The New York State Senate Health Committee will consider a bill that may ultimately require nursing homes, adult homes, senior centers, and other residential health care facilities to use environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products. Senator Diaz will introduce the bill on January 9.
The bill, S.866-2013, would require the Commissioner of Health to create “guidelines and specifications” for the use of environmentally-sensitive cleaning supplies in covered facilities, which include nursing homes and adult care facilities. § 1. The act would become part of the Public Health Law and would be effective as of September 1st after the date the bill passes. § 2. The Department of Health would have to consult federal and other relevant environmental guidance documents concerning such supplies before issuing any guidelines. § 1.
Covered facilities would be allowed to use whatever cleaning and maintenance supplies they have already purchased before purchasing supplies that meet the Commissioner’s guidelines. § 1. Further, the Department of Health would have to issue a report analyzing the impact of these guidelines by June 1, 2016. § 1.
A copy of the bill is available here.
Caitlin Monjeau contributed this post.
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