BILL NUMBER: S2058
SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring institutions
within the state university of New York and the city university of New
York to have at least one vending machine on campus which makes emergen-
cy contraception available for purchase
 
PURPOSE:
Requires each institution within the state university of New York and
the city university of New York to have at least one vending machine
making emergency contraception available for purchase.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 355 of the education law by adding a new subdi-
vision 22 to direct the board of trustees to adopt a policy for the
provision of emergency contraception for purchase through at least one
new or existing vending machine located on a state-operated institution
in the state university system.
Section 2 amends section 6206 of the education law by adding a new
subdivision 22 which states that the board of trustees must adopt a
policy requiring the provision of emergency contraception available
through at least one vending machine located on each institution of the
city university of New York.
Section 3 sets an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the Guttmacher Institute study, low income, African Ameri-
can, and women ages 18-24 have disproportionately higher rates of unin-
tended pregnancy. This mimics the age range of college students enroll-
ing by age 18 and getting their degree of completion around age 21 to 24
years old. A 2016 National College Health Association survey found that
55 percent of college women used a method of contraception with the
majority of them stating to have used oral contraceptives (American
College Health Association 2016).
This same demographic of students struggle with accessing contraception
on and off campus. Emergency contraceptives are not provided in many
healthcare centers on college campuses, and a 2017 survey found that 40
percent of pharmacies did not stock over-the-counter emergency contra-
ceptives on the shelf (American Society for Emergency Contraception
2018; Miller and Sawyer 2006). Due to these circumstances students are
forced to go to term. In 2011, 76 percent of pregnancies among 18-19
year olds were unintended and 59 percent were unintended among 20-24
year olds (Institute for Women's Policy Research).
A Beginning Postsecondary Student Survey data displayed that one-third
of all student parents earn either a degree or certificate within six
years of them enrolling at a four year institution (Institute for
Women's Policy Research). Due to the hurdles that arise from parenthood
students often have to extend their time in college in order to complete
their academic journeys which is not a luxury many can afford based on
financial factors.
The provision of emergency contraception on city and state campuses is a
form of reproductive care which can prevent students from having unin-
tended pregnancies. This bill will ensure that every student has access
to affordable emergency contraception on state and city of New York
college campuses granting them a fair chance to achieve academically.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect April 1, 2025. The boards of trustees for the
state university of New York and the city university of New York shall
adopt policies to implement the provisions of this act within 60 days
after this act shall become a law.

Statutes affected:
S2058: 355 education law, 6206 education law