§ 2500-b. Sudden infant death syndrome. (a) Declaration of policy.

Occurrence of sudden deaths of infants is a tragedy for the child, the
family and the community, and a matter of vital concern to the public
health. In order to provide for the protection and promotion of the
health of the inhabitants of the state, the department of health shall
have the central and comprehensive responsibility for the development
and administration of the state's policy with respect thereto.

(b) The commissioner shall establish a program to study the sudden
deaths of infants which are unexpected by medical history, and for which
adequate causes of death have not been demonstrated.

(c) Such program may initially consist of pilot projects which shall
include epidemiological investigation, family counseling and evaluation
in order to identify the major risk factors in sudden infant deaths with
the objective of preventing such deaths.