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Queens lawmakers applaud Gov. Hochul for signing
consumer protection legislative package into law
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Governor Kathy Hochul on
Tuesday, Nov. 2, signed a bill
that would expand the type
of vaccinations that licensed
pharmacists can administer
to patients who are 18 years
or older.
The bill (S.4807/A.6476A),
which takes effect in 90 days,
will allow pharmacists to
administer vaccines recommended
by the Centers for
Disease Control & Prevention
(CDC) for hepatitis A &
B, human papillomavirus,
measles, mumps, rubella and
varicella.
The new law also makes
permanent the ability for licensed
pharmacists to administer
the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Immunizations are the
best tool at our disposal for
protecting public health and
we must implement every
sensible measure to make
vaccines widely available,”
Hochul said. “With this new
law, we are expanding the
locations where New Yorkers
can go to get vaccines
to protect their own health
— and the health of their
communities.”
Under current law, pharmacists
in New York state
have been able to administer
immunizations for influenza
to adults and children, and
for COVID-19, pneumococcal,
acute herpes zoster, meningococcal,
tetanus, diphtheria,
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.16 COM | NOV. 19 - NOV. 25, 2021
pertussis disease, as well
as medications required for
emergency treatment of anaphylaxis,
to adults.
The new law expands the
list of immunizations that
pharmacists can provide to
adults, and requires pharmacists
to report the immunizations
to the State Department
of Health.
Queens lawmakers such as
state Senator Toby Stavisky
and Assemblywoman Alicia
Hyndman, thanked Hochul
for passing the legislation,
ensuring that communities
in New York City will have access
to health care services.
“Studies have shown that
people intuitively trust their
local pharmacist,” Stavisky
said. “By allowing pharmacists
to administer all vaccines
approved by the CDC,
we will reduce morbidity and
mortality rates and save lives
in our most medically underserved
communities.”
According to Hyndman,
access to healthcare should
be a basic human right.
“In many of our Black and
brown communities, local
pharmacists are the immediate
and most accessible route
to care,” Hyndman said.
“This legislation is a step in
the right direction towards
addressing this social justice
issue and creating equity for
all.”
BY BILL PARRY
Several Queens lawmakers
are lauding Governor Kath
Hochul for signing into law a
legislative package relating to
consumer protection.
State Senator Michael Gianaris
and Assemblywoman
Catalina Cruz collaborated on
a bill mandating a consumer
advocate have a voting seat on
the New York State Public Service
Commission (PSC).
“Too often, the Public Service
Commission serves the
industries it regulates rather
than the public,” Gianaris
said. “A consumer representative
on the PSC will be a powerful
step in the right direction.”
The PSC is currently comprised
of five members and
regulates telecommunications,
electricity, steam, natural
gas and water service delivery.
Currently, there are no
membership requirements.
The Gianaris and Cruz legislation
would mandate one member
have expertise in utility
consumer advocacy.
“With rising utility costs
impacting millions of New
Yorkers on fixed incomes and
others struggling with lowwage
jobs and unemployment,
consumers need regulators
who represent their interests,
not the interests of their utility
companies,” Cruz said. “This
law will ensure there is a voice
and vote for ratepayers at the
table.”
All members of the PSC are
appointed by the governor and
confirmed by the state Senate.
Hochul signed the package
of bills known as The Consumer
Credit Fairness Act,
which will protect consumers
from abusive debt collection,
as many practices relate to
old debts being sued on, debt
from credit card issuers being
resold to other creditors, and
minimal information being
provided to debt purchasers.
By increasing transparency,
minimizing gaps in state
civil procedure laws, and preventing
extreme actions such
as wage garnishment and
bank account freezing, consumers
are given more time
to act on burdensome debt collection
practices. Another provision
prohibits harassment
from utility companies when
negotiating a complaint or unpaid
balance.
“When bad actors try and
take advantage of consumers,
New York will fight back,”
Hochul said. “I’m proud to be
signing legislation that will
protect New Yorkers from unscrupulous
practices by debt
collectors and utility companies.
These three new laws
will make New York a better,
fairer place for all consumers.”
State Senator Leroy Comrie
was also pleased to see the
governor enact The Consumer
Credit Fairness Act.
“As our state continues to
recover from the pandemic,
protecting consumers remains
a high priority for the Senate
Majority Conference, and this
package of legislation will do
just that,” Comrie said. “My
bill provides clarifying language
for the Home Energy
Fair Practices Act (HEFPA),
ensuring that when New Yorkers
are in the midst of negotiating
payment arrangements
or filing a complaint against
an energy provider, they are
not subject to harassment or
abuse.”
Photo by Kevin P. Coughlin
Photo by Brendan McDermid/REUTERS
Governor OKs CDC-approved bill authorizing
pharmacists to administer additional vaccines
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