BILL NUMBER: S4193
SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to direct the New York state department of health to conduct a
study on the incidences of cancer clusters in cities and towns having a
population of more than ninety thousand
 
PURPOSE:
To require the New York State Department of Health to conduct a study on
the incidences of cancer clusters in cities and towns having a popu-
lation over 90,000 people. The study should be completed by September
30, 2023.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
§ 1. The commissioner of the New York State Department of Health shall
prepare a study of the incidences of cancer clusters in all cities and
towns having a population of more than 90,000. The study shall include a
map of each city and town indicating incidents of asthma. Such study
shall include an analysis of high risk neighborhoods examining dispari-
ties in: income, race and ethnicity, public and private housing, proxim-
ity to major sources of air pollution and an evaluation of the effec-
tiveness of existing medical facilities in each city.
§ 2. The study shall be completed and posted on the department of
health's website by September 30, 2025.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
EXISTING LAW:
The commissioner is not currently directed to prepare such a study.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines a cancer cluster "as
a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a
group of people in a geographic area over a period of time."
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/default.htm
After heart disease, cancer is the leading cause of death in the United
States, according to the CDC.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leadingcauses-of-death.htm
This bill will require the Department of Health to research the depth of
the cancer crisis in New York's cities and towns and pinpoint the areas
of cancer clusters.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022 REFERRED TO SENATE HEALTH
2022 referred to assembly health
2021 REFERRED TO SENATE RULES
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No substantial cost to state
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.