NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8853

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Health 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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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 09, 2026	referred to health

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Health
Law Section:: Public Health Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§2164 & 2803-j, Pub Health L; amd §131, Soc Serv L

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the administration of certain vaccines for children in accordance with regulations issued by the commissioner, utilizing generally accepted medical standards and based on recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or other similar nationally or internationally recognized scientific organizations.

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8853

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law and the social services law, in
relation to vaccines for children

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would ensure certain vaccine requirements are in accordance
with regulations issued by the commissioner of health and would require
the commissioner to utilize generally accepted medical standards and
consider recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the
American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetri-
cians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the Advi-
sory Committee on Immunization Practices, or other similar nationally or
internationally recognized scientific organizations for such regu-
lations.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends paragraphs a, b, and c of subdivision 2 of section
2164 of the public health law to ensure children's vaccine requirements
are in accordance with regulations issued by the commissioner of health
and would require the commissioner to utilize generally accepted medical
standards and consider recommendations of the American Academy of Pedia-
trics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians,
the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or other similar
nationally or internationally recognized scientific organizations for
such regulations.

Section two amends paragraph a of subdivision 5 of section 2803-j to
require the immunization schedule for newborn children is in accordance
with regulations issued by the commissioner of health and would require
the commissioner to utilize generally accepted medical standards and
consider recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the
American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetri-
cians and Gynecologists; the American College of Physicians, the Advi-
sory Committee on Immunization Practices, or other similar nationally or
internationally recognized scientific organizations for such regu-
lations.

Section three amends social service law to require social service
districts to provide all recipients of public assistance with children
five years of age or less with information on age-appropriate vaccines
in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.

Section 4 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Currently, the commissioner of health promulgates regulations in
relation to childhood vaccine requirements in New York State. On January
5, 2025, federal health officials announced they would revise routine
childhood immunization recommendations, reducing the current seventeen
routinely recommended vaccines to eleven. This announcement has cause
confusion for providers and parents with young children in the state.
Under the revised immunization schedule, several vaccines that were once
universally recommended for all children such as hepatitis B and menin-
gococcal vaccines are no longer standard for every child.  A hepatitis B
vaccination is currently required for children in day care, pre-k, and
for school attendance in New York.

Research shows childhood immunizations are highly effective at protect-
ing children from serious diseases and improving overall health. A 2024
CDC report found that, for U.S. children born between 1994-2023, routine
vaccinations prevented approximately 508 million illnesses, 32 million
hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths, saving $540 billion directly and
$2.7 trillion for society. The report also notes that vaccines for hepa-
titis B which is no longer on the CDC's current schedule -- prevented 6
million cases and 940,000 related hospitalizations during this period.**

This bill will provide needed clarity and ensure that health care
providers in New York State can continue their existing, evidence-based
immunization practices. Specifically, the bill would align childhood
vaccine requirements in the state with regulations issued by the Commis-
sioner of Health, rather than solely relying on the recommendations of
the federal government. The Commissioner would be required to issue such
regulations utilizing generally accepted medical standards and based on
recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American
Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the Advisory Commit-
tee on Immunization Practices, or other similar nationally or interna-
tionally recognized scientific organizations.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
* https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7331a2.htm
* https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/what-parents-should- know-about-
the-newchildhood-immunization-schedule/

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8853
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 9, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAYER  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law and the social  services  law,  in
   relation to vaccines for children
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 2164 of the public health law,  as
 amended  by  chapter  401  of  the  laws  of 2015, is amended to read as
 follows:
   2. a. Every person in parental relation to a child in this state shall
 have administered to such child an adequate dose or doses of an immuniz-
 ing agent against poliomyelitis, mumps,  measles,  diphtheria,  rubella,
 varicella,  Haemophilus  influenzae  type  b  (Hib), pertussis, tetanus,
 pneumococcal disease,  and  hepatitis  B,  [which  meets  the  standards
 approved  by the United States public health service for such biological
 products, and which is approved by the department under such  conditions
 as  may  be  specified  by the public health council] IN ACCORDANCE WITH
 REGULATIONS ISSUED BY THE  COMMISSIONER,  UTILIZING  GENERALLY  ACCEPTED
 MEDICAL  STANDARDS  AND BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY
 OF PEDIATRICS, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS,  THE  AMERICAN
 COLLEGE  OF  OBSTETRICIANS  AND  GYNECOLOGISTS,  THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF
 PHYSICIANS, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES,  OR  OTHER
 SIMILAR  NATIONALLY  OR  INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZA-
 TIONS.
   b. Every person in parental relation to a child in this state born  on
 or  after January first, nineteen hundred ninety-four and entering sixth
 grade or a comparable age level special education program with an  unas-
 signed grade on or after September first, two thousand seven, shall have
 administered  to such child a booster immunization containing diphtheria
 and tetanus toxoids, and an acellular pertussis  vaccine,  [which  meets
 the  standards  approved  by the United States public health service for
 such biological products, and which is approved by the department  under
 such  conditions  as  may  be specified by the public health council] IN
 ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER UTILIZING  GENER-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD14394-02-6
 S. 8853                             2
 
