Legislator Tom Cilmi (R-Bay Shore)
announced a geographically diverse, bipartisan group of legislators in support
of an amendment to Suffolk’s Social Host law. The amendment would make it
an unclassified misdemeanor for an adult to knowingly allow minors to use drugs
including marijuana, opioids, cocaine and anabolic steroids, except those
medically prescribed.
The bill is being cosponsored by
Legislators Berland, Calarco, Fleming, Flotteron, Gregory, Hahn, Kennedy,
Lindsay, Martinez, McCaffrey, Muratore and Sunderman.
Cilmi said the bill, modeled after a
similar proposal in Nassau County, is an added weapon in what he called “the
life and death battle of addiction.”
He said, “We are waging a war on drug
addiction and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Hundreds of people are
losing their lives to a relentless opioid epidemic and the collateral damage is
catastrophic. There is no magic bullet in this life and death battle so
we need to use every tool available to us. I am so proud to be joined by
my colleagues in support of this amendment.”
“I
am proud to be a part of this bipartisan effort to expand the social host law
to include illegal drugs. Alcohol and drug abuse is starting at younger and
younger ages, and anything we can do to help prevent the exposure of these
young, vulnerable adults to these substances is critical to fighting the epic
levels of addiction we are seeing,” said
Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory (D- Amityville).
“We must do everything in our power to
protect all of our citizens, especially our children. I proudly cosponsor this
legislation,” stated Legislator Tom Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma).
Legislator Susan A. Berland (D-Dix
Hills) said, “We must work together to fight the scourge of the addiction
epidemic. This legislation is a step in that direction and I proudly join as a
co-sponsor.”
“I am pleased to co-sponsor the
amendment of the Social Host Law,” said Legislator Steve Flotteron
(R-Brightwaters). “The amendment will go a long way in safeguarding our
children.”
"Our children look to us for direction
regarding acceptable behavior, and as a parent and a legislator I firmly
believe we are all accountable for what we allow in our homes,” said Legislator
Lindsay (D-Oakdale). “With overwhelming evidence of the negative impact
of underage drinking we have a responsibility to lead our children to the right
decision on this issue.”
Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Smithtown) said, “This bill is a natural extension to our present Social Host Law. As the drug epidemic increases, we in government have the obligation to update our laws to properly address the issue and hold accountable those that enable maladaptive and dangerous behaviors. Thank you Legislator Schaeffer for starting the ball rolling.”
“As a former criminal prosecutor, I
recognize how critically important it is that we clearly define prohibited
conduct. With the severity of the opiate crisis, and particularly the
devastating fatalities our communities have suffered, it is more important than
ever that we prohibit drinking and drug use by minors when adults are present,”
said Legislator Bridget Fleming (D-Noyac).
“We need to hold the hosts of these
parties responsible,” stated Deputy Presiding Officer Rob Calarco
(D-Patchogue). “This bill serves as a deterrent to those who are lackadaisical
about supervision. We need to keep our children safe and opioids have no place
at social gatherings.”
There will be a public hearing on the
bill at the Legislature’s March 20 meeting. It could be voted on at the
Legislature’s following meeting on April 24.
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