Proposed Int. No. 435-A
By Council Member Sanchez, the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Members Restler, Farías, Cabán, Menin, Ossé, Ayala, Louis, Rivera, Salaam, Brewer, Schulman, Hanif, Won, Bottcher, Gennaro, Hudson, Avilés, Krishnan, Nurse, Stevens, Banks, Marte, Gutiérrez, Brannan, Narcisse and Riley
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to expanding availability of rapid testing for sexually transmitted infections
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-184.2 to read as follows:
§ 17-184.2 Availability of rapid testing for sexually transmitted infections. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the term “rapid testing” means testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HIV that produces results in the same day.
b. Availability. The department shall make rapid testing available at sites in at least 4 boroughs. Three such sites shall be operational by February 15, 2026, and the fourth such site shall be operational by February 15, 2027. In determining the location of rapid testing sites, the department shall consider community and geographic factors including rates of sexually transmitted infections, availability of other testing services, social determinants of health, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and other factors the department deems relevant. Within 30 days of determining each such location, the commissioner shall notify in writing the mayor and speaker of the council of the considerations that went into such determination.
c. Outreach. Upon the establishment of any rapid testing site required pursuant to subdivision b of this section, the department shall consult or partner with relevant community-based organizations and shall conduct an education campaign in English and the designated citywide languages as defined in section 23-1101 to inform communities of the locations and availability of rapid testing services. In determining relevant community-based organizations to consult or partner with, the department shall consider community and geographic factors including rates of sexually transmitted infections, availability of other testing services, social determinants of health, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and other factors the department deems relevant.
d. Disclaimer. Nothing in this section shall require the department to provide rapid testing services to a patient for whom the department or the medical provider administering such services does not find such rapid testing to be clinically appropriate.
§ 2. a. No later than August 15, 2025 and each August 15 thereafter for 3 years, the commissioner of health and mental hygiene shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council and post publicly on the department of health and mental hygiene’s website a report detailing the availability of rapid testing services throughout the 5 boroughs, including services provided directly by the department of health and mental hygiene and through cooperative agreements or contracts with the department.
b. In the reports due August 15, 2025, and August 15, 2026, pursuant to this section, such commissioner shall describe any concerns in implementing the requirements of subdivision b of section 17-184.2 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by section one of this local law. If any rapid testing site required pursuant to such subdivision b is not operational by February 15, 2027, the commissioner of health and mental hygiene shall notify the mayor and speaker of the council of the department of health and mental hygiene’s progress implementing the requirements of such subdivision b and describe any concerns regarding such implementation in each report required by this section, or in a writing submitted August 15 annually, until such rapid testing sites are operational.
§ 3. This local law takes effect immediately.
Session 13
CP/SOS
LS #8373/5571
7/10/2024 5:20pm
Session 12
SM
LS #8373/5571
1/6/2023 9:32 AM