§ 206. Commissioner; general powers and duties. 1. The commissioner\nshall:\n (a) take cognizance of the interests of health and life of the people\nof the state, and of all matters pertaining thereto and exercise the\nfunctions, powers and duties of the department prescribed by law;\n (b) exercise general supervision over the work of all local boards of\nhealth and health officers, unless otherwise provided by law;\n (c) exercise general supervision and control of the medical treatment\nof patients in the state institutions, public health centers and clinics\nin the department;\n (d) investigate the causes of disease, epidemics, the sources of\nmortality, and the effect of localities, employments and other\nconditions, upon the public health;\n (e) obtain, collect and preserve such information relating to\nmarriage, birth, mortality, disease and health as may be useful in the\ndischarge of his duties or may contribute to the promotion of health or\nthe security of life in the state; establish rules and regulations for\nthe determination of asymptomatic conditions including, but not limited\nto RH sensitivity, anemia, sickle cell anemia, cooley's anemia and\nvenereal disease;\n (f) enforce the public health law, the sanitary code and the\nprovisions of the medical assistance program, or its successor, pursuant\nto titles eleven, eleven-A and eleven-B of the social services law, as\namended by this chapter;\n (g) cause to be made from time to time examinations and inspections of\nthe sanitary conditions of each state institution and transmit copies of\nthe reports and recommendations thereon to the head of the state\ndepartment having jurisdiction over the institution examined;\n (h) cause to be made from time to time, examinations and inspections\nof all labor camps and enforce the provisions of the sanitary code\nrelating thereto;\n (i) cause to be made, from time to time, examinations and inspections\nof all Indian reservations, and enforce all provisions of the sanitary\ncode relating thereto.\n (j) cause to be made such scientific studies and research which have\nfor their purpose the reduction of morbidity and mortality and the\nimprovement of the quality of medical care through the conduction of\nmedical audits within the state. In conducting such studies and\nresearch, the commissioner is authorized to receive reports on forms\nprepared by him and the furnishing of such information to the\ncommissioner, or his authorized representatives, shall not subject any\nperson, hospital, sanitarium, rest home, nursing home, or other person\nor agency furnishing such information to any action for damages or other\nrelief. Such information when received by the commissioner, or his\nauthorized representatives, shall be kept confidential and shall be used\nsolely for the purposes of medical or scientific research or the\nimprovement of the quality of medical care through the conduction of\nmedical audits. Such information shall not be admissible as evidence in\nany action of any kind in any court or before any other tribunal, board,\nagency, or person.\n (k) notwithstanding any other provision of law, with the advice and\nassistance of the commissioner of agriculture and markets, establish\nrules and regulations to require such treatment of food or food\nproducts, including the addition or removal of specific substances, as\nmay be necessary for the protection of the public health against the\nhazards of ionizing radiation.\n (l) establish and operate such adult and child immunization programs\nas are necessary to prevent or minimize the spread of disease and to\nprotect the public health. Such programs may include the purchase and\ndistribution of vaccines to providers and municipalities, the operation\nof public immunization programs, quality assurance for immunization\nrelated activities and other immunization related activities. The\ncommissioner may promulgate such regulations as are necessary for the\nimplementation
‹ Prev All New York sections Next ›
Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.