BILL NUMBER: S5920
SPONSOR: WEIK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring tele-
phones capable of making local and long-distance telephone calls be in
every nursing home patient's room
 
PURPOSE:
To require telephones capable of making local and long-distance tele-
phone calls be in every nursing home patient's room depending on their
mobility
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 2803-c of the Public Health Law is
amended by adding a new paragraph s.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day
after it shall have become a law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO) is a non-profit organiza-
tion established in 1982 that has been at the forefront of protecting
the rights of people with disabilities. Recently, SILO reported
complaints on behalf of its nursing home clients who experienced signif-
icant problems obtaining adequate access to telephone equipment/services
to call their loved ones. Many of these clients are immobile and/or
blind, making it extremely difficult for them to use communal phone
stations located in remote areas of a nursing home. In addition, these
communal phone stations present an ongoing health risk to nursing home
residents during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Department of Health (DOH) has taken the position that legislative
authorization is necessary for the Department to take action. This
legislation will close the gap in current state law and grant DOH the
necessary authority for amending existing regulations that govern the
rights of all nursing home patients in New York State.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023: S4242 Health Committee
2022: S9532 Rules Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.

Statutes affected:
S5920: 2803-c public health law, 2803-c(3) public health law