S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6451
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 11, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the public health law and the court of claims act, in
relation to establishing strict liability for injuries caused by
required immunizations
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
2113 to read as follows:
§ 2113. VACCINATIONS; LIABILITY. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION
"HEALTH PRACTITIONER" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS EMPLOYED AS A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OR ANY OTHER PERSON AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO ADMINISTER AN
IMMUNIZATION TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE'S IMMUNIZATION REQUIRE-
MENTS PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER.
2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE STATE
SHALL BE STRICTLY LIABLE FOR ANY INJURY CAUSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF
AN IMMUNIZATION THAT IS INTENDED TO PREVENT OR MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF
DISEASE AND TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH IF AN INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHES THAT:
(A) SUCH IMMUNIZATION WAS MANDATED BY A STATE LAW, RULE OR REGULATION
AS:
(I) A CONDITION OF ATTENDANCE AT A PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL CHILD
CARING CENTER, DAY NURSERY, DAY CARE AGENCY, NURSERY SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, SECONDARY SCHOOL OR AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AT THE
TIME OF THE IMMUNIZATION'S ADMINISTRATION; OR
(II) AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER OR THE GOVER-
NOR AT THE TIME OF THE IMMUNIZATION'S ADMINISTRATION;
(B) SUCH IMMUNIZATION WAS ADMINISTERED BY A HEALTH PRACTITIONER; AND
(C) THE INJURY WAS PROXIMATELY CAUSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUCH
IMMUNIZATION.
3. A HEALTH PRACTITIONER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INJURY ALLEGED TO
HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED BY AN INDIVIDUAL BY REASON OF AN ACT OR OMISSION IN
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06821-01-3
A. 6451 2
THE ADMINISTERING OF SUCH IMMUNIZATION UNLESS IT IS ESTABLISHED THAT
SUCH INJURY WAS CAUSED BY GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF SUCH HEALTH
PRACTITIONER.
§ 2. Section 9 of the court of claims act is amended by adding a new
subdivision 14 to read as follows:
14. TO HEAR AND DETERMINE A CLAIM OF ANY PERSON AGAINST THE STATE FOR
ANY INJURY CAUSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF A REQUIRED IMMUNIZATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
LAW.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all
immunization-related injuries sustained after, or that are ongoing as
of, such effective date.