NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8466

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jul 23, 2025	referred to rules

co-Sponsors

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8540
Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §804, add §804-e, Ed L

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the education department, in consultation with the department of health, to develop and adopt a comprehensive fentanyl education, awareness, and recognition program for all public, charter, and private schools in the state.

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8466

SPONSOR: RHOADS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Fentanyl
Fathers and Mothers act"

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Depart-
ment of Health, to develop and adopt a comprehensive Fentanyl Education,
Awareness, and Recognition Program for all public, charter, and private
schools in the state.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Cites the act as the "Fentanyl Fathers and Mothers act".

Section 2. Contains the legislative findings and intent.

Section 3. Amends section 804 of the Education Law to require all

schools to include, as an integral part of health education, instruction
so as to discourage the misuse and abuse of fentanyl and other synthetic
opioids.

Section 4. Amends the Education Law by adding a new section 804-e to
require the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department
of Health, to develop and adopt a comprehensive fentanyl education,
awareness, and recognition program for all public, charter, and private
schools in the state. This section also provides for program require-
ments, mandatory implementation and integration as part of the health
education curriculum in grades six through twelve, program valuation and
improvement, mandated distribution of naloxone, bereaved parent involve-
ment, and data collection, reporting and measuring impact.

Section 5. Requires the legislature to appropriate funding to support
the implementation of this act, including the creation of educational
materials, training programs, naloxone distribution, and program evalu-
ation.

Section 6. Includes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

It has sadly been well established in New York State that parents are
losing their children at alarming rates due to abuses of fentanyl and
similar synthetic opioids and counterfeit pills. This bill seeks to
provide a comprehensive educational requirement for our young adults to
learn about the potentially fatal consequences of such substances, thus
saving the lives of countless New Yorkers.

Unfortunately, it has become all too common that drug overdose deaths
are the result of illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Just in 2022,
"synthetic opioids other than methadone (SOOTM), predominantly illicitly
manufactured fentanyl, were present in 92.3 percent of all overdose
deaths involving any opioid." Many times, deadly cocktails involving
opioids are made, whether on the streets or exchanged via social media
(according to PBS.org) and result in deadly outcomes.  Because of these
illicit mixes being made, or counterfeit pills exchanged, "synthetic
opioids like fentanyl and tramadol-often mixed with other drugs-account
for much of the increase in drug overdose fatalities in New York, grow-
ing from 11 percent of all drug overdose deaths in 2010 to 78 percent in
2021."

Often, young adults don't realize what the substances are that that they
are ingesting. Dealers often advertise the drug falsely, only for an
awful outcome to occur. Our young people may not realize that a fake
pill mixed with fentanyl can be deadly, by the amount "small as the tip
of a pencil". This happened to Lucienne "Coco" Konar, a 17-year-old girl
from outside of New York City, in 2022. She thought she had purchased
Percocet from a dealer on Instagram only to be found dead a day later.
Her mother, Julianna Arnold, has since called for stronger laws to
prevent deaths like the one that happened to her daughter (PBS.org). New
York State has an obligation to do all that it can to prevent these
deaths and to save parents, families, and communities from further hear-
tache and gut-wrenching loss.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) analysis has found counterfeit
pills ranging from .02 to 5.1 milligrams (more than twice the lethal
dose) of fentanyl per tablet. 42% of pills tested for fentanyl contained
at least 2 mg of fentanyl, considered a potentially lethal dose. Accord-
ing to the CDC, synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) are the primary driver
of overdose deaths in the United States. Comparison between the 12
months-ending January 31, 2020, and the 12 months-ending January 31,
2021, during this period:  overdose deaths involving opioids rose 38.1
percent; and overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (primarily
illicitly manufactured fentanyl) rose 55.6 percent and appear to be the
primary driver of the increase in total drug overdose deaths.

