Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) attended a press conference in Albany today to join his colleagues in unveiling a legislative package aimed at stemming the rising tide of overdose deaths in New York state. More than 5,800 lives were lost in New York in 2021 from drug poisoning, a statistic underscoring the dire need to enact change now. The press conference was led by Assemblyman Steve Stern (D-Huntington), Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, representatives from various law enforcement agencies and advocates from across the state, who came together in support of the newly proposed legislation.

The four bills introduced in the legislative package are:

• A.8383, relates to bail for certain felony offenses involving the manufacture, sale, distribution or possession with intent to sell synthetic opioids
• A.8384, establishes the delivering or administering of certain controlled substances as manslaughter
• A.8395, makes the possession and use of xylazine illegal with an exception for its use only in veterinary practice
• A.8397, amends the Executive Law to include families of children lost to a fatal overdose for financial compensation under the law. 

  “Too many of our kids, family members, friends and neighbors are dying from this drug crisis that New York has been fighting for the past five years. It’s not only common sense to pass the bills discussed today, but necessary to save lives,” said Ra. “I’m proud of the swift legislative action and collaboration across party lines to combat the devastating impact of the fentanyl epidemic. The proposed bills offer both immediate and long-term solutions to safeguard communities across New York; they are our lifelines to save those at risk. We won’t stop fighting until we see these drastic numbers go down. The futures of our people depend on it.”