New York State SmartTranscripts:

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Good morning, everyone. Today is Thursday, May 22. Thank you all for joining the fourth and final meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorder. We're joined today by ranking member, Senator Pete Oberacker.

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Good morning. Good morning.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: And also members of the majority Senator Harckham, Senator Martinez, and Senator Rolison from minority. The members who have not here have submitted their voting sheets so we do have a quorum. This year our committee has taken meaningful action. I hope you're all proud of your participation and your work. We advanced bills that strengthen prevention, expand access to treatment, promote harm reduction, and support recovery services. I'm grateful for your partnership and all the commitment that we've shared in saving lives. But of course, our work is far from over because those numbers are still a little high. And we now face federal cuts to programs that we know are effective. And while recent data has shown a decline in overdose deaths amongst amongst the overall, particularly in white individuals, rates remain unacceptably high in black and brown communities. So this disparity is unacceptable as we know and it demands our continued attention and action. So we know we must do better, we can do better and with this team I know we will do better. Let's close this session with purpose and resolve and keeping our focus on the future. Our commitment to equity, compassion and impact I know is not deterred. So let's get started. Thank you all. We have nine bills on the agenda. Our first bill is S seventeen thirty one sponsored by Senator Fahey.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: An act to amend the mental hygiene law in relation to renaming an office of addiction services and support Scholarship Program, the NYS Father Peter Young Memorial Addiction Professional Scholarship Program.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any discussion on the bill?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Move the bill.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: No. And a second. Seconded by Senator Martinez. Those in favor? Aye. And the negative? Without rec. None. The bill is reported to the calendar. Our next bill is S2644 by Senator Adabo.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: An act to amend the insurance law in relation to prohibiting the retrospective denial of payment for substance use disorder treatment services.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any discussion on the bill?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Move the bill.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Move the bill. A second. Second. Seconded by Senator Robinson. Thank you, Harckham, for removing it. The motion puts us in the boat. Any of those in favor?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Aye. Aye.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Aye. None of the negative. None of the wreck. The bill is reported to the Oh, two in the wreck.

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Yeah, please.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Bill is reported to the calendar. Our bill is s thirty five eighteen sponsored by Senator Scarcellus Banton.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: An act in relation to establishing the fentanyl abuse and overdose prevention task force and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any discussion on the bill?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: So moved.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: So moved. Moved by Senator Austin. Second by Senator Oberacker. All those in favor?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Aye.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: None in the negative. Any in the wreck? Bills reported to finance committee. Our next bill is S forty five forty seven sponsored by Senator Ramos.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: An act to amend the criminal procedure law and the judiciary law in relation to judicial divergent programs and to appeal certain provisions of the criminal procedure law relating thereto.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any discussion on the bill? Motion to move.

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: So move.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Move by Senator Hockham. Seconded. Seconded by Senator Oberacker. All those in favor? Right. Any in the negative? Any without rec?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: No rec.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Two and three without rec. Thank you. The bill is reported to the finance committee. Our next bill is S4640A sponsored by Senator Fernandez.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: An act to amend the public health law in relation to on-site overdose response services and requiring certain locations and venues to maintain a supply of opioid antagonists.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any discussion on the bill?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: So moved.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Moved by Senator Rolison. Seconded. Seconded by Senator Oberacker. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Any in the negative? Any without wreck?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Here you are.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Two without wreck. The bill is reported to the calendar. Our next bill is S 52 sponsored by Senator Ashby.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: An act to amend the insurance law in relation to providing that coverage for outpatient diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorder shall not be subject to pre authorization.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any discussion on the bill?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Move the bill.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Moved by Senator Harckham. Second. Any second? Second by Senator Oberacker. All those in favor?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Aye.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any in the negative? Any without rec? The bill is reported to the calendar. Our next bill is S fifty seven seventy nine by Senator Fernandez.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: An act to amend the education law and the public health law in relation to requiring certain entities to stop opioid antagonists and to store naloxone nasal sprays with or adjacent to automated external defibrillator cabinets. Any discussion on the bill

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: discussion discussion, Madam Chair, thank you. Thank you for bringing this to get this bill forward. I think this is probably one of the most impactful bills that we brought up here in committee. I went on it as a co sponsor. I thought so highly of it. Just real quickly, this bill really pertains to a program that I'm extremely excited about and very supportive of. It's called One Box and the One Box basically is exactly what we are talking about. It is, for lack of a better term, it is like an AED for overdose. It comes with all kinds of personal it comes with the naloxone, it comes with PPE equipment. Here's the thing that sold me on it altogether. It has a drop down screen just like we do with the AED.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: First off, let's take a deep breath. Step number one. So

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: it is one of the best products and concepts I have seen come by. In the 51st Senate District my goal is to have one of these in every one of the schools that I have and I will find a way to make that happen. The price point on this is absolutely in my opinion amazing, it's $99. So Madam Chair I can't think of a better way to accentuate the absolutely amazing bill that you put forward, I just want to bring this up education only and I do not have a vested interest in this whatsoever just to make that clear. But every once in a while I think things kind of mesh together and this bill and that product, I think, does that. So thank you. And I am going to be the first to move that if I can.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Appreciate this. Before we get to that second, I just want to thank you because that box was an inspiration for needing all tools in the safe space in the safe place that we have for our first aid. And that one does take a step further with instructional video. But you know important to have every tool needed to save a life in one spot. So thank you for that. Motion to second. Second. Second by Senator Martinez. All those in favor? Aye. Any negative? No? Without rec? The bill is reported to the calendar. The next bill is S fifty nine sixty nine by Senator Parker.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: An act to amend the mental hygiene law in relation to creating a substance use disorder treatment bill of rights.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any discussion on the bill?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Move the bill. Second.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Moved by Harckham, second by Robinson. All those in favor?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Aye.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any negative without rec. The bill is reported to the calendar. Our final bill is s sixty eighty two sponsored by senator Parker.

[Committee Clerk/Staff]: And act to amend the mental hygiene law in relation to establishing the community chemical dependency services expansion program and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any discussion on the bill? No discussion. Motion to move.

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: So moved.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Moved by senator Harckham. Any second?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Second.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Second by senator Robinson. All those in favor?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Aye.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Any negative? Without rec?

[Senator Peter Oberacker (Ranking Member)]: Without rec.

[Senator Nathalia Fernandez (Chair)]: Three without rec. Thank you. The bill is reported to the finance committee. That is the final bill of our agenda. Thank you so much for coming. Great year, madam. Yeah. Great year, Jeff. Good work.