S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6045--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 27, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, FERNANDEZ, JACKSON -- read twice and ordered
   printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities 1
   --  recommitted  to  the Committee on Health in accordance with Senate
   Rule  6,  sec.  8  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  administrative code of the city of New York, in
   relation to establishing a fetal and infant mortality review board
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended
 by adding a new section 17-166.1 to read as follows:
   § 17-166.1 FETAL  AND  INFANT  MORTALITY  REVIEW  BOARD.  A.  FOR  THE
 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT REQUIRES OTHERWISE:
   (1)  "REVIEW  BOARD" MEANS THE FETAL AND INFANT MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD
 ESTABLISHED BY THIS SECTION.
   (2) "FETAL AND INFANT DEATH" MEANS PREGNANCY LOSS THAT ENDS IN MISCAR-
 RIAGE OR STILLBIRTH, OR INFANT DEATHS WITHIN ONE YEAR OF BIRTH.
   (3) "SEVERE FETAL AND INFANT MORBIDITY" OR "MORBIDITY" MEANS  UNANTIC-
 IPATED  OUTCOMES OF PREGNANCY, LABOR, OR DELIVERY THAT RESULT IN SIGNIF-
 ICANT SHORT- OR LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES TO A CHILD'S HEALTH.
   B. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT THE FETAL AND  INFANT
 MORTALITY  REVIEW  BOARD  FOR  THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING FETAL AND INFANT
 DEATHS AND FETAL AND INFANT MORBIDITY AND DEVELOPING  AND  DISSEMINATING
 FINDINGS,  RECOMMENDATIONS,  AND  BEST  PRACTICES  TO  CONTRIBUTE TO THE
 PREVENTION OF FETAL AND INFANT MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY. THE REVIEW BOARD
 SHALL ASSESS THE CAUSE OF DEATH, FACTORS LEADING TO DEATH AND  PREVENTA-
 BILITY  FOR  EACH FETAL AND INFANT DEATH REVIEWED AND, IN THE DISCRETION
 OF THE REVIEW BOARD, CASES OF SEVERE FETAL  AND  INFANT  MORBIDITY,  AND
 SHALL  DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING THE RISK OF FETAL
 AND INFANT  MORTALITY  AND  MORBIDITY,  INCLUDING  RISK  RESULTING  FROM
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10351-02-4
 S. 6045--A                          2
              
             
                          
                 
 RACIAL,  ECONOMIC,  OR OTHER DISPARITIES.  THE COMMISSIONER MAY DELEGATE
 THE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT FETAL AND INFANT MORTALITY REVIEWS.
   C. (1) THE MEMBERS OF THE REVIEW BOARD SHALL BE COMPRISED OF MULTIDIS-
 CIPLINARY  EXPERTS  IN  THE  FIELD OF FETAL AND INFANT MORTALITY, FETAL,
 NEONATAL AND INFANT HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, MATERNAL  HEALTH,  OBSTET-
 RICS  AND  GYNECOLOGY,  AND  SHALL  INCLUDE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OR
 OTHER EXPERTS WHO SERVE AND ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF  THE  RACIAL,  ETHNIC,
 AND  SOCIOECONOMIC  DIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND, TO THE EXTENT
 POSSIBLE, THE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE CITY  OF  NEW  YORK  OR
 AREAS  OF  THE CITY OF NEW YORK WITH DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH OCCURRENCES
 OF FETAL AND INFANT MORTALITY OR MORBIDITY.
   (2) THE REVIEW BOARD SHALL BE COMPOSED OF NINE MEMBERS,  ALL  OF  WHOM
 SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   (3)  THE  TERMS  OF THE REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS SHALL BE THREE YEARS. THE
 COMMISSIONER MAY CHOOSE TO REAPPOINT REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS TO  ADDITIONAL
 THREE-YEAR TERMS.
   (4) A MAJORITY OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERSHIP OF THE REVIEW BOARD, BUT NO
 LESS THAN FIVE, SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM.