According to the CDC, average monthly overdose deaths among young people
aged 10-19 have increased by 109% from 2019 to 2021. This shocking jump
in numbers demands a statewide response. We cannot let stories like
Coco's become the norm. We must educate our children and protect them
from the onslaught of fatal substances being pushed into our communities
illegally. To protect our young people and preserve our families and
communities, we must act and pass the "Fentanyl Fathers and Mothers
Act".

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to school years
commencing on or after such effective date.

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8466
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               July 23, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  RHOADS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Fentanyl
   Fathers and Mothers act"
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "Fentanyl Fathers and Mothers act".
   § 2. Legislative  findings  and  intent.  The  legislature  finds  and
 declares that:
   (a) Fentanyl abuse and drug poisoning have become a significant public
 health crisis, with deadly consequences, particularly among youth;
   (b)  Public  awareness,  education,  and  the ability to recognize the
 signs of fentanyl poisoning are essential to saving lives;
   (c) Bereaved parents, who have lost children to fentanyl, can  provide
 the  most  compelling and impactful testimony to educate students on the
 dangers of fentanyl; and
   (d) Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to mandate  compre-
 hensive fentanyl education and awareness in New York schools by leverag-
 ing  personal  stories  from  bereaved  parents, providing students with
 essential life-saving knowledge, and ensuring that naloxone is available
 to protect against overdose deaths. Through  these  measures,  this  act
 aims to save lives and prevent further tragedy due to fentanyl.
   §  3.  Subdivisions  2  and  4 of section 804 of the education law, as
 amended by chapter 390 of the laws of  2016,  are  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   2. All schools shall include, as an integral part of health education,
 instruction so as to discourage the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco
 and  other  drugs,  INCLUDING  FENTANYL AND OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS, and
 promote attitudes and behavior that  enhance  health,  well  being,  and
 human dignity.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11972-02-5

 S. 8466                             2
 
   4.  Instruction regarding alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, INCLUDING
 FENTANYL AND OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS, in addition  to  continued  health
 guidance  in  the junior high school grades and the senior high schools,
 shall be an integral part of a required health education course at  each
 of  these  levels in the secondary schools curriculum. Students shall be
 required to demonstrate knowledge in the subject area through the use of
 a test, graded project or report, or any other means prescribed  by  the
 school  authorities  regarding  alcohol,  drugs,  and tobacco, INCLUDING
 FENTANYL AND OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS. Any such course shall be taught by
 teachers holding a certificate to teach health. Related courses  in  the
 secondary  school  curriculum  shall be taught in a manner supportive of
 health education regarding alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs,  INCLUDING
 FENTANYL AND OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS. In addition, instruction regarding
 the  dangers  of  driving  while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
 shall be an integral part of a required health education course  in  the
 senior  high  schools.  Such instruction shall be provided in all senior
 high schools whether or not these schools also provide driver  education
 courses.
   §  4.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 804-e to
 read as follows:
   § 804-E. FENTANYL EDUCATION, AWARENESS AND RECOGNITION. 1. THE DEPART-
 MENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SHALL  DEVELOP  AND
 ADOPT  A  COMPREHENSIVE  FENTANYL  EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND RECOGNITION
 PROGRAM FOR ALL PUBLIC, CHARTER, AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.
   2. THE PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, INSTRUCTION ON THE FOLLOW-
 ING TOPICS:
   (A) THE NATURE OF FENTANYL AND ITS ANALOGS, RISKS, AND LETHAL DOSE;
   (B) THE DANGERS OF UNPRESCRIBED PILLS,  ESPECIALLY  THOSE  LACED  WITH
 FENTANYL;
   (C) RECOGNITION OF FENTANYL OVERDOSE SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING HOW TO ADMIN-
 ISTER NALOXONE AND USE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS;
   (D)  STORIES  FROM BEREAVED PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN TO FENTANYL
 POISONING; AND
   (E) STRATEGIES TO RESIST PEER PRESSURE TO USE DRUGS  AND  THE  HARMFUL
 EFFECTS OF FENTANYL.
   3.  EACH  PUBLIC  SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PRIVATE SCHOOL SHALL ENSURE THAT
 STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE RECEIVE THIS EDUCATION ANNUALLY AS
 PART OF THE HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM. THE CURRICULUM SHOULD BE TAUGHT
 BY CERTIFIED HEALTH EDUCATION TEACHERS.
   4. THE EDUCATION ON FENTANYL SHALL BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF  THE  HEALTH
 EDUCATION CURRICULUM REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE.
 EACH SCHOOL SHALL PROVIDE AN ANNUAL, SCHOOL-WIDE ASSEMBLY OR CLASS-BASED
 INSTRUCTION  ON  FENTANYL  AWARENESS  AND  DRUG POISONING, INCLUDING THE
 FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
   (A) A FILM WITH REAL-LIFE TESTIMONIES  FROM  INDIVIDUALS  IMPACTED  BY
 FENTANYL;
   (B) NALOXONE TRAINING AND OVERDOSE RECOGNITION;
   (C)  PRESENTATION  OF  FACTS  ON  FENTANYL'S RISKS, INCLUDING THE DRUG
 ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION'S "ONE PILL CAN KILL" SHEET;
   (D) BEREAVED PARENT PRESENTATIONS SHARING AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES; AND
   (E) SURVEYS TO MEASURE STUDENT UNDERSTANDING AND INTENT TO AVOID  DRUG
 USE POST-INSTRUCTION.
   5.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  PROVIDE SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND
 RESOURCES TO ASSIST SCHOOLS IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM.  SCHOOLS  SHALL
 COLLECT  AND  REPORT  FEEDBACK  FROM  STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO ASSESS THE
 S. 8466                             3
 
 PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS IN RAISING  AWARENESS  AND  PREVENTING  FENTANYL
 ABUSE.
   6. (A) ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS SHALL ENSURE THE AVAILABIL-
 ITY  OF  NALOXONE  ON  SCHOOL  GROUNDS.  THE  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL
 PROVIDE TRAINING FOR SCHOOL STAFF ON THE  PROPER  USE  OF  NALOXONE  AND
 OTHER  OPIOID  ANTAGONISTS.  SCHOOLS  MAY  ALSO  RECEIVE  FREE  NALOXONE
 DONATIONS FROM ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FENTANYLFATHERS.ORG.
   (B) EACH  SCHOOL  MUST  PROVIDE  INSTRUCTIONAL  MATERIALS  THAT  TEACH
 STUDENTS,  FACULTY,  AND STAFF HOW TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE AND
 PROPERLY ADMINISTER NALOXONE.
   7. (A) SCHOOLS SHALL BE ENCOURAGED TO INVITE BEREAVED PARENTS WHO HAVE
 LOST CHILDREN TO FENTANYL TO SPEAK DURING FENTANYL EDUCATION ASSEMBLIES.
 THESE SPEAKERS WILL PROVIDE REAL-LIFE STORIES OF LOSS AND  HOPE,  EMPHA-
 SIZING THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION AND AWARENESS.
   (B)  SCHOOLS  SHALL  BE  ENCOURAGED  TO  ESTABLISH STUDENTS ADVOCATING
 FENTANYL EDUCATION (S.A.F.E.) CLUBS, WITH  ASSISTANCE  FROM  FENTANYLFA-
 THERS.ORG, THAT WILL EMPOWER STUDENTS TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT FENTANYL
 RISKS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
   8.  SCHOOLS SHALL COLLECT DATA ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING
 THROUGH PRE- AND POST-SURVEYS, AS WELL AS ON THE USE OF  NALOXONE.  THIS
 DATA  WILL  BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT ANNUALLY TO ASSESS THE EFFEC-
 TIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM AND GUIDE FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
   § 5. The legislature shall appropriate funding to support  the  imple-
 mentation  of this act, including the creation of educational materials,
 training programs, naloxone distribution, and program evaluation.
   § 6. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the  date  on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to school
 years commencing on or after such effective date.

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Senate Bill S8466

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

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co-Sponsors

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Steven D. Rhoads

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

co-Sponsors

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8466 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments