BILL NUMBER: S8176
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law and the state finance law, in
relation to establishing a public awareness campaign for maternal
depression; and making an appropriation therefor
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill enacts the Infant Safety Act of 2021 and provides an appropri-
ation of $20 million to establish a public awareness campaign for mater-
nal depression.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends Article 25 of the public health law is
amended by adding a new title 7 entitled Maternal Depression, estab-
lishes Section 2593 Public Awareness Campaign for Maternal Depression
and provides that such campaign shall educate the public and maternal
health care providers about the risks and remedies associated with
maternal depression.
Section 2 amends the state finance law by adding a new section 97-pppp
that creates a maternal depression fund.
Section 3 appropriates the sum of 20 million dollars to the Department
of Health to support the Public Awareness Campaign for Maternal
Depression.
Section 4 provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Information obtained from the New York State Department of Health indi-
cates that 10-20% of new mothers suffer from maternal depression,
including periods of sadness, anxiety, fatigue and thoughts of death or
suicide. For more than 1 out of every 1,000 new mothers the maternal
depression they experience - also known as postpartum depression
includes more severe symptoms such as postpartum psychosis that can lead
to hallucinations and mania. A little diagnosed medical condition,
maternal depression is believed to have contributed to the deaths of
three infants who were allegedly killed by their mothers in separate
incidents that have taken place in New York City in recent years.
The enactment of the Infant Safety Act of 2015 will mark approval of the
first statewide program of its kind in New York's history and will
provide an unprecedented commitment of public resources to address this
serious public health issue.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:;
Assembly:
01/03/18 Referred to Health, 01/12/17 Referred to Health, 01/06/2016
Referred to Health, 12/02/15 Referred to Health
02/24/21 referred to health
01/05/22 referred to health
Senate: N/A
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
$20 million
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.