Senator Bonacic Supports Legislative Package that Takes the Next Steps to Combat Statewide Heroin and Opioid Addiction

(Albany, NY)- State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt. Hope) announced today that he has supported a legislative package of more than a dozen bills to help end the state’s deadly heroin, opioid, and synthetic drug epidemic. The package focuses on enforcement to hold drug dealers more accountable, regulates many synthetic opioids, bolsters protections for children, and improves the state’s treatment programs to help assist individuals with recovery, among other measures. 

The measures were announced at a Senate news conference held yesterday in Albany and builds upon Senate action already taken this session, such as the $214 million the Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction secured in this year’s budget. This record-high level of funding will help improve prevention, treatment, recovery and education services across the state. 

“I was pleased to join my colleagues on the Heroin and Opioid Task-Force at yesterday’s press conference to announce the Republican Conference’s next steps to combat this deadly plague,” said Senator Bonacic. “With the passage of these bills we are once again renewing our commitment to end the scourge of addiction that has devastated our state.”

The bills passed include:

• Enacting “Laree’s Law” – Holding Drug Dealers Accountable: Bill S2761;
• Creating Drug Free Zones Around Drug or Alcohol Treatment Centers: Bill S1127;
• Establishing New Penalties for Heroin Sales: Bill S880;
• Making it Easier to Prosecute Heroin Dealers: Bill S638;
• Cracking Down on Black Market Prescription Drugs: Bill S2814;
• Increasing the Penalties for Heroin and Polydrug Offenses: Bill S2744;
• Improving the Regulation of Fentanyl: Bill S5884;
• Cracking Down on The Sale of Carfentanil: Bill S623;
• Conforming State Controlled Substances With Federal Schedules: Bill S5357;
• Toughening Penalties for Sale of a Controlled Substance to Minors: Bill S3845;
• Limiting Children’s Opioid Exposure: Bill S5949;
• Requiring Patient Counseling Prior to Issuing a Prescription for a Schedule II Opioid: Bill S5670;
• Preventing Predatory and Deceptive Substance Abuse Treatment: Bill S6544; and
• Expanding Access to Funding for State Substance Abuse Services: Bill S898.

The bills have been sent to the Assembly.