New York Assembly Bill A05708

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/25
• Refer: 2/20/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires hospitals and residential health care facilities to have a three-month supply of personal protective equipment in stock on the premises; requires the department of health to conduct an annual audit of the availability of such personal protective equipment in hospitals and residential health care facilities.

Summary

This bill would require every hospital and residential health care facility in New York to keep at least a three-month supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) on site. It also increases an existing planning requirement for residential health care facilities from a two-month PPE supply to a three-month supply, aligning that sector with the new statewide minimum. In addition, the bill directs the Department of Health to conduct annual audits to verify compliance and to maintain an accurate statewide accounting of PPE inventory. If an emergency creates a shortage at one facility, the department could order another hospital or residential health care facility to transfer PPE to the facility in need, with the state required to reimburse the donor facility and replenish the items. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Impact

The bill would amend the Public Health Law by adding a new section requiring hospitals and residential health care facilities to maintain a minimum on-premises PPE reserve and by revising an existing provision governing residential health care facility preparedness plans. It would also expand the Department of Health’s oversight role by creating an annual audit obligation and emergency redistribution authority. Hospitals, nursing homes, and other residential health care facilities would need to adjust inventory practices and preparedness planning to comply.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from legislative debate. Based on the bill’s text, the measure appears oriented toward public health preparedness and supply resilience, likely appealing to advocates of stronger emergency readiness after recent PPE shortages. The absence of recorded discussion makes the overall sentiment difficult to gauge beyond the bill’s preventive and administrative focus.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the cost and operational burden on hospitals and residential health care facilities required to maintain larger PPE inventories, especially if storage, procurement, or cash-flow constraints make a three-month stockpile difficult. Another possible issue is the Department of Health’s authority to direct transfers of PPE between facilities during emergencies, which could raise concerns about local shortages, fairness, and reimbursement timing. Supporters would likely emphasize preparedness and patient/staff safety, while opponents may focus on mandates and compliance costs.