Bid to control cost in school hygiene bill

After meeting with members of the Suffolk high school athletic community Friday, State Sen. Lee Zeldin said that he planned to refine his proposed bill to regulate hygiene in high school athletics so that it does not place great financial burden on schools.

Zeldin (R-Shirley), who met with around a dozen athletic directors, coaches and Hauppauge superintendent Patricia Sullivan-Kriss at Hauppauge High School, is expected to draft a final version of the bill within the next two weeks, said spokesman Marcus Povinelli.

"We are very close to introducing this legislation," Zeldin said in a statement. "Our primary goal has been to develop the most responsive and effective legislation without adding unfunded mandates that our school districts simply cannot afford."

The bill comes after Hauppauge wrestler Nick Mauriello contracted MRSA and a serious secondary infection that nearly cost him his life earlier this year.

Mauriello's coach, Chris Messina, said he had a "good feeling" about the outcome of the meeting and the possible bill.

If the bill becomes law, it could go into effect for the coming wrestling season that begins in November.

"It's definitely going to force schools to adhere to having showers and hot and cold water," he said. "These are things they should have, anyway.

"When I go to another tournament, I'm not going to have to worry about having showers."

Though the specifics of the bill are still being worked out, it's expected to include a provision that mandates schools holding tournaments to have ample and functioning shower facilities. It's also expected to have an educational aspect, Zeldin said.

Messina said the legislation would include an educational outreach program that would likely follow those given about concussions.

"The kid didn't die, but he could have," Messina said. "If we just walked away and said, 'let's do nothing,' then shame on us."