Votes at a glance: committee advances nine bills on prevention, treatment and harm reduction

The Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorder met Thursday, May 22 and advanced nine bills that the chair said aimed to strengthen prevention, expand treatment access, promote harm reduction and support recovery services.

Items reported out or referred by the committee (as recorded in the transcript):

- S.17-31 (sponsored by Senator Fahey): Amends the Mental Hygiene Law to rename an Office of Addiction Services and Support scholarship program as the NYS Father Peter Young Memorial Edition Professional Scholarship Program. Motion moved and seconded; the committee voice-voted “Aye” and the bill was reported to the calendar.

- S.26-44 (sponsored by Senator Adabo): Amends the Insurance Law to prohibit retrospective denial of payment for substance use disorder treatment services. Motion moved and seconded; committee voice-voted “Aye”; transcript notes two members “without rec.” The bill was reported to the calendar.

- S.35-18 (sponsored by Senator Scarcellus Fantin): Establishes a Fentanyl Abuse and Overdose Prevention Task Force and provides for repeal on expiration. Motion moved by Senator Ross and seconded by Senator O'Barracker; voice vote in favor; the bill was reported to the Finance Committee.

- S.45-47 (sponsored by Senator Ramos): Amends the Criminal Procedure Law and the Judiciary Law relating to judicial diversion programs. Motion moved and seconded; committee voice-voted in favor; the bill was reported to the Finance Committee.

- S.46-40A (sponsored by Senator Fernandez): Amends the Public Health Law in relation to on-site overdose response services and requiring certain locations to maintain opioid antagonists. Motion moved and seconded; reported to the calendar.

- S.52-63 (sponsored by Senator Ashby): Amends the Insurance Law to state coverage for outpatient diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorder shall not be subject to preauthorization. Motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor; the bill was reported to the calendar.

- S.57-79 (sponsored by Senator Fernandez): Requires certain entities to stock opioid antagonists and to store naloxone nasal sprays with or adjacent to AED cabinets. The committee held substantive discussion; motion moved and seconded and the bill was reported to the calendar (see separate article for details).

- S.59-69 (sponsored by Senator Parker): Creates a Substance Use Disorder Treatment Bill of Rights in the Mental Hygiene Law. Motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor; the bill was reported to the calendar.

- S.60-82 (sponsored by Senator Parker): Establishes a Community Chemical Dependency Services Expansion Program and includes a repeal provision on expiration; motion moved by Senator Harcombe, seconded by Senator Robinson; the bill was reported to the Finance Committee.

Across the nine items, most actions were advanced by voice vote with few recorded negatives; several bills were specifically referred to the Finance Committee for additional review. The transcript records occasional “without recommendation” counts (for example, “2 without rec,” “3 without rec”) on some items; specific roll-call tallies and fiscal notes were not included in the committee record provided.

Context: At the meeting’s start the chair noted the committee’s work during the year on prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery services and called attention to persistent racial disparities in overdose deaths. The committee indicated it had a quorum and proceeded through the nine-item agenda, advancing each bill by motion and voice vote.