S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6334
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. FAHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to expanding the
description of certain services which are not prohibited by statutes
governing the practice of nursing
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subparagraph (v) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of
section 6908 of the education law is renumbered subparagraph (vi) and a
new subparagraph (v) is added to read as follows:
(V) TASKS PROVIDED BY A DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF IN NON-FACILITY BASED
PROGRAMS CERTIFIED OR APPROVED BY THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOP-
MENTAL DISABILITIES, WHEN PERFORMED UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF A SERVICE
RECIPIENT, FAMILY, OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND PURSUANT
TO AN AUTHORIZED PRACTITIONER'S ORDERED CARE, PROVIDED THAT:
(1) A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE DETERMINES, IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL
JUDGMENT, WHICH TASKS ARE TO BE PERFORMED BASED UPON:
(A) THE COMPLEXITY OF THE TASKS;
(B) THE SKILL AND EXPERIENCE OF THE DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF;
(C) THE HEALTH STATUS AND SPECIFIC CARE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE RECIPI-
ENT; AND
(D) THE SERVICE RECIPIENT, FAMILY, OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER IS ABLE TO
EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY TRAIN AND INSTRUCT THE DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF
PROVIDING TASKS;
(2) ONLY A DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF THAT HAS COMPLETED TRAINING AS
REQUIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES MAY PERFORM TASKS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH;
(3) A DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF SHALL NOT ASSESS THE MEDICATION NEEDS OF AN
INDIVIDUAL;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00694-02-5
S. 6334 2
(4) A DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM ANY
TASKS OR ACTIVITIES PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE
SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE;
(5) A DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF SHALL NOT REPRESENT THEMSELVES, OR ACCEPT
EMPLOYMENT, AS A PERSON LICENSED TO PRACTICE NURSING UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE;
(6) A DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF PROVIDING MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION, TUBE
FEEDING, OR DIABETIC CARE SHALL BE SEPARATELY CERTIFIED, AND SHALL BE
RECERTIFIED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS;
(7) IN THE EVENT THAT A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE DETERMINES THAT
THE SERVICE RECIPIENT, FAMILY, OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER IS NOT CAPABLE OF
PROVIDING SUCH INSTRUCTION, A DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF SHALL NOT PROVIDE
TASKS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH. IN THE EVENT OF ANY DISAGREEMENT
BETWEEN A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND A SERVICE RECIPIENT, FAMILY,
OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER REGARDING SUCH CAPABILITY, THEN THE REGISTERED
PROFESSIONAL NURSE'S DETERMINATION SHALL PREVAIL;
(8) A DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF SHALL NOT PROVIDE ANY TASKS UNLESS A REGIS-
TERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE HAS DETERMINED THAT SUCH TASK MAY BE PERFORMED;
AND
(9) THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SHALL
COMPLETE A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK PURSUANT TO SECTION 16.33 OF THE
MENTAL HYGIENE LAW AND A BACKGROUND CHECK PURSUANT TO SECTION 16.34 OF
THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW ON THE DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF PRIOR TO THE
COMMENCEMENT OF ANY PROVISION OF SERVICE PROVIDED UNDER THIS SUBPARA-
GRAPH IF SUCH DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF IS A NEW HIRE. LICENSED REGISTERED
PROFESSIONAL NURSES AND INDIVIDUALS PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TASKS
PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL HAVE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS
SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY AND SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE OF THE LABOR LAW, WHERE
APPLICABLE; OR
§ 2. This act shall take effect eighteen months after it shall have
become a law, and shall expire and be deemed repealed July 1, 2030.
Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.