BILL NUMBER: S55
SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to the opioid
stewardship fund; and to amend part NN of chapter 57 of the laws of
2018, amending the public health law and the state finance law relating
to enacting the opioid stewardship act, in relation to the effectiveness
thereof
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To make the Opioid Stewardship Fund permanent, increase transparency
related to the Fund, and require a portion of the Fund to go tow ards
recovery and harm reduction services.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 allows that this act shall be known as the Overdose Prevention
and Recovery Act.
Section 2 states that 20% of funds shall be invested in recovery
services and 20% to the Department of Health for harm reduction serv
ices, and requires the Commissioner of OASAS to provide a written report
on the Fund and make such report publicly available as a dashboard.
Section 3 makes the Fund permanent.
Section 4 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, New York State is in an addiction public health emergency.
In 2018, there were 3,697 overdose deaths. In 2023, that number grew to
over 6,400-a 73% increase in three years-with opioids involved in more
than three-quarters of those deaths.
Recovery support services and supports are evidence-based practices and
provide low barrier life-saving, person-centered care to individuals and
families living in recovery from addiction. When treatment centers
closed during the pandemic, it was recovery centers th at stayed open to
meet the needs of people struggling with substance use and mental health
needs in the community. However, recovery support services currently
lack a mechanism for reimbursement in New York State, and as such the
current funding mechanisms are unsustainable. This legislation would
match the current federal funding for recovery support services at 20%.
Harm reduction is a proven model in reaching, supporting, and treating
individuals with a substance use disorder. The Department of Health
funds vital harm reduction efforts, including syringe exchange programs
and drug user health hubs. However, the funding for the se services is
not guaranteed and has fluctuated greatly over the past several years.
Ensuring that these services remain open and available is essential to
continuing to fight the overdose epidemic.
Lastly, increasing transparency around where the Opioid Stewardship Fund
monies are being used not only increases trust, but allows changes to be
made based on current data and trends. The reporting requirement mirrors
that of the Opioid Settlement Fund to provide e qual access to informa-
tion on both Funds.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S8412 / A9981
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.