S 4184: Relates to a public awareness educational program on heroin; makes an appropriation therefor.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4184 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 3, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to a public aware- ness educational program on heroin; and making an appropriation there- for The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 19.09 of the mental hygiene law is amended by 2 adding a new subdivision (m) to read as follows: 3 (m) The commissioner shall create a multi-faceted public outreach 4 program to raise awareness of the inherent dangers and costs of heroin 5 use. The program shall consist of such public service announcements and 6 interactive media spots designed to reach the broadest possible general 7 audience, as well as those designed to specifically target those social 8 and age groups that are most at risk for experimenting with heroin, 9 those who are currently using heroin, and those who are seeking or 10 undergoing treatment for heroin addiction. The content of such outreach 11 efforts shall include, but not be limited to, such topics as: the 12 dangers of addiction after only one use; section 220.78 of the penal 13 law, otherwise known as New York state's good samaritan law; the current 14 demographics of heroin addiction; the recognizable physiological symp- 15 toms of addiction; the availability and the critical effectiveness of 16 administering an opioid antagonist in cases of suspected overdose; and 17 the availability of the office's HOPEline. The commissioner shall post 18 the announcements, examine all possible methodologies, and take all 19 other efforts, including the use of social media sites, to ensure that 20 the announcements are viewed by the maximum number of people. The 21 commissioner shall also provide copies of the announcements on its 22 website in a highly visible location that are available to be freely 23 downloaded by any member of the public. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD07793-01-5 
 S. 4184 2 1 § 2. The sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), or so much 2 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of 3 mental hygiene out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general 4 fund to the credit of the office of addiction services and supports, not 5 otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available, for the purpose 6 of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable 7 on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or 8 approved by the commissioner of the office of addiction services and 9 supports in the manner prescribed by law. 10 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.