Issues: Drugs

Gallivan Hails DNA as "Best Tool For Law Enforcement Since Fingerprints"

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan applauded Governor Cuomo today after signing DNA databank expansion legislation into law, making New York State the first "all crimes DNA" state in the nation. The State Senate passed legislation to implement the expansion of the state’s DNA Databank in January.

The new law will require criminals convicted of all felonies, as well as all penal law misdemeanors, to submit DNA samples.

Gallivan: “Senate Plan Cuts Taxes, Reforms Medicaid, Protects Seniors and Schools.”

The New York State Senate voted to approve its 2012-13 Senate Budget resolution, continuing its focus on state spending, job creation, and structural reform to government.

The Senate budget, at just under $132.5 billion, keeps the total state spending increase below two percent, and spends less than the Executive Budget. The budget closes a $2 billion budget deficit and builds on last year’s successes in putting the state’s fiscal house in order.

Attorney General holds press conference in Western New York to advance I-STOP legislation

ALBANY, N.Y. – Senator Timothy M. Kennedy, D-58th District, stands with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in urging the state to take action to combat prescription drug abuse. While Senator Kennedy was in Albany Tuesday and unable to attend the Attorney General’s press conference in Western New York, he has been stressing the urgency of addressing this epidemic and pushing his colleagues to support prescription drug abuse reform.

NEW YORK, NY – More than half of substance abuse treatment providers have reported no increase in patients in the three years since Rockefeller Drug Law reform, raising serious questions about the implementation of the revamped statutes, according to a report released Sunday by State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, (D-Bronx/ Westchester), the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse.

The report, “Assessing the Effectiveness of Substance Abuse Treatment Under Rockefeller Drug Law Reform,” also found widespread communication problems between criminal justice agencies and recovery providers, as well as funding issues that threaten the effectiveness of the reforms.

News From New York StateSenator Shirley L. HuntleyFor Immediate Release: February 16, 2012Contact: Antonio Rodriguez | arodrigu@nysenate.gov | (518) 455-3531

*PRESS RELEASE*

Senator Shirley L. Huntley Passes Legislation to Better Protect Minors from Drug Abuse

Law would increase penalty for criminal sale of control substance to minors under age of 14

Senate Passes Series of Bills To Curb Prescription Painkiller Abuse

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R,C,I- 59th District) was among a handful of Senators to take part in a Senate Roundtable on New York State’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis, hosted in Albany today by Senators Kemp Hannon and Jeffrey Klein, Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Health and the Senate Committee Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, respectively.

The Roundtable included doctors, pharmacists, medical professionals, addiction specialists, law enforcement officials, drug abuse prevention organizations, and parents of victims whose deaths were attributed to prescription drug abuse, including, Avi and Julie Israel of North Buffalo.

Senate Passes Bills to Curb Illehal Prescription Drug AbuseSeries of bills aimed at controlling abuse of prescription painkillers

“The recent wave of prescription drug abuse has become not only dangerous, but violent and deadly,” said State Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley). “The horrific shooting at Haven Drugs in Medford last June was a tragedy that should have never occurred. The legislation we passed in the Senate today is an important step in our efforts to curb this growing epidemic and help insure that what happened in Medford never happens again. These bills, which I was proud to co-sponsor, will place tighter controls on prescription drugs such as Hydrocodone and Tramadol; they will also create new penalties, and increase existing penalties, for those who contribute to the black market sale of these dangerous substances.