Senate Bill S5981

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5981

SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing the
comprehensive sexual and reproductive health program

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To reflect in statute, New York's longstanding commitment to supporting
access to comprehensive primary and preventive sexual and reproductive
health care services.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 titles the bill.

Section 2 amends the public health laws by adding a new article 25-C
2599-DD-1, the Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health Program.
Under the proposed title 1, the bill 1. defines terms; 2. affirms the
state's continued commitment to funding primary and preventive sexual
              

and reproductive health care services; 3. requires the department to
consult experts in the operation of the program; 4. establishes that
funding is subject to subsequent appropriations but must at a minimum
reflect state and federal funding amounts that were allocated for simi-
lar purposes as of April 1, 2024. Additionally, establishes an annual
cost of living adjustment for the program.

Section 3 provides for a severability clause.

Section 4 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill would reflect in statute the state's historic and ongoing
commitment to providing grant funding to non-profit entities to support
the provision of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care to
low-income, uninsured, and under-insured New Yorkers.

Access to affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care
is essential to the physical, emotional and economic well-being of our
communities. New York State has a legacy of investing in programs and
enacting policies that support and advance reproductive freedom, includ-
ing access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care
services. For decades, the state has provided grant funding to a network
of safety-net providers to ensure low-income, uninsured, and underin-
sured New Yorkers can access affordable primary and preventive sexual
and reproductive health care services.

This program, currently known as the Comprehensive Family Planning and
Reproductive Health Program, is supported through a combination of state
and federal funds and has played a vital role in providing communities
across the state with access to essential sexual and reproductive health
care services. The Federal Title X program, established by Congress in
1970 to advance access to birth control and other family planning
related services for low-income individuals, is an important source of
funding for state's the Comprehensive Family Planning and Reproductive
Health Program. However, this federal funding has historically been at
risk. In 2019, New York State was forced to leave the federal Title X
program due to the implementation of certain program requirements that
were antithetical to the state's commitment to providing New Yorkers
with access to comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care
services and information. To address the loss of federal Title X fund-
ing, the State appropriated additional state funding to ensure providers
could continue to provide grant funded services to New Yorkers in need.
Under the Biden Administration, New York was able to return to the Title
X program in 2022 and received $11,808,000 in federal funds to support
this care.  However, with a new federal administration, it is antic-
ipated that New York will once again be forced to leave the Title X
program, resulting in a loss of needed federal funding.

It is essential that New York maintain its longstanding commitment to
providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services and
information and prepare to address any reductions or limitations in
federal funding that support the provision of such care. This legis-
lation will affirm in statute this commitment and support the provision
of a range of primary and preventive sexual and reproductive health care
services critical to the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, including
but not limited to contraception, well-person exams, testing and treat-
ment for STIs and gender affirming care, for those in need.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.