Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill requiring New York state to create a locked box for funds from future opioid drug manufacturer settlements. The measure, which has bipartisan support as well as the backing of Democratic state Attorney General Tish James, changes Cuomo’s practice of placing the money into the state’s general fund.
The fund will support treatment, recovery, and abatement efforts, according to the AG’s office.
“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 law ensures funds are used to prevent any future devastation," James said in a statement Wednesday.
The signing comes as a landmark trial against pharmaceutical companies over their role in the opioid epidemic is underway in New York.
In signing the bill, Cuomo, a Democrat, says his office will work with lawmakers and the attorney general to ensure that future legislation and settlement agreements are in the best interest of New Yorkers.