   (5)  WHEN ANY MEMBER OF THE REVIEW BOARD FAILS TO ATTEND THREE CONSEC-
 UTIVE REGULAR MEETINGS, UNLESS GOOD CAUSE IS  SHOWN  FOR  SUCH  ABSENCE,
 THAT  MEMBERSHIP MAY BE DEEMED VACANT FOR PURPOSES OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
 A SUCCESSOR.
   (6) MEETINGS OF THE REVIEW BOARD SHALL BE HELD AT LEAST TWICE  A  YEAR
 BUT  MAY BE HELD MORE FREQUENTLY AS DEEMED NECESSARY, SUBJECT TO REQUEST
 OF THE DEPARTMENT.
   (7) MEMBERS OF THE REVIEW BOARD SHALL  BE  INDEMNIFIED  UNDER  SECTION
 SEVENTEEN  OF  THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW OR SECTION FIFTY-K OF THE GENERAL
 MUNICIPAL LAW, AS THE CASE MAY BE.
   (8) MEMBERS OF THE REVIEW BOARD SHALL NOT  BE  COMPENSATED  FOR  THEIR
 PARTICIPATION  ON  THE  REVIEW BOARD BUT SHALL RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR
 THEIR ORDINARY AND NECESSARY EXPENSES OF PARTICIPATION.
   (9) MEMBERSHIP ON THE REVIEW BOARD SHALL  NOT  DISQUALIFY  ANY  PERSON
 FROM HOLDING ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT.
   D.  (1)  THE  COMMISSIONER  MAY REQUEST AND SHALL RECEIVE UPON REQUEST
 FROM ANY DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION,  LOCAL  HEALTH
 DEPARTMENT OR OTHER AGENCY OF THE STATE OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF
 OR  ANY PUBLIC AUTHORITY, SUCH INFORMATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
 DEATH RECORDS, MEDICAL RECORDS,  AUTOPSY  REPORTS,  TOXICOLOGY  REPORTS,
 HOSPITAL DISCHARGE RECORDS, BIRTH RECORDS AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT
 WILL  HELP  THE  DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SECTION TO PROPERLY CARRY OUT ITS
 FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES. THE COMMISSIONER  MAY  REQUEST  AND  SHALL
 RECEIVE UPON REQUEST FROM ANY DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, BOARD, COMMISSION OR
 OTHER  AGENCY  UNDER  THE  AUTHORITY  OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK AS WELL AS
 HOSPITALS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE  TWENTY-EIGHT  OF  THE  PUBLIC
 HEALTH LAW, BIRTHING FACILITIES, MEDICAL EXAMINERS, CORONERS AND CORONER
 PHYSICIANS  AND  ANY  OTHER  FACILITY PROVIDING SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH
 FETAL AND INFANT MORTALITY OR FETAL AND INFANT MORBIDITY, SUCH  INFORMA-
 TION,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED TO, DEATH RECORDS, MEDICAL RECORDS,
 AUTOPSY REPORTS, TOXICOLOGY REPORTS, HOSPITAL DISCHARGE  RECORDS,  BIRTH
 RECORDS  AND  ANY  OTHER INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP THE DEPARTMENT UNDER
 THIS SECTION TO PROPERLY CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES.
   (2) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL RECEIVE AND MAY SOLICIT VOLUNTARY  INFORMA-
 TION,  INCLUDING  ORAL  OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS, RELATING TO ANY FETAL AND
 INFANT DEATH AND CASE OF SEVERE FETAL AND  INFANT  MORBIDITY,  FROM  ANY
 FAMILY  MEMBER  OR  OTHER INTERESTED PARTY RELATING TO ANY CASE THAT MAY
 COME BEFORE THE REVIEW BOARD. ORAL STATEMENTS RECEIVED UNDER THIS  PARA-
 S. 6045--A                          3
 
 GRAPH  SHALL  BE  TRANSCRIBED OR SUMMARIZED IN WRITING. THE COMMISSIONER
 SHALL TRANSMIT THAT INFORMATION TO  THE  REVIEW  BOARD  CONSIDERING  THE
 CASE.
