Referred to: The Public Health and Social Services Committee (Chairman Lopez and

Legislators Allen, Belfiglio, Heppner, and Roberts), and The Ways and Means

Committee (Chairman Gerentine and Legislators Allen, Bartels, Belfiglio, Briggs,

Maio, and Maloney)

Legislator John R. Parete offers the following:

WHEREAS, heroin and opioid abuse is a public health crisis in the State of

New York, and in Ulster County which represents a startling share of victims; and

WHEREAS, in June 2014, Governor Cuomo signed into law a legislative

package to combat this epidemic; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature recognized the need to address the

issue on the local level and created the Ulster Coalition of Against Narcotics

(UCAN), by Resolution 371 of 2014 to study ways in which to identify how

individuals can be helped, identify ways to prevent abuse, and identify ways in which

to protect the public from opiate drug abuse in Ulster County and make related

recommendations; and

WHEREAS, the 2016 Adopted Budget allocated a 10 percent increase in the

total dollars available to address opioid addiction in Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, these funds have been allocated to enhance a countywide

prevention agenda and, based upon UCAN’s recommendation, funds a dedicated

family advocate to assist individuals and families with guidance on how to obtain

alcohol and substance abuse treatment, provide assistance with navigating complex

insurance regulations and requirements, and build further community awareness; and

WHEREAS, Chapter 90 of the Laws of 2014, the Compassionate Care Act,

authorized the establishment of a medical marijuana program and authorized the New

York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to regulate the manufacture and

dispensing of medical marihuana; and

WHEREAS, the NYSDOH has approved a medical marijuana dispensary to be

sited within the County; and

WHEREAS, the Compassionate Care Act authorized the collection of a 7

percent excise tax to support the medical marijuana program and additional drug

abuse prevention, counseling and treatment services, among other things; and

WHEREAS, the State Excise Tax, levied against the gross receipts of the

organizations licensed to manufacture and distribute the medical marijuana, will

result in an allocation of revenue to Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby supports efforts to

combat substance abuse and hereby dedicates all revenue received as a result of the

NYSDOH approved medical marijuana dispensary in Ulster County to be used for

the prevention and treatment of narcotics addiction; now, therefore be it further

RESOLVED, that the Commissioner of Finance shall establish an account to

receive these funds and provide an annual report to the Legislature detailing the

receipt and disbursement of funds; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the funds shall be used to support evidence based programing

and such other programs approved by the Ulster County Legislature,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

Passed Committee: Public Health and Social Services on ________________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

TBD