BILL NUMBER: S7924
SPONSOR: GONZALEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law and the state finance law, in
relation to the gender affirming care program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Relates to establishing a gender affirming care fund
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes the legislative intent and findings.
Section 2 amends title 2-F of article 2 of the public health law by
adding a new section 244-a which creates the gender affirming care
program and defines "gender expansive", "medically necessary", and
"gender affirming care." This section also outlines which interventions
or treatments are considered gender affirming care. This section also
directs the Commissioner of Health to consult experts in the development
of the program and to implement the program.
Section 3 amends finance law by adding a new section 95-1 to establish a
"gender affirming care fund" under the joint custody of the state comp-
troller and commissioner of taxation and finance. This section also
establishes how the moneys will be appropriated and utilized.
Section 4 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
According to a  
REPORT by Funders for LGBT Issues for every $100
awarded by U.S. foundations, LGBTQ initiatives got 28 cents and Trans-
gender Gender Non-Conforming and Non-Binary and lntersex (TGNCNBI)
specific initiatives got 5 cents. A wave of transphobia has also swept
the nation and is negatively impacting trans New Yorkers. The National
Center for Transgender Equality's most recent national survey, the larg-
est ever conducted to examine the experiences of TGNCNBI people in the
U.S., revealed extreme economic, social, and health-related disparities
among TGNCNB people: 28% for went necessary medical care due to cost,
24% did not see a doctor due to fear of mistreatment, 13% had no health
insurance, 30% were verbally harassed in the last year due to their
gender identity or expression, and so on.
The current White House administration also continues to attack the
right to healthcare for LGBTQ communities. This bill would establish a
gender affirming core program and fund to be administered by the New
State Department of Health in consultation with experts. The fund will
increase access to healthcare for TGNCNBI New Yorkers can access gender
affirming care in our state during a volatile time for this community.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth 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.