BILL NUMBER: S1063
SPONSOR: SERRANO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law and the public health law, in relation
to requiring cultural awareness and competence training for medical
professionals
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill improves the quality of healthcare in the state of New York by
creating a system of cultural competency course work and training that
will help healthcare professionals improve their interactions with
minority patients.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Adds section 6505-d to the education law to establish training in
cultural awareness and competence for medical professionals.
Section 1:
1) Lists medical professionals subjects and establishes the content and
requirements for cultural competency training and course work.
2) Defines "acceptable formal continuing education".
3) Establishes reporting requirements by medical professionals.
4) Provides exemptions from cultural competency course work and training
5) Establishes a fee of five dollars.
6) Allows the commissioner to promulgate such rules as requires estab-
lishing this program successfully, and guards against false reporting
from professionals.
Section 2:
1) Establishes that hospitals and other healthcare facilities shalt not
knowingly provide employment to individuals that have not completed the
necessary course work and training.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York State is one of the most diverse states in the nation, with
large populations of historically marginalized groups. It is a well-do-
cumented fact that often members of these minority groups fare far worse
in many indices of health and well-being. Disparities in access to qual-
ity healthcare are one major component of the discrepancies in general
health. This bill seeks to close the gap by ensuring that medical
professionals that serve minority populations are able to provide
culturally sensitive care. By promoting and funding culturally and
linguistically sensitive practices by healthcare professionals, the
legislature can help to enhance the quality of healthcare services in
underserved communities. This legislation will play a crucial role in
ending statewide health disparities among minority populations.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2008: S.7270 - Referred to Higher Education
2009-2010: S.1328B - Reported and Committed to codes
2011-2012: S.2743A - Amended and Recommitted to Higher Education
2013-2014: S.925- Referred to Higher Education
2015-2016: S.954A - Amended and Recommitted to Higher Education
2017-2018: S.3456 - Referred to Higher Education
2019-2020: S.2406A - Passed Senate
2021-2022: S.1352 - Passed Senate
2023-2024: S259 - Passed Senate. Delivered to Assembly.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No immediate costs to the state; potential long-term savings in health
care costs as minority populations access better preventative care.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1063: 2805-k public health law, 2805-k(1) public health law