Assembly Bill A4103

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4103
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 1, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. DICKENS -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Health
 
 AN ACT to amend the public  health  law,  in  relation  to  tuberculosis
   screening, outreach and services and making an appropriation therefor
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Title 2 of article 22 of the public health law  is  amended
 by adding a new section 2220 to read as follows:
   §  2220. TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING, OUTREACH AND SERVICES. 1. THE DEPART-
 MENT SHALL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM, OR ENHANCE EXISTING  PROGRAMS,  FOR  THE
 PREVENTION,  EARLY  DIAGNOSIS  AND TREATMENT OF CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS IN
 AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE  THE  INCIDENCE  OF  TUBERCULOSIS  PREVAILS  AT
 EPIDEMIC LEVELS. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE A STANDARDIZED LEVEL OF CARE
 FOR  THE SYSTEMATIC, ROUTINE AND PERIODIC EXAMINATION OF MEN, WOMEN, AND
 CHILDREN RESIDING IN SUCH AREAS.
   2. ANY PHYSICIAN, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, OR HEALTH ORGANIZATION WHO
 DIAGNOSES A CASE OR PROBABLE CASE OF TUBERCULOSIS SHALL MAKE  A  WRITTEN
 REPORT  OF  SUCH  FINDING  (I) TO THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE AFFECTED
 CHILD OR TO THE AFFECTED ADULT, AS THE CASE MAY  BE,  AND  (II)  TO  THE
 LOCAL  COMMISSIONER  OF  HEALTH  OR  PUBLIC  HEALTH  DIRECTOR AND TO THE
 COMMISSIONER. THE LOCAL COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH OR PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR
 SHALL CAUSE TO BE EXAMINED OTHER FAMILY AND  HOUSEHOLD  MEMBERS  OF  THE
 AFFECTED  PERSON EVERY YEAR FOR THREE YEARS OR SUCH OTHER PERIOD OF TIME
 AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEEM  ADVISABLE.  THE  LOCAL  COMMISSIONER  OF
 HEALTH OR PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR SHALL ADVISE OTHER FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD
 MEMBERS OF THE AFFECTED PERSON OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE DISEASE, OF THE
 NEED  TO  TAKE  APPROPRIATE  SANITARY  MEASURES, OF THE NEED TO TAKE ALL
 PRESCRIBED MEDICATION, OF THE MEANS OF TRANSMISSION OF THE DISEASE,  AND
 OF OTHER APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.
   3.  THE COMMISSIONER, THROUGH LOCAL COMMISSIONERS OF HEALTH AND PUBLIC
 HEALTH DIRECTORS, SHALL ESTABLISH, IN AREAS OF EPIDEMIC, A COMPREHENSIVE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD03696-01-1

 A. 4103                             2
 
 PROGRAM,  OR  EXPAND  EXISTING  PROGRAMS,  FOR  INCREASED   TUBERCULOSIS
 OUTREACH  AND  SCREENING,  UPGRADED  TUBERCULOSIS  REGISTRIES,  ENHANCED
 FOLLOW-UP ON TUBERCULOSIS CASE REPORTS, INCREASED CONTACT  INVESTIGATION
 WITH  CASE  MANAGEMENT, AND IMPROVED FOLLOW-UP ON CONTINUED TUBERCULOSIS
 TREATMENT FOR POSITIVE CASES, INCLUDING PREVENTIVE MEDICATION AND  REGU-
 LAR SCREENING FOR HIGH RISK CASES.
   4.  THE  COMMISSIONER,  AND  LOCAL  COMMISSIONERS OF HEALTH AND PUBLIC
 HEALTH DIRECTORS SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT,  OR  ENHANCE  AND  FURTHER
 IMPLEMENT,  IN  AREAS  OF  EPIDEMIC,  A  PROGRAM FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF
 GRANTS TO FACILITIES SUBJECT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT  OF  THIS  CHAPTER,
 LOCAL  AND STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, AND OTHER APPROPRIATE COMMUNI-
 TY-BASED  ORGANIZATIONS,  INCLUDING  REPRODUCTIVE  HEALTH  CLINICS   AND
 SERVICES, FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES SET FORTH IN SUBDI-
 VISION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
   5.  THE  COMMISSIONER MAY PROMULGATE SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS ARE
 NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. The sum of eight million dollars ($8,000,000), or so much thereof
 as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of  health
 from  any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit
 of the local assistance  account  not  otherwise  appropriated  for  the
 purposes  of  making  grants provided for by the provisions of this act.
 Such sum shall be payable on the audit and warrant of  the  state  comp-
 troller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of health,
 or  his duly designated representative in the manner provided by law. No
 expenditure shall be made from this appropriation until a certificate of
 approval of availability shall have been issued by the director  of  the
 budget  and  filed  with the state comptroller and a copy filed with the
 chairman of the senate finance committee and the chairman of the  assem-
 bly ways and means committee.  Such certificate may be amended from time
 to  time by the director of the budget and a copy of each such amendment
 shall be filed with the state comptroller, the chairman  of  the  senate
 finance  committee  and  the  chairman  of  the  assembly ways and means
 committee.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.