Intro. Res. No. 1199-2010 - Laid on Table 2/2/2010
Introduced by Legislators Horsley, Nowick, Muratore and Gregory

RESOLUTION NO. 413 -2010, ESTABLISHING A HEROIN AND OPIATE EPIDEMIC
ADVISORY PANEL TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF ADDICTED YOUTH

WHEREAS, heroin use on Long Island has been steadily increasing over the past few years; and

WHEREAS, from January 2006 through August 2009, there were 181 deaths related to heroin overdoses in Suffolk County; and

WHEREAS, the increase in heroin use among teenagers in Suffolk County has been particularly troubling, with many communities struggling to address this issue in schools and at home; and

WHEREAS, limited resources exist in Suffolk County for the treatment of heroin and opiate addiction, with few local facilities that specialize in the treatment of teenage addicts; and

WHEREAS, the Division of Mental Hygiene, Office of Suffolk County Department of Health, has noted that the abuse of prescription opiates and the onset of dependence on these drugs often precede heroin use and subsequent dependence in younger populations; and

WHEREAS, a County-wide response to the epidemic levels of heroin and opiate use is necessary to provide comprehensive local treatment options for addicts and better educate County residents about the dangers of heroin and opiate use; and

WHEREAS, Suffolk County should establish an advisory panel to provide solutions and suggestions to better address the treatment of youths who are addicted to heroin and opiates, as well as to improve preventative programs; now, therefore be it

1st RESOLVED, that a special Suffolk County Heroin and Opiate Advisory Panel is hereby created to examine how Suffolk County can improve its response to heroin and opiates, including preventative programming, as well as inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and detoxification facilities for youth; and be it further

2nd RESOLVED, that this Advisory Panel shall consist of the following members:

1.) the Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Suffolk County Legislature, or his/her designee, who will serve as Chair;

2.) a representative from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Division of Community Mental Hygiene, to be appointed by the Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services;

3.) a representative from the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (Long Island Field Office);

4.) a representative from Phoenix House;

5.) a representative from Quannicut (Eastern Long Island Hospital);

6.) a representative from the Suffolk Quality Consortium;

7.) a representative from the Suffolk County Prevention Resource Center;

8.) a representative from the Outreach;

9.) a representative from South Oaks Hospital;

10.) a representative from the Nassau Suffolk Hospital Council;

11.) a representative from St. Catherine of Sienna Medical Center; and

12.) a representative from the School Superintendents’ Association;

and be it further

3rd RESOLVED, that the Advisory Panel shall hold its first meeting no later than thirty (30) days after the oaths of office of all members have been filed, which meeting shall be convened by the Chairman of the Advisory Panel, for the purpose of organization and the appointment of a Vice Chairperson and a Secretary; and be it further

4th RESOLVED, that the members of said Advisory Panel shall serve without compensation and shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities; and be it further

5th RESOLVED, that the Advisory Panel shall hold regular meetings, keep a record of all its proceedings, and determine the rules of its own proceedings with special meetings to be called by the Chairperson upon his or her own initiative or upon receipt of a written request therefor signed by at least three (3) members of the Advisory Panel. Written notice of the time and place of such special meetings shall be given by the Secretary to each member at least four (4) days before the date fixed by the notice for such special meeting; and be it further

6th RESOLVED, that seven (7) members of the Advisory Panel shall constitute a quorum to transact the business of the Advisory Panel at both regular and special meetings; and be it further

7th RESOLVED, that the Advisory Panel may submit requests to the County Executive and/or the County Legislature for approval for the provision of secretarial services, travel expenses, or retention of consultants to assist the Advisory Panel with such endeavors, said total expenditures not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per fiscal year, which services shall be subject to Legislative approval; and be it further

8th RESOLVED, that clerical services involving the month-to-month operation of this Advisory Panel, as well as supplies and postage as necessary, will be provided by the staff of the Suffolk County Legislature; and be it further

9th RESOLVED, that the Advisory Panel may conduct such informal hearings and meetings at any place or places within the County of Suffolk for the purpose of obtaining necessary information or other data to assist it in the proper performance of its duties and functions as it deems necessary to assemble the data and information needed to complete the valuation, study and report required; and be it further

10th RESOLVED, that the Advisory Panel may delegate to any member of the Advisory Panel the power and authority to conduct such hearings and meetings; and be it further

11th RESOLVED, that the Advisory Panel shall cooperate with the Legislative Committees of the County Legislature and make available to each Committee's use, upon request, any records and other data it may accumulate or obtain; and be it further

12th RESOLVED, that this special Advisory Panel shall submit a written report of its findings and determinations together with its recommendations for action, if any, to each member of the County Legislature and the County Executive no later than one hundred eighty (180) days subsequent to the effective date of this Resolution for consideration, review, and appropriate action, if necessary, by the entire County Legislature; and be it further

13th RESOLVED, that the Advisory Panel shall expire, and the terms of office of its members terminate, as of June 30, 2011 at which time the Advisory Panel shall deposit all the records of its proceedings with the Clerk of the Legislature; and be it further

14th RESOLVED, that this study shall not be performed by any outside consultant or consulting firm unless explicit approval and authorization for such consultant or consulting firm is granted pursuant to a duly enacted resolution of the County Legislature; and be it further

15th RESOLVED, that this Legislature, being the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) lead agency, hereby finds and determines that this resolution constitutes a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(20), (21), and (27) of Title 6 of the NEW YORK CODE OF RULES AND REGULATIONS (6 NYCRR) and within the meaning of Section 8-0109(2) of the NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW as a promulgation of regulations, rules, policies, procedures, and legislative decisions in connection with continuing agency administration, management and information collection, and the Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is hereby directed to circulate any appropriate SEQRA notices of determination of non-applicability or non-significance in accordance with this resolution.

DATED: May 11, 2010

APPROVED BY:

/s/ Steve Levy
County Executive of Suffolk County

Date: May 26, 2010