NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY

SUBJECT:
Whether to require manufacturers of sugar-sweetened beverages to place a safety warning on the containers of such beverages and in places where such beverages are served, as proposed by Assembly bill 2320-A (Dinowitz).

PURPOSE:
To provide various organizations the opportunity to comment on Assembly bill 2320-A, in regard to its merits and to suggest amendments, if any.

NEW YORK CITY
Monday, April 13, 2015
10:30 a.m.
Assembly Hearing Room 1923, 19th floor
250 Broadway, New York, NY

The prevalence of obesity in the state has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. While there is certainly more than one cause for this increase, many public health authorities and nutrition experts believe that sugar-sweetened beverages are a unique contributor to excess caloric consumption. The effects of obesity are of particular concern because obesity is associated with health ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer. Medical costs are also a growing concern; each year, obesity-related ailments account for $147 billion in health care costs nationally. Much of these costs are paid publicly through the Medicare and Medicaid programs, putting a strain on states' limited resources. The purpose of this hearing is to provide various organizations the opportunity to comment on the merits of Assembly bill 2320-A and to suggest amendments, if any, in order to address the problems associated with obesity.

Persons invited to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to five minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees' interest in receiving testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

JEFFREY DINOWITZ
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
RICHARD N. GOTTFRIED
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Health



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons invited to testify at the public hearing on whether to require manufacturers of sugar-sweetened beverages to place a safety warning on the containers of such beverages and in places where such beverages are served are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email, or fax it to:

Colleen Honan
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
Room 513 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: honanc@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4355
Fax: (518) 455-7250
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I plan to attend the following public hearing on whether to require manufacturers of sugar-sweetened beverages to place a safety warning on the containers of such beverages and in places where such beverages are served to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection and Assembly Committee on Health on April 13, 2015.
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I have been invited to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to five minutes, and I will answer any questions that may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:




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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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I would like to be added to the Committees' mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committees' mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




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