Bill > S05484

This bill establishes a new Office of Wastewater Surveillance within the New York State Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Conservation. The office will monitor and analyze wastewater testing for public health purposes, initially focusing on expanding COVID-19 testing to include other pathogens. Key provisions include creating a standardized reporting system for laboratories, developing a public-facing online dashboard that complies with HIPAA privacy regulations, and submitting annual reports to state legislative leaders with policy recommendations. The bill also creates a grant program to assist laboratories in conducting wastewater testing and establishes an advisory council comprising 5-9 experts from various scientific disciplines like microbiology, chemistry, environmental engineering, epidemiology, and geography. The advisory council will provide guidance on best practices for wastewater sampling, testing, and analysis, and will meet at least four times per year. The bill is funded with an initial appropriation of $1.5 million, with future annual appropriations to be determined. Members of the advisory council will serve three-year terms and will not be compensated but will receive expense reimbursements. The office is required to notify state leaders if wastewater surveillance indicates a potential community-wide infection.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5484