New York Assembly Bill A08814

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/9/25
• Refer: 6/9/25

Caption

Requires school districts, public libraries, BOCES, county vocational education and extension boards, charter schools, and non-public schools to provide and maintain on-site opioid antagonists.

Impact

The enactment of Bill A08814 would significantly affect state education laws, particularly those pertaining to student safety and health responses within educational settings. By instituting a requirement for the availability of opioid antagonists, the bill seeks to empower schools and libraries to take proactive measures against the risks of opioid overdoses among students and patrons. This aligns with broader public health goals to address urgent health crises and would serve as a modeled standard across various educational institutions.

Summary

Bill A08814 proposes amendments to the education law in New York to require that school districts, public libraries, boards of cooperative educational services, county vocational education and extension boards, charter schools, and non-public elementary and secondary schools must provide and maintain on-site opioid antagonists. This legislation is a response to the ongoing opioid crisis, aiming to enhance the ability of educational institutions to respond to opioid overdoses on their premises. It mandates that these facilities ensure ready access to opioid antagonists, which are critical in preventing fatal overdoses.

Contention

While the bill's objectives are rooted in public health and safety, it may encounter opposition related to the practical aspects of implementation, such as training requirements for staff and concerns about the appropriateness of schools acting in a medical capacity. Some stakeholders might argue that the training and maintenance of such programs could impose additional burdens on educational institutions already facing various funding and operational challenges. Nonetheless, the bill underscores a commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing of students in the context of a national opioid epidemic.