N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2500-b

§ 2500-b. Sudden infant death syndrome. (a) Declaration of policy.\n Occurrence of sudden deaths of infants is a tragedy for the child, the\nfamily and the community, and a matter of vital concern to the public\nhealth. In order to provide for the protection and promotion of the\nhealth of the inhabitants of the state, the department of health shall\nhave the central and comprehensive responsibility for the development\nand administration of the state's policy with respect thereto.\n (b) The commissioner shall establish a program to study the sudden\ndeaths of infants which are unexpected by medical history, and for which\nadequate causes of death have not been demonstrated.\n (c) Such program may initially consist of pilot projects which shall\ninclude epidemiological investigation, family counseling and evaluation\nin order to identify the major risk factors in sudden infant deaths with\nthe objective of preventing such deaths.\n