N.Y. PBH Law § 2997-I

§ 2997-i. Safe patient handling workgroup. 1. The commissioner shall\nestablish a safe patient handling workgroup (referred to in this section\nas the "workgroup") within the department. The workgroup shall consist\nof, at the minimum, the commissioner or his or her designee; the\ncommissioner of labor or his or her designee; representatives of health\ncare provider organizations; representatives from employee organizations\nrepresenting nurses and representatives from employee organizations\nrepresenting direct care workers; representatives of nurse executives;\nrepresentatives who are certified ergonomist evaluation specialists; and\nrepresentatives who have expertise in fields of discipline related to\nhealth care or occupational safety.\n 2. Workgroup members shall receive no compensation for their services\nas members of the workgroup, but shall be reimbursed for actual and\nnecessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.\n 3. The workgroup shall be established no later than January first, two\nthousand fifteen.\n 4. The workgroup shall:\n (a) Review existing safe patient handling programs or policies,\nincluding demonstration programs previously authorized by chapter seven\nhundred thirty-eight of the laws of two thousand five and national data\nand results;\n (b) Consult with any organization, educational institution, other\ngovernment entity or agency or person that the workgroup determines may\nbe able to provide information and expertise on the development and\nimplementation of safe patient handling programs;\n (c) Identify or develop training materials for consideration by health\ncare facilities; and\n (d) Submit a report to the commissioner by July first, two thousand\nfifteen identifying safe patient handling program best practices,\nproviding examples of sample policies, and identifying resources and\ntools useful for providers to meet the goals of safe patient handling\npolicies.\n 5. All state departments, commissions, agencies, and public\nauthorities shall provide the workgroup with any reasonably requested\nassistance or advice in a timely manner.\n