BILL NUMBER: S2319
SPONSOR: LIU
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to directing the
commissioner of health to require each licensed home care service agency
to submit an infection control plan and periodic reports detailing meas-
ures taken to protect clients from infection
 
PURPOSE:
To ensure that employees and clients of home health care and home care
agencies are protected to the extent possible
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides for the commissioner of the Department of Health to
require each health home or licensed home care services agency to submit
an infection control plan and periodic reports detailing measures taken
by the agency to protect its employees and clients from infection.
The plan shall include, but is not limited to: the types of personal
protection equipment (PPE) issued, the frequency at which the PPE is
issued, how such PPE is delivered to the agency's employees and clients
in a way that minimizes contact the process of initial testing of all
employees the process for testing of employees on a regular basis the
process of screening of employees for symptoms of illness the steps
taken if any employee is found to be sick or symptomatic.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Due to the outbreak of Covid-19 in many nursing homes, some families
started to turn to home health and home care agencies for their long-
term care needs. This trend has continued since the pandemic. Given the
vulnerability of the home health and home care clients, this legislation
aims to ensure that the agencies are taking the appropriate steps to
protect their employees and clients.
To more adequately
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
01/03/24 REFERRED TO HEALTH
01/06/23 REFERRED TO HEALTH
01/05/22 REFERRED TO HEALTH
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

Statutes affected:
S2319: 3612 public health law