BILL NUMBER: S9457
SPONSOR: CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to coordination of
policies and services of the traumatic brain injury program with the
office for the prevention of domestic violence
 
PURPOSE:
To incorporate the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence within
the Traumatic Brain Injury Program, including by adding the executive
director of the Office into the Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordi-
nating Council.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends section 2740 of the Public Health law to include
consultation with the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence as
one of the responsibilities in the traumatic brain injury program.
Section 2: Provides that the executive director of the Office for the
Prevention of Domestic Violence be included as part of the traumatic
brain injury services coordinating council.
Section 3: This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, domestic violence
is a common cause for traumatic brain injury (TBI) for women, children,
and other groups that has been significantly overlooked. Approximately
36% of domestic violence survivors have sustained injuries to the head;
neck, or face, and women who seek medical attention for such injuries
are 7.5 times more likely to be domestic violence victims compared to
women seeking care for other injuries.
Combined with the fact that the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey found
that more than half of women in New York experienced domestic violence
in their lifetime, it is critical that New York takes action to address
these overlapping issues.
As New York seeks to have a comprehensive response to TBI through a
prevention and response program, it is essential that the Office for the
Prevention of Domestic Violence be included in coordinating policy.
Survivors often incur TBI, in turn suffering from cognitive and mental
effects such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, memory
loss, and a loss of stress and emotional regulation resulting from being
hit on the head, slammed, shaken, thrown, suffocated, strangled, or
asphyxiation during instances of domestic violence. According to one
study, only 35% of women hit in the head or strangled by their intimate
partner sought medical treatment, despite 64% reporting losing
consciousness or a period of being dazed and confused.
While the New York State Department of Health and the Office for the
Prevention of Domestic Violence have taken steps to alert health care
providers of the intersection of these two issues, it is important to
enhance coordination of state efforts between TBI and domestic violence.
This legislation would allow the Office for the Prevention of Domestic
Violence to directly and statutorily provide valuable input in coordi-
nating policy and administering the New York State Traumatic Brain Inju-
ry Program. Further, this bill would provide for the executive director
of the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence to take part in
the Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council, thus incorpo-
rating their expertise and advice towards State TBI policy.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S9457: 2740 public health law, 2744 public health law, 2744(1) public health law