency
for a disease outbreak or epidemic, pursuant to section 28 of the execu-
tive law and upon the completion of training deemed adequate by the
commissioner of education, to collect throat or nasopharyngeal swab
specimens from individuals suspected of being infected by an infection
disease, for purposes of testing. The commissioner of education, in
consultation with the commissioner of health, shall establish training
requirements for unlicensed individuals to collect throat or nasopharyn-
geal swab specimens.

Section 2: Amends education law Section 6908 by adding paragraph i, to
permit non-nursing staff, during a declared state of disaster emergency
for a disease outbreak or epidemic and upon completion of training
deemed adequate by the commissioner of education, to perform tasks,
under the supervision of a nurse, otherwise limited to the scope of
practice of a licensed or registered nurse. The commissioner, in consul-
tation with the commissioner of health, shall establish training
requirements for non-nursing staff to perform the tasks permitted by
this paragraph.

Section 3: Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

As was evident with the initial surge of COVID-19 patients in New York
State, the demands placed upon hospitals and health care workers are
often overwhelming. Training personnel to complete such infectious
disease testing and nursing related tasks frees up physicians, nurses
and other health care providers to actively provide patient care, thus
alleviating the burden and allowing for hospitals to care for patients
more efficiently. This bill will codify temporary provisions included in
Executive Order No.  202.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.