Senate committee advances bill to require naloxone be stored with AEDs at certain sites

The Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorder on Thursday, May 22, reported S.57A to the legislative calendar. The bill, sponsored by Senator Fernandez, would amend the Education Law and the Public Health Law to require certain entities and venues to stock opioid antagonists and to place naloxone nasal sprays with or adjacent to automated external defibrillator (AED) cabinets.

The measure drew substantive discussion about how to make naloxone widely available and easy to use. A committee member described a commercial product called “1 box” as “like an AED for overdose,” saying it includes naloxone, personal protective equipment and an instructional drop-down video screen. The committee member said the product is priced at about $99 and that they hoped to place one in each school in their district. The committee member also stated they were a cosponsor and said, “I do not have a vested interest in this whatsoever, just to make that clear.”

Senator Fernandez sponsored the bill and the motion to advance it; Senator Martinez seconded the motion. The committee chair called the vote, and members responded “Aye.” No negative votes were recorded on the floor at the time the clerk announced the result; the chair stated the bill was reported to the calendar.

Why it matters: Advocates and legislators have compared placing naloxone next to AEDs to existing public-access lifesaving devices and tools. Placing opioid antagonists in publicly accessible, clearly marked locations with instructions aims to reduce response time in an overdose and make rescue medication available outside clinical settings.

Key details recorded in committee: the bill text (as introduced) amends the Education Law and the Public Health Law to require specified locations to maintain a supply of opioid antagonists and to store naloxone nasal sprays with or adjacent to AED cabinets; the transcript records a named commercial example (“1 box”), an approximate retail price ($99) and a committee member’s intention to place units in schools in their district.

Next steps: S.57A was reported to the legislature’s calendar for further consideration by the full Senate. The transcript does not record any fiscal analysis, implementation timeline, or specific list of the entity types required to comply; those details would be determined in bill text and in subsequent committee work or floor consideration.