Bill > A06370

This bill establishes a new office of wastewater surveillance within the Department of Health to monitor and analyze wastewater testing for public health purposes. The office will partner with laboratories and academic institutions currently conducting COVID-19 wastewater testing to expand pathogen surveillance, create a standardized reporting system for test results, and develop a public-facing online dashboard that complies with HIPAA privacy regulations. The bill also creates a grant program to assist laboratories in conducting wastewater testing and establishes an advisory council of 5-9 experts from various scientific disciplines (including microbiologists, chemists, environmental engineers, epidemiologists, and geographers) who will provide guidance on best practices for wastewater sampling, testing, and analysis. The advisory council will be geographically representative of the state and will meet at least four times per year, with members serving three-year terms and receiving no compensation beyond expenses. The office will be required to submit annual reports to state leadership with policy recommendations based on wastewater surveillance findings, and will be obligated to quickly notify officials if surveillance indicates a potential community-wide infection. The bill is initially funded with $1.5 million and will take effect 180 days after becoming law.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6370