S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8496--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             September 3, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  HINCHEY, BROUK -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules --  commit-
   tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
   mitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law and the insurance law, in relation  to
   entities  authorized  to make recommendations on the administration of
   immunizations
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision  7  of  section 6527 of the education law, as
 amended by chapter 555 of the laws  of  2021,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   7.  A  licensed  physician  may prescribe and order a patient specific
 order or non-patient specific regimen to a licensed pharmacist, pursuant
 to regulations promulgated by the commissioner, and consistent with  the
 public  health  law,  for:  (a)  administering  immunizations to prevent
 influenza to patients two years of age or older; and  (b)  administering
 immunizations to prevent pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster, hepatitis A,
 hepatitis  B,  human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella,
 COVID-19, meningococcal, tetanus, diphtheria or  pertussis  disease  and
 medications  required for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis to patients
 eighteen years of age or older; and (c)  administering  other  immuniza-
 tions recommended by the advisory committee on immunization practices of
 the  centers  for disease control and prevention, THE IMMUNIZATION ADVI-
 SORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE  OF
 THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST CENTURY WORKGROUP FOR
 DISEASE  ELIMINATION  AND  REDUCTION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO
 HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX-A OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW,  OR  ANY  INTERSTATE  BODY
 ESTABLISHED FOR PURPOSES OF REVIEWING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARD-
 ING IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AND ACCESS, for patients eighteen years of age
 or  older if the commissioner of health in consultation with the commis-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13697-02-5
              
             
                          
                 S. 8496--A                          2
 
 sioner determines that an immunization: (i) (A) may be  safely  adminis-
 tered  by  a  licensed pharmacist within their lawful scope of practice;
 and (B) is needed to prevent the transmission of a reportable communica-
 ble  disease  that  is  prevalent in New York state; or (ii) is a recom-
 mended immunization for such patients who: (A)  meet  age  requirements,
 (B)  lack  documentation of such immunization, (C) lack evidence of past
 infection, or (D) have an additional risk factor or  another  indication
 as  recommended  by  the advisory committee on immunization practices of
 the centers for disease control and prevention, THE  IMMUNIZATION  ADVI-
 SORY  COUNCIL ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE OF
 THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST CENTURY WORKGROUP FOR
 DISEASE ELIMINATION AND REDUCTION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  TWO
 HUNDRED  SIXTY-SIX-A  OF  THE  PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR ANY INTERSTATE BODY
 ESTABLISHED FOR PURPOSES OF REVIEWING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARD-
 ING IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AND ACCESS. Nothing in this subdivision  shall
 authorize  unlicensed  persons  to administer immunizations, vaccines or
 other drugs.
   § 2. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 2 of section 6801 of  the  education
 law,  as  amended  by  section 1 of part DD of chapter 57 of the laws of
 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   (e) administer the immunization or immunizations according to the most
 current recommendations by the advisory committee for immunization prac-
 tices (ACIP), THE IMMUNIZATION ADVISORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED PURSUANT  TO
 CHAPTER  FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY-
 FOUR, THE 21ST CENTURY WORKGROUP FOR DISEASE ELIMINATION  AND  REDUCTION
 ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX-A OF THE PUBLIC
 HEALTH LAW, OR ANY INTERSTATE BODY ESTABLISHED FOR PURPOSES OF REVIEWING
 AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE  AND  ACCESS,
 provided  however,  that  a  pharmacist  may administer any immunization
 authorized under this section  when  specified  by  a  patient  specific
 order.
   §  3.  Subparagraph 1 of paragraph a of subdivision 22 of section 6802
 of the education law, as amended by chapter 802 of the laws of 2022,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   (1)  the  direct application of an immunizing agent to adults, whether
 by injection, ingestion, inhalation or any other means,  pursuant  to  a
 patient  specific  order  or  non-patient specific regimen prescribed or
 ordered by a physician or certified nurse practitioner, for:   immuniza-
 tions to prevent influenza, pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster, hepatitis
 A,  hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicel-
 la, COVID-19, meningococcal, tetanus, diphtheria  or  pertussis  disease
 and  medications  required  for  emergency treatment of anaphylaxis; and
 other immunizations recommended by the advisory committee  on  immuniza-
 tion  practices  of  the centers for disease control and prevention, THE
 IMMUNIZATION ADVISORY  COUNCIL  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO  CHAPTER  FIVE
 HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST
 CENTURY  WORKGROUP  FOR  DISEASE  ELIMINATION  AND REDUCTION ESTABLISHED
 PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX-A OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR
 ANY INTERSTATE BODY ESTABLISHED FOR PURPOSES  OF  REVIEWING  AND  MAKING
 RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AND ACCESS, for patients
 eighteen  years of age or older if the commissioner of health in consul-
 tation with the commissioner determines that an immunization: (i)(A) may
 be safely administered by a  licensed  pharmacist  within  their  lawful
 scope  of  practice;  and (B) is needed to prevent the transmission of a
 reportable communicable disease that is prevalent in New York state;  or
 (ii)  is  a recommended immunization for such patients who: (A) meet age
 S. 8496--A                          3
 
