A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to drug strategy.

Int. No. 748-B

By Council Members Johnson, Cohen, Gibson, Constantinides, Eugene, Koo, Palma, Torres, Rodriguez, Lancman, Levin, Mendez, Levine, Cornegy, Crowley, Rose, Williams, Cumbo, Lander, Van Bramer, Menchaca, Dromm, Vallone, Kallos and Borelli

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to drug strategy.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

                     Section 1. Chapter 1 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 20-c to read as follows:

                     §20-c Drug Strategy. a. Such agency or office that the mayor shall designate shall prepare short-term and long-term plans and recommendations to coordinate and effectively utilize private and public resources to address problems associated with illicit and non-medical drug use and to address the  effects associated with past and current drug policies in this city.

                     b. No later than February 1, 2018, and no later than February 1 biennially thereafter, the designated agency shall prepare and submit to the mayor and the speaker of the city council a report on municipal drug strategy. The department shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to community-based harm reduction programs, licensed substance use disorder treatment programs, healthcare providers, prevention programs, drug policy reform organizations, community-based criminal justice programs, persons directly affected by drug use, persons formerly incarcerated for drug related offenses, and experts in issues related to illicit and non-medical drug use and policies, in preparing the report. Such report shall include, but not be limited to:

                     1. A summary of current drug policies, programs, and services in the city, including an overview of goals to address the use of illicit and non-medical drugs such as the use of prescription drugs for non-prescription purposes;

                     2. A summary of interventions needed in order to reduce drug-related disease, mortality, and crime, and any inequities and disparities related to race, ethnicity, age, income, gender, geography, and immigration status;

                     3.An overview of programs, legislation or administrative action to promote and support health and wellness related to drug use, as well as to improve the public health and safety of the city’s individuals, families, and communities by addressing the health, social and economic problems associated with illicit and non-medical drug use, past or current drug policies, and to reduce any stigma associated with drug use;

                     4. An overview of the city’s efforts to collaborate with existing substance use, medical, and mental health services, including community-based harm reduction programs, licensed substance use disorder treatment programs, healthcare providers, formalized recovery support programs, youth prevention programs, drug policy reform programs and community-based criminal justice programs to develop and foster effective responses to illicit and non-medical drug use in the city;                     

                     5. An overview of pilot programs related to illicit and non-medical drug use; and

                     6. An overview of any other proposals to achieve the city-wide goals and objectives related to illicit and non-medical drug use, including, if available, timelines for implementation.

                     c. There shall be a municipal drug strategy advisory council whose members shall include, but not be limited to, the head of the designated agency, or their representative, who shall be chair, a representative from the department of health and mental hygiene, the department of education, the health and hospitals corporation, the police department, the administration for children’s services, the human resources administration, the department of corrections, the department of probation, and the department of homeless services, the speaker of the city council and up to three members appointed by the speaker, and representatives of any other agencies that the head of the designated agency may designate, as well as at least eight representatives, including but not limited to at least one from each of the following: continuum of care providers, those directly affected by drug use, those in recovery from drug use, people formerly incarcerated for drug related offenses, and experts in issues related to illicit and non-medical drug use and policies. The head of the designated agency or their representative may establish subcommittees comprised of governmental or nongovernmental representatives as deemed necessary to accomplish the work of the municipal drug strategy advisory council. The municipal drug strategy advisory council shall:

                     1. Make recommendations to the head of the designated agency regarding the development of the municipal drug strategy report required pursuant to this section;

                     2. Produce an advisory addendum, as deemed necessary by the municipal drug strategy advisory council, to the New York municipal city drug policy strategy report, as prepared by the head of the designated agency, pursuant to subdivision c of this section;

                     3. Advise on relevant federal, state, and local legislation, programs, and other governmental activities;

                     4. Make recommendations to the head of the designated agency regarding the implementation of city-wide goals and objectives related to the risks associated with illicit and non-medical drug use; and

                     5. Hold at least four meetings each fiscal year, at least one of which shall be open to the general public for input and comments.

                     § 2.                     This local law takes effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed following the submission of the required report pursuant to this local law due in February 2022.

KW

NKA

LS#2813

3/8/2017

 9:21AM