BILL NUMBER: S6230A
SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law and the education law, in relation
to authorizing camp employees to administer medications and treatment to
children under certain circumstances
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would authorize camp employees to administer specific over-
the-counter medications and prescription medications to children when
acting under the direction and authority of the parent, legal guardian,
legal custodian or entrusted adult.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: This section amends the Public Health Law to permit employees
of children's overnight camps, summer day camps, or traveling summer day
camps to administer over-thecoimter medications for pain relief, anaphy-
laxis, and motion sickness or prescription medications of emergency
conditions via a non-patient specific standing order. Medications to be
administered under this section must be approved by the Commissioner of
Health.
Section 2: This section amends the Education Law to allow employees of
children's overnight camps, summer day camps, and traveling summer day
camps specifically authorized by the camp's medical director and who are
acting under the direction and authority of a parent of a child, legal
guardian, legal custodian or entrusted adult authorized to consent to
such treatment to administer medications or treatment to a child.
Section 3: This section sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current law prohibits camp staff who are not licensed to practice nurs-
ing in New York State from administering medications including "as need-
ed' medications such as acetaminophen for pain and topicals for bug
bites or poison ivy. Children away from parent/guardians for extended
periods of time frequently require such medications. This legislation
creates an alternative way for children's camps regulated by the Depart-
ment of Health to administer medications when the damp does not employ a
Nurse or Physician licensed to practice in New York State. This legis-
lation is similar to Chapter 160 of the Laws of 2003 which authorizes
the operators or employees of a licensed day care to administer medica-
tions when authorized by parent or legal guardian of a child, provided
the day care complies with regulations promulgated by the Office of
Children and Family Services.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S.8641 - Referred to Health
2023: S.8641 - Referred to Health
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

Statutes affected:
S6230: 1394 public health law, 6908 education law, 6908(1) education law
S6230A: 1394 public health law, 6908 education law, 6908(1) education law