Senate’s Heroin Task Force
Pays Return Visit To County
![Senator Seward, second from right, listens to Justin Thalheimer, the Otsego County Chemical Dependency programs manager, at the Joint Task Force's first local hearing in April 2014. (AllOTSEGO.com file photo)](https://www.allotsego.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/heroin--300x233.jpg)
ONEONTA – State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, has organized a return visit of the Joint Senate Task Force on Heroin & Opioid Addiction to SUNY Oneonta’s Hunt Union Ballroom from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23.
Members of the visiting task force will include State Sens. George A. Amedore, Jr. and Terrence Murphy, and a representative for Senator Robert Ortt. The forum will also include local health care professionals, addiction experts, and law enforcement officials.
“In 2014 I conducted a similar task force hearing in Oneonta and the testimony was instrumental in helping develop a number of new state laws to educate the public about the dangers of heroin, improve treatment options, and aid law enforcement officials,” Seward said. “This will be an opportunity to review what is working in our communities and identify gaps in service as we explore additional measures to contend with this public health crisis.”
The roundtable forum is one of several being conducted around the state to solicit input and develop recommendations for legislative action.
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend and observe the proceedings. Panel members are by invite only; however, all are welcome to submit written testimony. The forum will also be webcast live.