   (3)  BEFORE  TRANSMITTING  ANY  INFORMATION  TO  THE REVIEW BOARD, THE
 COMMISSIONER SHALL REMOVE ALL PERSONAL IDENTIFYING  INFORMATION  OF  THE
 FETUS  OR  INFANT, INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING PREGNANCY LOSS OR PARENTS OF
 THE INFANT, HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER OR PRACTITIONERS,  OR  ANYONE  ELSE
 INDIVIDUALLY  NAMED  IN  SUCH  INFORMATION,  AS  WELL AS THE HOSPITAL OR
 FACILITY THAT TREATED THE FETUS OR INFANT,  AND  ANY  OTHER  INFORMATION
 SUCH AS GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION THAT MAY INADVERTENTLY IDENTIFY THE FETUS OR
 INFANT, FETUS OR INFANT'S FAMILY, PRACTITIONER, OR FACILITY.
   (4)  INFORMATION  RECEIVED  OR  TRANSMITTED  UNDER THIS SECTION IS NOT
 ADMISSIBLE IN ANY  CIVIL,  ADMINISTRATIVE,  CRIMINAL,  OR  FAMILY  COURT
 PROCEEDING  THAT  SEEKS  TO PUNISH OR PROSECUTE THE PREGNANT OR BIRTHING
 PERSON AND SHALL NOT BE USED AS A BASIS OF A  REPORT  TO  THE  STATEWIDE
 CENTRAL REGISTER OF CHILD ABUSE AND MALTREATMENT.
   E. THE REVIEW BOARD:
   (1) SHALL COLLECT AND PERFORM CASE REVIEWS OF FETAL AND INFANT DEATHS;
   (2)  SHALL MAKE AND REPORT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMIS-
 SIONER REGARDING THE CAUSE OF  DEATH,  FACTORS  LEADING  TO  DEATH,  AND
 PREVENTABILITY  OF  EACH  FETAL  OR  INFANT DEATH CASE, AND EACH CASE OF
 SEVERE FETAL OR INFANT  MORBIDITY  REVIEWED  BY  THE  REVIEW  BOARD,  BY
 REVIEWING RELEVANT INFORMATION FOR EACH CASE IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND
 CONSULTING  WITH  EXPERTS AS NEEDED TO EVALUATE THE INFORMATION FOR EACH
 DEATH PROVIDED THAT NO INFORMATION WHICH, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, WOULD
 PERMIT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO EXPERIENCED A PREGNANCY LOSS OR INFANT DEATH TO
 BE IDENTIFIED MAY BE REQUESTED OR SHARED WITH  CONSULTING  EXPERTS,  AND
 THAT  INFORMATION  REVIEWED  OR  FINDINGS MADE BY THE BOARD SHALL NOT BE
 ADMISSIBLE IN ANY  CIVIL,  ADMINISTRATIVE,  CRIMINAL,  OR  FAMILY  COURT
 PROCEEDING AND SHALL NOT BE USED AS A BASIS OF A REPORT TO THE STATEWIDE
 CENTRAL REGISTER OF CHILD ABUSE AND MALTREATMENT;
   (3) SHALL DEVELOP AND DELIVER TO THE COMMISSIONER RECOMMENDATIONS ON:
   (A) ISSUES OF SEVERE FETAL AND INFANT MORBIDITY;
   (B) ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF FETAL AND INFANT HEALTH, INCLUD-
 ING  RACIAL,  ECONOMIC  OR  OTHER HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY INJUSTICES
 WHICH LEAD TO DISPARITIES IN FETAL AND INFANT OUTCOMES;
   (C) POLICIES, BEST PRACTICES,  AND  STRATEGIES  TO  REDUCE  FETAL  AND
 INFANT MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY;
   (D) METHODS OF IMPROVING SERVICES AND RESOURCES; AND
   (E)  METHODS  OF  IMPLEMENTING CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN FETAL
 AND INFANT MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY;
   (4) SHALL ISSUE AN ANNUAL PUBLIC REPORT ON ITS FINDINGS AND  RECOMMEN-
 DATIONS AND MAY ALSO ISSUE PUBLIC REPORTS MORE FREQUENTLY;
   (5)  SHALL IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS SYSTEMIC COMMUNITY CONDITIONS CONTRIB-
 UTING TO FETAL AND INFANT DEATHS;
   (6) SHALL IMPLEMENT A SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM TO MONITOR INCIDENCE, ETIOL-
 OGIES, AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND WHICH CAN DESCRIBE EFFECTS OF HEALTH
 CARE SYSTEM CHANGE;
   (7) SHALL IDENTIFY SYSTEM  WIDE  CHALLENGES  TO  IMPROVING  FETAL  AND
 INFANT HEALTH CARE;
   (8)  MAY,  IN  ADDITION TO THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MADE UNDER
 THIS SUBDIVISION, AND CONSISTENT  WITH  ALL  APPLICABLE  CONFIDENTIALITY
 PROTECTIONS, BRING ANY PARTICULAR MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMIS-
 SIONER; AND
   (9)  MAY  REQUEST AND SHALL RECEIVE THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COMMISSIONER
 IN CARRYING OUT ITS FUNCTIONS.
