Bill > A4391

Introduced Session

This bill requires general hospitals and satellite emergency departments to designate one pediatric and one adult sensory friendly treatment room, as well as one sensory friendly waiting area, within the facility's emergency department for the express use of individuals with a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other neurological or mental health condition that may cause the individual to become agitated, distressed, overstimulated, upset, aggressive, or disoriented when encountering conditions typical to a hospital emergency department, including loud noises, bright lights, and busy or frenetic activity. The designated treatment rooms and waiting area are to be designed in a manner that isolates the occupants from the sights and sounds of the emergency department, while also being readily accessible by facility staff. Hospitals and satellite emergency departments will be required to develop written policies and procedures concerning the use of the designated treatment rooms and waiting area, and will additionally be required to ensure that all emergency department staff complete a training program approved by the Commissioner of Health concerning interactions in the emergency department setting with individuals who have a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other neurological or mental health condition. The training program is to include both informational materials and practical techniques to minimize potential stressors and mitigate the traumatic effects of an emergency department visit for such individuals. This bill also requires hospitals to designate the pediatric and adult treatment rooms immediately, and to establish the sensory friendly waiting areas within one year after the date the bill is enacted.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Daniel Benson (D)*,  Herbert Conaway (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee (on 07/16/2020)