 requirements, (B) lack documentation  of  such  immunization,  (C)  lack
 evidence  of  past  infection,  or (D) have an additional risk factor or
 another indication as recommended by the advisory committee on immuniza-
 tion  practices  of  the centers for disease control and prevention, THE
 IMMUNIZATION ADVISORY  COUNCIL  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO  CHAPTER  FIVE
 HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST
 CENTURY  WORKGROUP  FOR  DISEASE  ELIMINATION  AND REDUCTION ESTABLISHED
 PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX-A OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR
 ANY INTERSTATE BODY ESTABLISHED FOR PURPOSES  OF  REVIEWING  AND  MAKING
 RECOMMENDATIONS  REGARDING  IMMUNIZATION  COVERAGE  AND  ACCESS.  If the
 commissioner of health determines that there is an outbreak of  disease,
 or that there is the imminent threat of an outbreak of disease, then the
 commissioner of health may issue a non-patient specific regimen applica-
 ble statewide.
   § 4. Subdivision 7 of section 6909 of the education law, as amended by
 chapter 555 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   7.  A  certified  nurse practitioner may prescribe and order a patient
 specific order or non-patient specific regimen to a licensed pharmacist,
 pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner, and  consistent
 with  the  public  health  law,  for: (a) administering immunizations to
 prevent influenza to patients two years of age or older; and (b)  admin-
 istering  immunizations  to  prevent  pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster,
 hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella,
 varicella, COVID-19, meningococcal,  tetanus,  diphtheria  or  pertussis
 disease  and medications required for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis
 to patients eighteen years of age or older; and (c) administering  other
 immunizations  recommended  by  the  advisory  committee on immunization
 practices of the centers for disease control and prevention, THE IMMUNI-
 ZATION ADVISORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED PURSUANT  TO  CHAPTER  FIVE  HUNDRED
 TWENTY-ONE OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST CENTURY
 WORKGROUP  FOR DISEASE ELIMINATION AND REDUCTION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
 SECTION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX-A OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR ANY  INTER-
 STATE  BODY ESTABLISHED FOR PURPOSES OF REVIEWING AND MAKING RECOMMENDA-
 TIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AND ACCESS, for patients  eighteen
 years of age or older if the commissioner of health in consultation with
 the  commissioner determines that an immunization: (i) (A) may be safely
 administered by a licensed pharmacist within their lawful scope of prac-
 tice; and (B) is needed to prevent  the  transmission  of  a  reportable
 communicable  disease  that is prevalent in New York state; or (ii) is a
 recommended immunization for such patients who: (A)  meet  age  require-
 ments, (B) lack documentation of such immunization, (C) lack evidence of
 past  infection,  or (D) have an additional risk factor or another indi-
 cation as recommended by the advisory committee  on  immunization  prac-
 tices  of  the centers for disease control and prevention, THE IMMUNIZA-
 TION ADVISORY COUNCIL  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO  CHAPTER  FIVE  HUNDRED
 TWENTY-ONE OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST CENTURY
 WORKGROUP  FOR DISEASE ELIMINATION AND REDUCTION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
 SECTION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX-A OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR ANY  INTER-
 STATE  BODY ESTABLISHED FOR PURPOSES OF REVIEWING AND MAKING RECOMMENDA-
 TIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AND ACCESS. Nothing in this subdi-
 vision shall authorize unlicensed persons to  administer  immunizations,
 vaccines or other drugs.
   §  5.  Item (ii) of subparagraph (E) of paragraph 17 of subsection (i)
 of section 3216 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 219  of  the
 laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
 S. 8496--A                          4
 