 S. 6045--A                          4
 
   F. THE COMMISSIONER AND THE REVIEW BOARD SHALL EACH KEEP  CONFIDENTIAL
 ANY  INFORMATION  COLLECTED OR RECEIVED UNDER THIS SECTION THAT INCLUDES
 PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF THE FETUS OR INFANT,  THE  FETUS  OR
 INFANT'S  PARENTS,  HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER OR PRACTITIONERS, OR ANYONE
 ELSE  INDIVIDUALLY NAMED IN SUCH INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE HOSPITAL OR
 FACILITY THAT TREATED THE FETUS OR INFANT,  AND  ANY  OTHER  INFORMATION
 SUCH AS GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION THAT MAY INADVERTENTLY IDENTIFY THE FETUS OR
 INFANT,  THE  FETUS  OR INFANT'S PARENTS, PRACTITIONER, OR FACILITY, AND
 SHALL USE THE INFORMATION PROVIDED OR RECEIVED UNDER THIS SECTION SOLELY
 FOR THE PURPOSES OF IMPROVEMENT OF  THE  QUALITY  OF  FETAL  AND  INFANT
 HEALTH  CARE  AND  TO  PREVENT FETAL AND INFANT MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY.
 THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE TRANSMITTING OF  INFORMATION  TO
 THE REVIEW BOARD THAT IS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE REVIEW BOARD
 TO  PERFORM  AN  APPROPRIATE  REVIEW  UNDER  THIS  SECTION.  ALL RECORDS
 RECEIVED, MEETINGS  CONDUCTED,  REPORTS,  EXCEPT  THOSE  PUBLIC  REPORTS
 REQUIRED  TO  BE ISSUED BY THE REVIEW BOARD BY THIS SECTION, AND RECORDS
 MADE AND MAINTAINED AND ALL BOOKS AND  PAPERS  OBTAINED  BY  THE  REVIEW
 BOARD  SHALL  BE  CONFIDENTIAL  AND SHALL NOT BE MADE OPEN OR AVAILABLE,
 INCLUDING UNDER ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS  LAW,  AND  SHALL  BE
 LIMITED  TO  REVIEW  BOARD  MEMBERS  AS  WELL AS THOSE AUTHORIZED BY THE
 COMMISSIONER. SUCH INFORMATION SHALL NOT BE DISCOVERABLE  OR  ADMISSIBLE
 AS  EVIDENCE  IN  ANY  ACTION IN ANY COURT OR BEFORE ANY OTHER TRIBUNAL,
 BOARD, AGENCY OR PERSON.
   G. THE COMMISSIONER MAY USE THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND  FINDINGS  OF  THE
 REVIEW  BOARD  TO  DEVELOP  GUIDANCE  AND OTHER ACTIONS RELATING TO BEST
 PRACTICES, AND SHALL DISSEMINATE INFORMATION RELATING TO  THAT  GUIDANCE
 AND OTHER ACTIONS TO APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
   §  2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
 law.