Requires school districts, public libraries, BOCES, county vocational education and extension boards, charter schools, and non-public schools to provide and maintain on-site opioid antagonists; requires the department of health to provide such opioid antagonists to such entities upon request.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8814A
SPONSOR: McDonald TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to expanding opioid over-
dose prevention measures in certain settings
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require school districts, public libraries, boards of
cooperative education services, county vocational education and exten-
sion boards, charter schools and non-public elementary and secondary
schools to stock opioid antagonists.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 922 of the education law to require certain
entities to stock opioid antagonists. It also requires the department of
health to provide opioid antagonists in an amount sufficient for the
school district at their request.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
This A print includes a provision requiring department of health to
provide opioid antagonists in an amount sufficient for the school
district at their request and makes a technical change the effective
date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Existing state law allows school districts to keep, maintain and admin-
ister opioid antagonists for emergency situations, however, the law does
not require that they do so. New York had approximately 5,388 opioid-re-
lated overdose deaths in 2022 and there was a 68 percent increase in
deaths from 2019 to 2021. Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, were
involved in 78 percent of all drug overdoses in 2021. Not unlike having
EpiPens for allergic reactions or defibrillators for cardiac arrest,
having access to opioid antagonists is a necessary part of being
prepared for medical emergencies in schools and could save lives.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025: A.8814 (McDonald) - Referred to Education
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addi-
tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to
be made and completed on or before such effective date.
