New York Senate Bill S01973

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/25
• Refer: 1/14/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Relates to prohibiting supervised injection sites; provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to own, operate, work in or volunteer at a supervised injection site; defines terms and establishes penalties.

Summary

This bill would prohibit supervised injection sites in New York State. It defines a “supervised injection site” as a facility or institution that allows individuals to possess or use controlled substances, or allows a practitioner to dispense or administer controlled substances to such individuals, while being supervised by trained medical personnel. The definition expressly excludes opioid treatment programs and certain substance abuse, chemical dependence, and behavioral health programs that are certified, licensed, funded, or operated by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports. The bill makes it unlawful for any person to own, operate, work in, or volunteer at a supervised injection site. It also amends the public health law to add operating such a site as a violation and amends the education law so that a professional’s violation of the new public health prohibition can constitute professional misconduct. The act would take effect immediately.

Impact

The bill would amend the Public Health Law and Education Law to create a new statutory prohibition on supervised injection sites and to attach both criminal/regulatory and professional consequences to involvement with such facilities. It would add a new definition in the Public Health Law, create a new section declaring these sites unlawful, and expand the grounds for professional discipline by making a professional’s violation of the prohibition a reportable education-law offense. The measure would affect operators, employees, volunteers, and licensed professionals associated with any facility fitting the bill’s definition, while preserving existing opioid treatment and state-certified addiction/behavioral health programs.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, the available context suggests a straightforward prohibition measure with a restrictive posture toward supervised injection sites. The sponsor’s framing and the bill’s structure indicate support for banning these facilities outright rather than regulating them. No contrary viewpoints, amendments, or recorded vote patterns are available in the provided materials.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely whether supervised injection sites should be treated as a public health harm-reduction tool or prohibited as unlawful drug-use facilities. Supporters of the bill would likely emphasize concerns about enabling illegal drug use, diversion, and professional accountability, while opponents would likely argue that such sites can reduce overdose deaths and connect people to treatment. Another likely issue is the bill’s broad reach, which would criminalize not only operators but also workers and volunteers, and could expose licensed professionals to discipline for involvement.