State Senate, Assembly urge Cuomo to sign bill to help fight opioid crisis

The state Senate and Assembly are calling on Gov. Cuomo to sign the Opioid Settlement Fund Bill.

The bill has passed both houses of the Legislature.

It would require funds from opioid settlements to go directly to the services and organizations that combat the opioid crisis.

New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement on the passage of the bill:

"Our state took a big step today in our efforts to end the opioid epidemic and provide justice to its victims by passing new legislation that will ensure funds recovered from opioid settlements and litigation will go where they’re needed — to fund prevention, education, and treatment programs. While no amount of money will ever compensate for the thousands who lost their lives or became addicted to opioids across our state, or provide solace to the countless families torn apart by this crisis, this bill ensures funds are used to prevent any future devastation. I thank Senator Rivera and Assemblymember Woerner, as well as the county and local governments, advocates, service providers, and families for working to get this bill across the finish line."