Several new laws went into effect in New York on Jan. 1, 2024, that will impact residents statewide. The new laws are aimed at improving safety for college students, expanding victim compensation resources and decreasing the chances of accidental drug overdoses. New legislation includes “Matthew’s Law,” which will allow local pharmacies and health care providers to dispense fentanyl and other drug adulterant testing kits, a measure named after Matthew Horan, who died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2020. Other bills will make it easier for victims and survivors to apply for victim compensation funds and allow police officers to use electronic evidence in a case.
How law is made:
The legislative branch of the federal government makes new laws through a process called bill drafting. The first step is to introduce a bill that describes the proposed law. Then, it is assigned to a committee that researches, discusses and makes changes to the bill. The committee then drafts a report that states the purpose and scope of the bill. The bill is then put to a vote. If it passes both houses of Congress, it becomes a public law known as an act.
Bloomberg law:
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