The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5979
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 4, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. WALKER, JEAN-PIERRE -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT authorizing the commissioner of health to  conduct  a  study  and
   issue  a report examining unmet health and resource needs facing women
   with polycystic ovarian syndrome in New York state and the  impact  of
   limited  service  centers  and resources for women to obtain accurate,
   non-coercive health care information and timely access to a comprehen-
   sive range of reproductive and sexual health care services
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Definition.  As  used  in  this  act, "polycystic ovarian
 syndrome" is a hormonal imbalance disorder that is common among 1 in  10
 women during their reproductive age, meaning that:
   1.  (a)  there  is an elevated amount of testosterone and releasing of
 sex hormones called androgens, caused by a condition called  hyperandro-
 genism; and
   (b)  too  much  of  these hormones within the body can cause irregular
 periods, heavy periods, excessive body and facial  hair,  oily  skin  or
 acne,  thinning  or hair loss, weight gain, and difficulty getting preg-
 nant; with hyperandrogenism and abnormal levels of sex  hormones,  there
 is a prevention of eggs being normally released from the ovaries, irreg-
 ular menstrual periods, and infertility.
   2.  Within  the  United  States, approximately twelve percent of women
 face difficulties getting pregnant.
   § 2. Authorization of study and study scope. 1.  The  commissioner  of
 health   (hereinafter  "the  commissioner")  is  hereby  authorized  and
 directed to conduct a study and  issue  a  report  examining  the  unmet
 health  and resource needs facing women with polycystic ovarian syndrome
 in New York state, and the impact of service and resources for women  to
 obtain  accurate  non-coercive health care information and timely access
 to a comprehensive range of reproductive and sexual health care services

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD07610-01-1

 A. 5979                             2
 
 in alignment with their health care and  that  supports  personal  deci-
 sion-making.
   2.  The commissioner may request, and shall receive upon request, data
 and information from such entities and other relevant  sources  to  meet
 the  purposes  of  the  study. This information shall include but not be
 limited to:
   (a) what state and/or federal funds or taxes or  other  subsidies,  if
 any, are directly or indirectly allocated to limited service centers and
 resources  for women to obtain accurate, non-coercive health care infor-
 mation and timely access to a comprehensive range  of  reproductive  and
 sexual health care services;
   (b)  whether  the  limited service centers for sexual and reproductive
 centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, in the state  are
 part of larger umbrella organizations that operate limited service sexu-
 al   and  reproductive  centers,  specifically  for  polycystic  ovarian
 syndrome, across the country, and if so, whether those  umbrella  organ-
 izations receive state and/or federal funding;
   (c)  the  services provided by limited service sexual and reproductive
 centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, and what services
 are most frequently sought at limited service  sexual  and  reproductive
 centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian syndrome;
   (d)  the number of women who access services at limited service sexual
 and reproductive centers, specifically for polycystic ovarian  syndrome,
 the  geographic  regions  in  which each woman accessing the services of
 these centers resides, the distance  to  the  nearest  licensed  medical
 facility providing these services, the prices charged for such services,
 and  the basic demographic information about each woman, including race,
 age, and marital status. Basic demographic information included  in  any
 report  shall  be published in the aggregate so that it is impossible to
 identify any particular individual;
   (e) whether sexual and reproductive centers, specifically for polycys-
 tic ovarian syndrome, hold themselves  out  to  the  public,  either  in
 person,  through  community  participation  of  events  or through their
 advertising or websites, as medical  facilities  or  entities  in  which
 comprehensive, polycystic ovarian syndrome, are available.
   (f)  whether  sexual and reproductive services, specifically for poly-
 cystic ovarian syndrome, are seeking comprehensive options counseling or
 services at medical facilities and  whether  women  have  experienced  a
 delay  in  receiving health care, including receiving birth control, due
 to a visit to a limited service sexual and reproduction center;
   (g) whether limited service sexual and  reproductive  service  centers
 enroll  women  in any public benefits programs or connect women to other
 services, and if so, which services limited service sexual and reproduc-
 tive centers, specifically  for  polycystic  ovarian  syndrome,  connect
 women to;
   (h) the nature of information given to clients or potential clients at
 sexual  and  reproductive  centers  specifically  for polycystic ovarian
 syndrome; and the nature of  limited  service  sexual  and  reproductive
 service  centers,  specifically  for polycystic ovarian syndrome, opera-
 tional manuals, handbooks or guidelines, in connection to the  provision
 or services to clients;
   (i)  the  number  of state-certified medical professionals on staff or
 volunteering at limited service sexual and reproductive centers, specif-
 ically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, and the number who are providing
 medical services or counseling on site during regular business hours  at
 limited  service  sexual and reproductive centers and whether sexual and

 A. 5979                             3
 
 reproductive centers inform women whether or not they have  any  medical
 professionals on the premises, on staff, or in a volunteer capacity; and
   (j)  whether  limited service sexual and reproductive centers, specif-
 ically for polycystic ovarian syndrome, collect medical information  and
 what  other  information  is  collected upon intake, how limited service
 sexual and reproductive centers,  specifically  for  polycystic  ovarian
 syndrome,  handle  medical  and  other  client  records, and whether the
 medical records are in compliance with federal  and  state  requirements
 governing medical privacy.
   §  3. Study timeline and taskforce structure. The study shall commence
 no later than six months following the effective date of this  act.  The
 commissioner  shall  establish  a temporary taskforce of nine members to
 support the department of health in the development of  the  study,  the
 review of the findings and the establishment of specific recommendations
 for  solutions  to  address  any  service gaps or negative impact in the
 state identified through the study. The taskforce  shall  have  adequate
 geographical  representation  and include but not necessarily be limited
 to: a representative of the division of consumer  protection;  a  member
 for  the New York State Council on Women and Girls, a member of American
 college of obstetricians and gynecologists whose practice  includes  the
 provision  of all sexual and reproductive related care, specifically for
 polycystic ovarian syndrome, including receiving birth control; individ-
 uals with professional experience in the fields of reproductive  rights,
 health  and/or justice; a member with professional experience and exper-
 tise in the first amendment and free speech rights; and a  staff  member
 from  the  bureau  of  social  justice within the office of the New York
 state attorney general. The members of the taskforce shall be  appointed
 as follows: three members by the governor; three members to be appointed
 by  the  temporary  president  of  the  senate;  and three members to be
 appointed by the speaker of the assembly. The members of the  commission
 shall  receive  no  compensation  for their services, but shall be reim-
 bursed for any expenses incurred in  the  performance  of  their  duties
 hereunder. The commissioner shall issue a report to the governor and the
 legislature;  and  shall  post such report on the department of health's
 public website, containing the findings and  policy  recommendations  no
 later than eighteen months following the effective date of this act.
   Such  report  may  include  de-identified  patient  information in the
 aggregate, but shall not include personally identifiable information.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.