Legislative Update:

Bill A.4439 passes the NYS Assembly

I was glad to see my bill, A.4439 pass in the NYS Assembly earlier this week. The purpose of this bill is to prohibit naming a building after a public official who was responsible for securing public funds for the person or entity naming the building. This will not apply to deceased or retired public officials.

Indigent Legal Services – A potential county mandate relief item

The NYS Assembly passed a bill that creates a unified system to ensure equitable funding for indigent legal services across the state (A.6202-C). The bill requires the state to gradually take over full funding of legal services for those in need of public defense services, providing counties with significant mandate relief. I am pleased to be a co-sponsor of this bill which is being led by partner in the City of Albany Assemblymember Patricia Fahy of the 109th Assembly District.

Visit my blog to read the full post on the passage of this bill.

In the District:

Free Training on Heroin / Opioid Overdose Prevention

Rensselaer County Department of Health in collaboration with Rensselaer County Department of Mental Health is offering a free training on Heroin / Opioid Overdose Prevention on Thursday, June 30, 2016 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

This event sponsored by Rensselaer Area Drug Awareness Reality (RADAR) Coalition will take place at the McManus Center Gym on 50 Herrick Street, Rensselaer, NY 12144.

During this training session you will:

• Learn the signs and symptoms of heroin and opioid overdose
• Learn how to use Naloxone (Narcan) to respond to an overdose

Each individual will receive an Intranasal Naloxone kit as part of the training. For questions and to register contact Jennifer Mahoney 518-270-2651 or jmahoney@rensco.com or Jennifer Haggerty 518-270-2841 or jhaggerty@rensco.com.

In the News:

Check out this WNYT 13 piece by John Craig about the end of this year’s legislative session priorities. ( )

With the end of the legislative session quickly approaching ethics reform is a topic on many minds. Check out my thoughts on the matter in this CBS 6 news clip.