   (ii) immunizations that have in effect a recommendation from the advi-
 sory  committee  on  immunization  practices  of the centers for disease
 control and prevention, THE IMMUNIZATION  ADVISORY  COUNCIL  ESTABLISHED
 PURSUANT  TO  CHAPTER FIVE  HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE  OF  THE  LAWS  OF  NINE-
 TEEN  HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST CENTURY WORKGROUP FOR DISEASE ELIMI-
 NATION AND REDUCTION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT   TO SECTION    TWO    HUNDRED
 SIXTY-SIX-A OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR ANY INTERSTATE BODY ESTABLISHED
 FOR PURPOSES OF REVIEWING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZA-
 TION COVERAGE AND ACCESS, with respect to the individual involved;
   § 6. Item (ii) of subparagraph (E) of paragraph 8 of subsection (l) of
 section 3221 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 219 of the laws
 of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   (ii) immunizations that have in effect a recommendation from the advi-
 sory  committee  on  immunization  practices  of the centers for disease
 control and prevention, THE IMMUNIZATION  ADVISORY  COUNCIL  ESTABLISHED
 PURSUANT  TO  CHAPTER FIVE  HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE  OF  THE  LAWS  OF  NINE-
 TEEN  HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST CENTURY WORKGROUP FOR DISEASE ELIMI-
 NATION AND REDUCTION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT   TO SECTION    TWO    HUNDRED
 SIXTY-SIX-A OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR ANY INTERSTATE BODY ESTABLISHED
 FOR PURPOSES OF REVIEWING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZA-
 TION COVERAGE AND ACCESS, with respect to the individual involved;
   § 7. Subparagraph (B) of paragraph 3 of subsection (j) of section 4303
 of  the  insurance  law, as added by chapter 219 of the laws of 2011, is
 amended to read as follows:
   (B) immunizations that have in effect a recommendation from the  advi-
 sory  committee  on  immunization  practices  of the centers for disease
 control and prevention, THE IMMUNIZATION  ADVISORY  COUNCIL  ESTABLISHED
 PURSUANT  TO  CHAPTER  FIVE  HUNDRED  TWENTY-ONE OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN
 HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST CENTURY WORKGROUP FOR DISEASE  ELIMINATION
 AND REDUCTION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX-A OF
 THE  PUBLIC  HEALTH LAW, OR ANY INTERSTATE BODY ESTABLISHED FOR PURPOSES
 OF REVIEWING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZATION  COVERAGE
 AND ACCESS, with respect to the individual involved;
   § 8. Item (ii) of subparagraph (F) of paragraph 4 of subsection (b) of
 section  4322  of the insurance law, as added by chapter 219 of the laws
 of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   (ii) immunizations that have in effect a recommendation from the advi-
 sory committee on immunization practices  of  the  centers  for  disease
 control  and  prevention,  THE IMMUNIZATION ADVISORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED
 PURSUANT TO CHAPTER FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE  OF  THE  LAWS  OF  NINETEEN
 HUNDRED  NINETY-FOUR, THE 21ST CENTURY WORKGROUP FOR DISEASE ELIMINATION
 AND REDUCTION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX-A OF
 THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR ANY INTERSTATE BODY ESTABLISHED  FOR  PURPOSES
 OF  REVIEWING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE
 AND ACCESS, with respect to the individual involved;
   § 9. This act shall take effect immediately.