Requires instruction in senior high schools regarding calling 911 when witnessing or experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose; provides that pupils shall receive instruction regarding the lawfulness of calling 911 when witnessing or experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose; encourages pupils to call 911 when witnessing or experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose without fear of arrest.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6179
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring instruction
in senior high schools regarding calling 911 when witnessing or experi-
encing a drug or alcohol overdose
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation will help educate young people in how to respond to
overdose.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the education law by adding a new section 804-e.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Nationwide, we continue to face record-high drug overdose deaths, which
have only increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The
COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life for everyone, but individuals
battling substance use disorder who rely on the support of friends and
family members and regular in-person visits to treatment programs or
support meetings have been particularly hard hit. The stress of
isolation combined with the disruption of treatment plans has led to
many additional overdoses, including here in New York State. Local
reports from Rensselaer County, Ulster County, Erie County and elsewhere
have indicated major increases in overdoses and overdose deaths over
2019 figures.
As we continue to battle the overdose epidemic in New York State, we
must educate as many New Yorkers as possible on how to spot an overdose
and how to properly respond. Under the state's Good Samaritan law, indi-
viduals who call 911 to report a drug or alcohol overdose are protected
from prosecution, as is the individual suffering the overdose. This law
is meant to encourage individuals, even if they are using the substance
themselves, to quickly seek medical attention. Requiring instruction on
the Good Samaritan law in senior high schools will help encourage young
people to act when they encounter a person who has overdosed and help
save lives.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6179
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 10, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring instruction
in senior high schools regarding calling 911 when witnessing or expe-
riencing a drug or alcohol overdose
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 804-e
2 to read as follows:
3 § 804-e. Instruction related to witnessing or experiencing a drug or
4 alcohol overdose. 1. Instructions regarding the provisions of section
5 220.78 of the penal law, also known as the "New York state 911 good
6 Samaritan law", shall be included as a part of the health education
7 curriculum in all senior high schools. Such course of instruction shall
8 educate pupils on the protections of such law, including but not limited
9 to, the lawfulness of calling 911 when witnessing or experiencing a drug
10 or alcohol overdose that requires emergency medical care, and shall
11 encourage pupils to call 911 when witnessing or experiencing a drug or
12 alcohol overdose without fear of arrest.
13 2. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations to estab-
14 lish a curriculum for instruction which shall be age appropriate and
15 developed according to the needs and abilities of pupils at successive
16 grade levels.
17 3. School authorities shall be authorized to provide the needed facil-
18 ities, time, and place for the instruction set forth herein and to
19 provide learning aids and curriculum resource materials which contribute
20 to effective teaching methods and learning regarding the decision to
21 call 911 when witnessing or experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06198-01-1
