BILL NUMBER: S6455
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring home-
less shelters to keep an opioid antagonist on hand, have at least one
trained employee on duty at all times, and provide an opioid antagonist
training program for residents
 
PURPOSE:
To require homeless shelters to keep opioid overdose reversal drugs on
hand and require that at least one trained staff person is on duty at
all times to administer if needed.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends article 3 of the social services law by adding a new
title three.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Homeless shelters in New York State have long been dealing with
instances of drug overdoses and as the opioid epidemic deepens, those
instances are increasing. A critical measure that the state has taken to
reduce the number of opioid-related deaths is expanding access to nalox-
one. New York State currently allows for pharmacies, schools, libraries,
opioid overdose prevention programs, first responders and others to
stock and administer these life-saving opioid overdose reversal drugs.
New York's homeless population has been affected by the opioid epidemic,
and shelters must be equipped to save residents' lives when an overdose
occurs. This bill would require homeless shelters within the state to
keep opioid reversal drugs on hand as well as require that at least one
employee trained in the administration of the drug is on duty at all
times. This legislation would also establish a training program for
shelters to offer to residents who may be at an increased risk of expe-
riencing or witnessing an overdose.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A.638 - Reported to Ways & Means; S.8982 - Referred to Social
Services
2019-20: A.110 - Reported to Codes 2017-18: A.9552 -C - Reported to
Codes
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Unknown.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become law.