In recent weeks, the New York State Senate and Assembly have considered the following health care-related legislation:

• Cigarette Fire Safety Act: A.1162, legislation introduced by Assemblyman Pete Grannis, is being considered by the full Assembly this week, and S.2257, introduced by Senator Frank Padavan, was referred to the Senate Finance Committee on January 5, 2000. The legislation would enact the Cigarette Fire Safety Act, which would establish fire safety standards for cigarettes, thereby protecting the health and safety of people in New York and greatly reducing the number of deaths and injuries resulting from cigarette-related fires. GNYHA strongly supports A.1162/S.2257 and urges its prompt enactment.

• Hours of Labor for Nurses: A.7405/S.7176, sponsored by Assemblyman Kevin Cahill and Senator Thomas Morahan, provides that no hospital shall permit a registered professional nurse or a licensed practical nurse to be on duty for more than 16 consecutive hours; that a nurse who has been continuously on duty for 16 hours shall not be permitted again to go on duty until he or she has had at least 10 consecutive hours off duty; that a nurse who has been on duty 16 hours in the aggregate in any 24-hour period cannot be permitted to continue or again go on duty without having had at least eight consecutive hours off duty; and that no nurse shall be permitted to be on duty for more than 60 hours in any seven-day period, except as a consequence of an emergency situation that could not have been reasonably predicted. A.7405 was approved by the Assembly Codes Committee on March 24, and S.7176 was referred to the Senate Labor Committee on March 27. GNYHA is currently reviewing the potential impact of this legislation.