October 17, 2025
All – SOME GOOD NEWS!
Governor Hochul has signed two bills (INTO LAW) that are of import to NYS Council member agencies, our valued workforce, and (of course) the New Yorkers we currently serve or will serve. Yay!
On the first bill, here’s more:
A01894 Memo:
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1894
SPONSOR: Paulin
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to repeal section 3372 of the public health law, relating to
practitioner patient reporting
PURPOSE:
Repealing section 3372 of the Public Health Law.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 repeals section 3372 of Public Health Law, as it relates to
practitioner patient reporting, which currently requires a practitioner
to promptly report to the Commissioner of Health a person’s name, and
other data as required, if a person under treatment is found to be an
addict or a habitual user of any narcotic drug.
Section 2 sets an immediate effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Current law requires any attending or consulting practitioner to prompt-
ly report to the Commissioner of Health (COH), the name and, if possi-
ble, the address, as well as any other data required by the COH, if any
person under treatment is found to be an addict or a habitual user of
any narcotic drug.
The current requirement disrupts the practitioner-patient relationship
and hinders open discussion about personal matters, such as substance
use. Patients should feel comfortable confiding in their practitioners
without fear of anything discussed being reported unnecessarily. The law
as is may lead to inconsistent reporting throughout the state and could
potentially skew data provided to the Department of Health. This bill
would repeal that requirement altogether.
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
None.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.10319 of 2024, ordered to third reading. Same as S.9353, passed
Senate.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
And on the second bill, here’s more:
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1806–A
Cal. No. 380
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. FERNANDEZ — read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and
Correction — reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first
and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered
reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to prohibiting correc-
tional facilities from blocking entry to peer support advocates based
on such advocates’ prior history of incarceration
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 138-b
2 to read as follows:
3 § 138-b. Permitted entry by peer support advocates. Peer support advo-
4 cates who are certified or licensed by a state agency, or a state
5 authorized entity including the New York certification board, or a
6 nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, and are partic-
7 ipating in the provision of corrections-based substance use disorder
8 treatment and transition services, including but not limited to medica-
9 tion assistant treatment, pursuant to section 19.18-c of the mental
10 hygiene law, shall not be unreasonably denied entry into correctional
11 facilities solely based on such advocates’ history of prior incarcera-
12 tion.
13 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
14 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
15 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
16 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
17 on or before such effective date.
THE FOLLOWING BILL(S) WERE WERE ACTED ON BY THE GOVERNOR. WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED. Click Here to Find Bill Text and Memo
Bill No.
A1894 Paulin — Repeals section 3372 of the public health law
Same as S 3362 RIVERA
SUMM : Rpld §3372, Pub Health L Repeals provisions requiring reporting of a patient’s drug use.
Eff. Date 10/16/2025
01/14/25 referred to health
02/24/25 reported
02/27/25 advanced to third reading cal.32
03/03/25 passed assembly
03/03/25 delivered to senate
03/03/25 REFERRED TO HEALTH
06/11/25 SUBSTITUTED FOR S3362
06/11/25 3RD READING CAL.654
06/11/25 PASSED SENATE
06/11/25 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
10/09/25 delivered to governor
10/16/25 signed chap.442
A04159-A Jackson — Prohibits correctional facilities from denying entry to certain peer support advocates based on such advocates’ prior history of incarceration
Same as S 1806-A FERNANDEZ
SUMM : Add §138-b, Cor L Prohibits correctional facilities from denying entry to peer support advocates who are certified or licensed and are participating in the provision of corrections-based substance use disorder treatment and transition services based on such advocates’ prior history of incarceration.
Eff. Date 10/16/2025
01/31/25 referred to correction
03/25/25 reported
03/27/25 advanced to third reading cal.75
04/02/25 amended on third reading 4159a
04/08/25 passed assembly
04/08/25 delivered to senate
04/08/25 REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
04/29/25 SUBSTITUTED FOR S1806A
04/29/25 3RD READING CAL.380
04/29/25 PASSED SENATE
04/29/25 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
10/09/25 delivered to governor
10/16/25 signed chap.449