What's happening
This bill requires New York college campuses to train resident assistants in opioid overdose response and maintain accessible opioid antagonists in college housing.
Why it matters
Expands emergency preparedness for opioid overdoses. by requiring all SUNY, CUNY, and community college campuses with housing to equip resident assistants (RAs) with both training and on-site opioid antagonists (e.g., naloxone), addressing a significant public health risk among college students.
Ensures timely access to lifesaving medication. by mandating that opioid antagonists are physically available in campus housing and accessible to trained RAs, potentially reducing response times during overdose emergencies when every minute counts.
Extends liability protection. to RAs and other designated employees who administer opioid antagonists in good faith, which may encourage more individuals to act swiftly during overdose incidents without fear of legal consequences.
Allows for broader participation in overdose response. by permitting campuses to designate additional volunteer employees (beyond RAs) to be trained and ready to administer opioid antagonists if needed, increasing coverage and preparedness across college housing facilities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Stock Narcan in College Dorms
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Naloxone in College Dorms
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Daniel O'Donnell
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7640
IN SENATE
February 1, 2018
Introduced by Sen. AMEDORE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to opioid overdose prevention in college housing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6438-a to read as follows:
§ 6438-a. Opioid overdose prevention in college housing. 1. Any campus of the state university of New York, city university of New York or any community college shall provide training in the administration of opioid antagonists by a program approved under section thirty-three hundred nine of the public health law to any resident assistant employed by such campus. Any such campus shall provide and maintain onsite in any college-owned or college-operated housing, opioid antagonists, as defined in section thirty-three hundred nine of the public health law, in quantities and types deemed by the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of health. Such opioid antagonists shall be accessible by each resident assistant for use during emergencies to any student or other individual on college-owned or college-operated housing premises suspected of having opioid overdose whether or not there is a previous history of opioid abuse.
2. Officials at any campus of the state university of New York, city university of New York or any community college may designate additional employees who volunteer to administer opioid antagonists in the event a resident assistant is not physically present at a suspected overdose incident, provided that such additional employee is trained in the administration of opioid antagonists by a program approved under section thirty-three hundred nine of the public health law.
3. Any person shall not be liable for any act or omission related to, or any harm resulting from, administration of an opioid antagonist pursuant to this section, provided that such person acted reasonably and in good faith.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14263-01-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to opioid overdose prevention in college housing
Purpose
This bill requires public college campuses to carry life-saving opioid antagonist medications in college-owned or college-operated housing, and requires that such medications are accessible to a trained resident assistant or, employee during emergencies that require the adminis- tration of opioid antagonists.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the education law by adding a new section 6438-a.
6438-a 1. Requires a supply of on-site opioid antagonists in public college-owned or college-operated housing, and requires that such medi- cations be accessible to a trained resident assistant for administration of opioid antagonists.
6438a 2. Provides that such public college campuses may designate an additional employee to administer opioid antagonists in the event that a resident assistant is not physically present.
6438-a 3. ensures that any trained person pursuant to this section shall not be liable the administration of an opioid antagonist provided that such person acted in good faith.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
Justification
The current opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in American history. Opioid overdoses have surpassed gun-related murders and car accidents as the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years old, killing as estimated 64,000 people last year. In New York, virtual- ly no corner of the state has been untouched by the heroin and prescription opioid crisis. The crisis has no demographic limitations; it affects individuals of every age, race and gender.
Fatal opioid overdose deaths are preventable. Opioid antagonists, such as naloxone (brand name Narcan) or any other similarly acting drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, have proven to be effective in the treatment of an opioid overdose. Specifically, naloxone counteracts life-threatening opioid overdoses by reversing the depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system; thus, allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally. Naloxone is a nonsched- uled (non-addictive) medication that has no effect if opioids are absent. This ensures that administration of naloxone has no potential for abuse and is safe for administration by a trained individual.
By requiring naloxone to be available in public college and university dormitories and requiring resident assistants to be trained to adminis- ter it, this proposal builds on previous legislative actions to make naloxone more widely available in the community in order to prevent fatal overdoses of heroin and other opioids
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.