A5587
An act to amend the Public Health Law — 2023-06-05 · Calendar #1371
The Senate unanimously passed Assembly Bill 5587, legislation to amend the Public Health Law, on a 59-0 vote. The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Wallace and credited to Sen. Hinchey, would establish an Office of Palliative Care and Hospice Care in New York State. Sen. May spoke emotionally in support, sharing her personal experience with her late husband's terminal cancer diagnosis and the barriers he faced in obtaining adequate palliative care. She called the legislation a major milestone in human-centered care. The bill takes effect 180 days after becoming law.
PASSED
Ayes: 59
· Nays: 0
Debate Summary
Sen. May spoke in favor of the bill, crediting Sen. Hinchey as the sponsor. She described the legislation as creating an Office of Palliative Care and Hospice Care in New York State, calling it a major milestone in human-centered care. May shared a personal account of her late husband's terminal cancer diagnosis and the difficulty in obtaining palliative care, emphasizing the importance of pain management in end-of-life care.