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

Legislators Allen, Belfiglio, Heppner, and Roberts)

Legislator Carl Belfiglio and Legislators Allen, Fabiano, Gerentine, Heppner, Lapp,

Litts, Lopez, Maio, Maloney, R. Parete, Roberts, Ronk, and Wawro offer the

following:

WHEREAS, no community in Ulster County, New York State or across the

nation has been immune to the debilitating and devastating effects of the Heroin and

Opioid epidemic; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature recognized the need to act locally

and unanimously adopted Resolution No. 371 of 2014, Establishing the Ulster

County Coalition Against Narcotics (UCAN), to research and make

recommendations on ways to address the growing issue of Heroin and Opioid use,

abuse and overdose; and

WHEREAS, combatting this crisis has also been a primary focus of Governor

Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; and

WHEREAS, according to the report by the New York State Heroin and

Opioid Task Force released June 9, 2016, New York has seen a 222 percent increase

in admissions to OASAS certified treatment programs among 18 to 24 year olds for

heroin and other opioids; and

WHEREAS, studies have shown that more than half of individuals who

received treatment will resume drug use following discharge, most often in the first

ninety (90) days, as a result of exposure to previous environments and triggers; and

WHEREAS, secure, safe, sober housing on the continuum of care is a critical

part of successful long term recovery for individuals suffering from substance use

disorder, especially upon release from treatment programs; and

WHEREAS, in its first report issued to the Ulster County Legislature, UCAN

included a recommendation to adopt a resolution calling upon New York State to

immediately enact standards of care for sober homes and/or recovery residences; and 

WHEREAS, across the country the National Association of Recovery

Residences (NARR) has twenty (20) state affiliate organizations, with five (5) more

emerging, responsible for certifying recovery residences that meet the national

standard; and

WHEREAS, only state funded homes in New York State are currently

regulated, leaving many of these alleged safe havens uncontrolled, dangerous

environments which contribute to a continuing cycle of addiction and foster

opportunities for tragic consequences; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature calls upon Governor Andrew M.

Cuomo, the New York State Legislature and OASAS to approve at least one NARR

affiliated credentialing entity for the purpose of developing and administering a

voluntary certification program for addiction recovery residences in New York State;

and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature calls on Governor Andrew M.

Cuomo and the New York State Legislature to enact rules and regulations that

stipulate that any service provider licensed in New York State shall not refer a

current or discharged patient to a recovery residence unless the recovery residence

holds a valid certificate of compliance provided by the state approved NARR

affiliated credentialing entity or entities; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature supports the empowerment of the

Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to create

such programs and training necessary to encourage the implementation of NARR

standards, including supervision requirements and exit plans, in all Sober Homes

and/or Addiction Recovery Residences in New York State; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall forward copies

of this resolution to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the Commissioner of the New

York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, the New York

Association of Counties, the Chair of the New York State Joint Senate Task Force on

Heroin and Opioid Addiction, the Chairs of the Senate Alcoholism and Drug Abuse,

Health, and Housing, Construction and Community Development Committees, the

Chairs of the New York State Assembly Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Health, and

Housing Committees, and all of the Ulster County representatives of the New York

State Legislature, 

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

 AYES: 22 NOES: 0

 (Absent: Legislator Briggs)

Passed Committee: Public Health and Social Services on November 7, 2016

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE

STATE OF NEW YORK

 ss:

COUNTY OF ULSTER

I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the County of Ulster, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is

the original resolution adopted by the Ulster County Legislature on the 22nd Day of November in the year Two Thousand

and Sixteen, and said resolution shall remain on file in the office of said clerk.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County of Ulster this 23rd Day of

November in the year Two Thousand and Sixteen.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk

Ulster County Legislature