Senate Higher Education Committee advances six bills on licensure, health and prescription privacy

The New York State Senate Committee on Higher Education, chaired by Senator Toby Stavisky, met on Jan. 20 and advanced six bills affecting professional licensure, health care scope of practice and prescription-label privacy.

Committee staff summarized each measure for members before the committee took voice votes. The first bill, S.607 (sponsor listed in the transcript as Senator Stevisky), "amends the Education Law and the Social Services Law in relation to the licensure of dietitians and nutritionists and provides for a protected scope of practice," according to committee staff. The Greater New York Hospital Association submitted a memo of support and the Medical Society of the State of New York submitted a memo in opposition. The committee voted to report S.607 to the floor; Senator Webb moved the bill and Senator May seconded.

Staff described S.620-b as clarifying that grandfathered engineering firms that employ at least one officer or director licensed as a professional geologist may receive certificates of authority to practice geology; the New York State Council of Professional Geologists provided a memo of support. The State Education Department requested changing the effective date from immediate to 18 months; the committee agreed the floor could amend the effective date. Senator Virgo moved the bill and Senator Webb seconded; the committee reported it to the floor as amended.

On S.1703 (sponsor: Senator Wynne), staff said the bill "amends the Education Law and the Public Health Law to authorize pharmacists to administer injections for contraceptive use" and that, if enacted, it would take effect one year after becoming law. Senator Jackson moved the bill and Senator May seconded. Senators Murray and Oberacker recorded opposition during the voice vote; the committee reported S.1703 to the Rules Committee.

S.3029 (sponsor: Senator Stavisky) was described as establishing genetic counseling as a licensed profession; the Greater New York Hospital Association provided a memo of support. The committee reported S.3029 to the floor after a motion and second.

A bill appearing on the agenda (transcript text: 'senate 4 5, 4 8 5' by senators identified as Neske and Marie) would amend the Education Law to allow dentists to administer vaccinations against human papilloma virus; staff recorded no memos for or against and the committee reported the measure to the floor.

Committee staff also summarized a measure identified in the transcript as '8656' (sponsor: Senator Mayer) that would permit prescribers or dispensers of certain drugs to request that pharmacies exclude specified identifying information from prescription labels (transcript wording: 'nifopresco or misopresco'). There were no memos of support or opposition noted; Senator Jackson moved the bill, Senator May seconded, and the committee voted to report it (the transcript indicates it will be reported to Rules).

Votes and next steps: all six bills were advanced by the committee in voice votes. Several measures—S.607, S.3029 and the dentist/HPV vaccine measure—were reported to the floor; S.1703 and the '8656' prescription-label bill were reported to the Rules Committee. Where the transcript records named opposition, it is noted above; the transcript records voice votes rather than roll-call tallies.

The committee convened for routine introductions and staff identifications, confirmed a quorum, and adjourned at about 12:40 p.m.