Statement from Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan

I applaud the Governor for creating a task force to combat the scourge of heroin and opioid abuse here in New York. This effort will build on the exemplary work of our own Senate task force, created in 2014, which has held dozens of hearings in virtually every corner of our state, and met with law enforcement officials and victims’ families in search of legislative solutions that were swiftly passed and signed into law.

First led by Senator Boyle and now chaired by Senators Amedore, Murphy, and Ortt, the Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction continues to identify additional legislation, and was the driving force behind the $167 million in funding for prevention and treatment included in this year’s state budget. This is a serious issue and it demands a serious, comprehensive, and overwhelming public response.