(a) Declaration of policy. Occurrence of sudden deaths of infants is a tragedy for the child, the family and the community, and a matter of vital concern to the public health. In order to provide for the protection and promotion of the health of the inhabitants of the state, the department of health shall have the central and comprehensive responsibility for the development and administration of the state's policy with respect thereto. (b) The commissioner shall establish a program to study the sudden deaths of infants which are unexpected by medical history, and for which adequate causes of death have not been demonstrated. (c) Such program may initially consist of pilot projects which shall include epidemiological investigation, family counseling and evaluation in order to identify the major risk factors in sudden infant deaths with the objective of preventing such deaths.
New York Legal Code