BILL NUMBER: S6596A

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to adding substances
to the schedules of controlled substances

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Adds certain substances to the schedules of controlled substances.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends subdivision (b) of schedule I of section 3306 of the
public health law by adding four new paragraphs 71, 72,73 and 74.

Section two amends subdivision (c) of schedule II of section 3306 of the
public health law to add a new paragraph 30.

Section three provides the, effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill would add four types of Fentanyl to the New York State
Controlled Substances list.

Latest statistics show nearly 3,000 New Yorkers lost their battle with
opioid addiction in 2018. A majority of these deaths were attributed to
synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and its analogues. These analogues
can be up to 100 times stronger than morphine and are becoming increas-
ingly present in communities throughout New York State. In Staten
Island, deaths attributed to fentanyl and its analogues increased over
700% between 2015 and 2016. Over the same time period overdose deaths
due to opioids have increased nearly 25% statewide and fentanyl related
deaths specifically increased by 160%.  In New York City, fentanyl
analogues were responsible for 40% of overdose deaths in 2017.

The opioid epidemic has ravaged our communities for years. The pandemic
has exacerbated this situation. As we began to reopen after a year of
isolation it is more critical than ever to address these dangerous
narcotics in our communities. This bill aims to do that by adding four
fentanyl analogues to the New York State Controlled Substances list,
mending a loophole in state law and making our communities safer.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.