 ALLY  ACCEPTED  MEDICAL  STANDARDS  AND  BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
 AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY  OF  FAMILY  PHYSI-
 CIANS,  THE  AMERICAN  COLLEGE  OF  OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS, THE
 AMERICAN  COLLEGE  OF PHYSICIANS, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION
 PRACTICES, OR OTHER SIMILAR  NATIONALLY  OR  INTERNATIONALLY  RECOGNIZED
 SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS.
   c. Every person in parental relation to a child in this state entering
 or  having  entered  seventh grade and twelfth grade or a comparable age
 level special education program with an unassigned  grade  on  or  after
 September  first,  two thousand sixteen, shall have administered to such
 child an adequate dose or doses of immunizing agents against meningococ-
 cal disease [as recommended by the advisory  committee  on  immunization
 practices of the centers for disease control and prevention, which meets
 the  standards  approved  by the United States public health service for
 such biological products, and which is approved by the department  under
 such  conditions  as  may be specified by the public health and planning
 council] IN ACCORDANCE WITH  REGULATIONS  ISSUED  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER,
 UTILIZING  GENERALLY ACCEPTED MEDICAL STANDARDS AND BASED ON RECOMMENDA-
 TIONS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS,  THE  AMERICAN  ACADEMY  OF
 FAMILY  PHYSICIANS,  THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLO-
 GISTS, THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS,  THE  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE  ON
 IMMUNIZATION  PRACTICES,  OR OTHER SIMILAR NATIONALLY OR INTERNATIONALLY
 RECOGNIZED SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS.
   § 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section 2803-j  of  the  public
 health  law,  as  added by chapter 62 of the laws of 1996, is amended to
 read as follows:
   (a) The commissioner shall  establish  an  immunization  schedule  for
 newborn  children. The immunization schedule shall chart out recommended
 immunizations against certain diseases and illnesses and age-appropriate
 times for the administration  of  each  immunization.  The  immunization
 schedule  shall  also  include  information on the importance of getting
 children immunized at the recommended ages.  The  immunization  schedule
 shall  also  include  the  toll-free  telephone  number  operated by the
 department as part of its immunization education efforts. The  immuniza-
 tion  schedule  shall be in accordance with [recommendations established
 by the New York state department of health and  the  immunization  prac-
 tices  advisory  committee of the United States department of health and
 human services] REGULATIONS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER, UTILIZING GENER-
 ALLY ACCEPTED MEDICAL STANDARDS AND  BASED  ON  RECOMMENDATIONS  OF  THE
 AMERICAN  ACADEMY  OF  PEDIATRICS, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSI-
 CIANS, THE AMERICAN COLLEGE  OF  OBSTETRICIANS  AND  GYNECOLOGISTS,  THE
 AMERICAN  COLLEGE  OF PHYSICIANS, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION
 PRACTICES, OR OTHER SIMILAR  NATIONALLY  OR  INTERNATIONALLY  RECOGNIZED
 SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS.
   §  3.  Subdivision  13  of  section 131 of the social services law, as
 added by chapter 61 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
   13. Social services districts shall provide all applicants and recipi-
 ents of public assistance with children five years of age or  less  with
 information  and  a schedule regarding age-appropriate immunizations for
 children in accordance with the [recommendations of  the  department  of
 health  and  the immunization practices advisory committee of the United
 States department of health and human services]  REGULATIONS  ISSUED  BY
 THE  COMMISSIONER,  UTILIZING  GENERALLY  ACCEPTED MEDICAL STANDARDS AND
 BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE  AMERICAN  ACADEMY  OF  PEDIATRICS,  THE
 AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS, THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRI-
 CIANS  AND  GYNECOLOGISTS, THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, THE ADVI-
 S. 8853                             3
 
 SORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES, OR OTHER SIMILAR NATIONALLY OR
 INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED  SCIENTIFIC  ORGANIZATIONS.    The  telephone
 number  of  the  local county health department shall be included on the
 immunization schedule.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S8853

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Health Committee

Actions

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Shelley B. Mayer

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Health Committee

Actions

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8853 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments