Albany, NY – Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Westchester) announced that her bill to protect children in day care centers has been signed into law. The legislation requires day care inspectors to receive training on identifying controlled substances and referring them to law enforcement (Ch. 619 of 2025 and Ch. 27 of 2026).

“We know that unsuspicious places like day care centers are being used to hide fentanyl and other deadly drugs. That’s why it’s critical that New York State inspectors have what they need to identify the drugs, and immediately bring in law enforcement. We need to do everything in our power to ensure that what happened in the Bronx two years ago never happens again,” said Paulin.

In September 2023, more than 11 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin were found underneath floor tiles in the playroom of a day care center in the Bronx. Four children under the age of three came in contact with the drugs and became unresponsive. One child died at the hospital shortly thereafter, and the other three children were hospitalized with acute opioid intoxication.

Just a week prior, inspectors made an unannounced visit to the day care to inspect the site. The inspector found the day care center to be in full compliance with the law and no violations were found.

“A little over two years ago, our community was left in deep mourning after the tragic death of one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici, who died as a result of negligent exposure to fentanyl at a childcare facility in my district,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for signing this bill into law, which will require inspectors of day care centers to have the guidance they need to detect and report controlled substances. Our communities, especially our most vulnerable, need to be protected and this bill will help us do that.”

“I’m hopeful that with more extensive training for inspectors we can prevent future tragedies from children being exposed to deadly drugs,” continued Paulin. “We have an obligation to do everything we can to get this right.”

This legislation was sponsored in the New York State Senate by State Senator Gustavo Rivera and goes into effect 180 days from enactment.