New York S 6104: Establishes the interagency task force on health literacy

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S06104 Summary:

BILL NOS06104 

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SAME ASSAME AS A01380

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §238-b, Ed L

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Establishes the interagency task force on health literacy, to study health literacy and develop recommendations for improving health literacy in this state.

Go to top S06104 Actions:

BILL NOS06104 

&nbsp

03/05/2025REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Go to topS06104 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS06104 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS06104 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 6104

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 March 5, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the establishment of
 the interagency task force on health literacy

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Legislative intent. 1. It is the intent of the legislature
 2 to improve health care access and outcomes, and reduce unnecessary
 3 health care spending by addressing the issue of health literacy. Health
 4 literacy is the degree to which an individual, or individuals, have the
 5 capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health care information
 6 and services necessary for them to make appropriate health decisions.
 7 2. A patient's health literacy may be affected if they have low educa-
 8 tion skills, cultural barriers to seeking health care, or limited
 9 English proficiency (LEP). Demographically, individuals with health
 10 literacy challenges often are represented disproportionately in the
 11 following groups: older adults, minority and/or immigrant populations,
 12 lower-income populations, and medically underserved populations.
 13 3. Although New York has some existing health literacy initiatives,
 14 the legislature finds that a comprehensive statewide health literacy
 15 task force is a necessary and valuable step toward eliminating as much
 16 as practicable the negative outcomes that health literacy challenges
 17 create in the state.
 18 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 238-b to
 19 read as follows:
 20 § 238-b. Interagency task force on health literacy. 1. There is hereby
 21 established within the state university of New York, an interagency task
 22 force on health literacy to be administered according to the provisions
 23 of this section. Such task force shall assist the health and human
 24 service agencies of this state in studying health literacy and develop-
 25 ing recommendations for improving health literacy in this state.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD02751-01-5

 S. 6104 2

 1 2. The SUNY Chancellor shall appoint a member of the SUNY school of
 2 public health faculty to chair the task force.
 3 3. The following representatives shall be invited to serve on the task
 4 force:
 5 (a) Three representatives from state hospitals to be selected by the
 6 temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly;
 7 (b) The commissioner of the New York state department of health;
 8 (c) The commissioner of the office of children and family services;
 9 (d) A representative from the Medical Society of the state of New
 10 York;
 11 (e) A representative from the New York Chapter, American Academy of
 12 Pediatrics;
 13 (f) A representative from the New York Cooperative Extension;
 14 (g) A representative from the Albany College of Pharmacy;
 15 (h) A representative from the Long Island University A.M. Schwartz
 16 College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions;
 17 (i) A representative from the State University of New York at Buffalo
 18 School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences;
 19 (j) A representative from the New York State Occupational Health Clin-
 20 ic Network;
 21 (k) A representative from the New York state office of minority
 22 health;
 23 (l) A representative from the New York state developmental disabili-
 24 ties planning council;
 25 (m) A representative from the health insurance in