NY State Senate Bill 2023-S3357

Senate Bill S3357

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Provides for a study on the use of solid antimicrobial materials for touch surfaces in the construction of public buildings

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Labor Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to labor
Jan 31, 2023	referred to labor

2023-S3357 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Labor
Law Section:: Public Health
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S8180
2021-2022: S3905

2023-S3357 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs the commissioner of health, in consultation with the commissioner of the office of general services, to conduct a study on the use of solid antimicrobial materials for touch surfaces in the construction of public buildings.

2023-S3357 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S3357

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to conducting a study on the use of solid antimicro-
bial materials for touch surfaces in the construction of public build-
ings

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to require the Department of Health
in consultation with the Office of General Services, in order to conduct
a study on the use of solid antimicrobial materials for touch surfaces
in the construction of public buildings in New York.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill defines solid antimicrobial materials and touch
surface as used in this section.

Section 2 authorizes the Department of Health in consultation with the

Office of General Services to conduct a study on the use of solid anti-
microbial materials for touch surfaces in the construction of public
buildings in New York.

Section 3 outlines what specifically this study is intended to examine
and discover, including the identification of different types of solid
antimicrobial materials, including copper and silver, and their effec-
tiveness, the potential costs and cost benefits of the materials, the
feasibility of using these materials for touch surfaces, identification
of frequently touched surfaces that present infection risks, and recom-
mendations for the type or types of antimicrobial materials to be used
for touch surfaces in construction of public buildings.

Section 4 requires the Department of Health to deliver a report of the
findings of the study to the governor, the temporary president of the
senate, and the speaker of the assembly, no later than one year after
the effective date.

Section 5 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

By using approved antimicrobial materials, including copper and silver,
for touch surfaces including door handles, bathroom fixtures, bed rails
and handrails, we could significantly reduce the spread of disease-caus-
ing organisms. The use of antimicrobial touch surfaces is a strategy to
reduce transmission of viruses and infections which is especially effec-
tive because it does not fall victim to the fallacies of human behavior.
Other strategies, such as disinfecting and hand washing, require cooper-
ation on an individual basis, and therefore lack ideal effectiveness.
The use of antimicrobial touch surfaces, however, is a passive measure
that requires no human intervention and its action is continuous rather
than episodic.

This legislation would enable the legislature to obtain important infor-
mation regarding the use of solid antimicrobial materials for touch
surfaces in the construction of public buildings in New York, in order
to examine whether the use of antimicrobial materials for touch surfaces
presents a feasible and cost-effective method for protecting New York-
ers.

It requires the Department of Health, in consultation with the Office of
General Services, to examine and discover the identification of differ-
ent types of solid antimicrobial materials, their effectiveness, the
potential costs and cost benefits of the materials, the feasibility of
using these materials for touch surfaces, identification of frequently
touched surfaces that present infection risks, and recommendations for
the type or types of antimicrobial materials to be used for touch
surfaces in construction of public buildings.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S.3905A/A.998A

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S3357 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3357
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 31, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
 
 AN ACT in relation to conducting a study on the use of solid  antimicro-
   bial materials for touch surfaces in the construction of public build-
   ings

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. For the purposes of this act,  the  following  terms  shall
 have the following meanings:
   (a)  "Solid  antimicrobial materials" means solid products or surfaces
 that kill or slow  the  spread  of  microorganisms  including  bacteria,
 viruses, protozoans and fungi.
   (b)  "Touch  surface"  means  any surface or fixture within a building
 that a person frequently comes into  contact  with,  including  but  not
 limited  to:   door handles, bathroom fixtures, bed rails, handrails and
 light switches.
   § 2. The commissioner of health, in consultation with the commissioner
 of the office of general services, shall conduct a study on the  use  of
 solid  antimicrobial materials for touch surfaces in the construction of
 public buildings in this state.
   § 3. The study shall include, but shall not be limited to, the follow-
 ing information:
   (a) identification of different types of solid  antimicrobial  materi-
 als,  including but not limited to silver and copper, and the effective-
 ness of each such  material  in  reducing  the  spread  of  disease  and
 infection;
   (b)  the  potential  costs,  including the potential cost benefits, if
 any, associated with the use of solid antimicrobial materials for  touch
 surfaces;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07413-01-3
 S. 3357                             2

   (c)  the  feasibility of using solid antimicrobial materials for touch
 surfaces, including an analysis of the market availability of such mate-
 rials;
   (d)  identification  of frequently touched surfaces that could present
 an infection risk; and
   (e) recommendations for the type or types of solid antimicrobial mate-
 rials to be used for touch surfaces in the construction of public build-
 ings in this state.
   § 4. The commissioner of health shall submit such study to the  gover-
 nor,  the  temporary  president  of  the  senate, and the speaker of the
 assembly within one year after the effective date of this act.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

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