{"id":2922,"date":"2025-07-12T10:34:40","date_gmt":"2025-07-12T14:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/?p=2922"},"modified":"2025-07-12T10:34:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T14:34:40","slug":"bills-to-expand-public-drinking-fountains-and-bathrooms-prevent-overdoses-in-city-jails-become-local-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2025\/07\/12\/2922\/","title":{"rendered":"Bills to Expand Public Drinking Fountains and Bathrooms, Prevent Overdoses in City Jails Become Local Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

City Hall, NY \u2013<\/strong> Today, legislation passed by the City Council, including Introduction 272-A, 573-A, and Introduction 206-B were automatically enacted into law, 30 days after being passed by the Council and sent to the mayor. Together, the laws will enhance transparency in the city\u2019s plan to increase public bathrooms, expand the number of park water drinking fountains citywide, and implement new measures to prevent opioid overdose deaths in city jails.<\/p>\n

Introduction 272-A<\/a>, now Local Law 92 of 2025, amends the citywide bathroom strategy to require an update in each public bathroom strategic planning report on all active or planned capital projects to install a public bathroom at a site identified by Local Law 114 of 2022. This local law takes effect immediately and will allow the public and Council to better understand the progress city agencies are making towards the installation of new bathrooms. The<\/a> citywide bathroom strategy<\/a> will increase the number of public restrooms in New York to 2,120 in 10 years.<\/p>\n

Introduction 573-A<\/a>, now Local Law 93 of 2025, requires the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to install at least 50 outdoor drinking fountains in public parks no later than June 1, 2035. This local law takes effect immediately. The Department of Parks and Recreation currently oversees over 3,400 outdoor drinking fountains.<\/p>\n

Introduction 206-B,<\/a> now Local Law 91 of 2025, requires the Department of Correction (DOC) to provide annual training to all uniformed staff on the proper use of opioid antagonists like Narcan and make the training available to individuals who are incarcerated. DOC would also be required to stock opioid antagonists in housing areas and make opioid antagonist kits available to individuals when released from DOC custody. The law will take effect in 90 days. These new requirements will increase the number of people within city jails who are able to administer life-saving medicine and prevent additional deaths due to opioids. Since 2022, 41 people have died in or following DOC custody, including at least ten from overdoses<\/a>. In recent days, two people died<\/a> in DOC custody or on Rikers within the same 24 hour period.<\/p>\n

\u201cExpanding transparency and accountability in our citywide bathroom strategy is not only about infrastructure, it is a step forward towards improving public health, and the quality of life in our city,\u201d said Council Member Rita Joseph<\/strong>. \u201cLocal Law 92 will ensure that the public has real insight into where and how these essential projects are moving forward. From tracking timelines to understanding maintenance plans, this is how we build a more responsive and accessible city one bathroom at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNew Yorkers shouldn\u2019t have to purchase a single use bottle of water because there\u2019s no public option available in city parks,\u201d said Council Member Gale A. Brewer<\/strong>. \u201cMy new law will add durable and permanent drinking fountains near entrances to parks citywide. It\u2019s not so easy to find a fountain to have a drink of water. We have amazing water in New York City thanks to the Department of Environmental Protection and others. But it\u2019s one thing to have the resource and another to have access to it. It\u2019s time for city agencies to get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, I\u2019m proud that my Local Law 91 has officially lapsed into law. This law dramatically expands access to essential, life-saving Narcan intervention in city jails and will prevent overdose deaths,\u201d said Council Member Shahana Hanif<\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019ve lost far too many lives to opioid overdose. I implore the Department of Corrections to act quickly to implement this law and stop these avoidable, tragic deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

City Hall, NY \u2013<\/strong> Today, legislation passed by the City Council, including Introduction 272-A, 573-A, and Introduction 206-B were automatically enacted into law, 30 days after being passed by the Council and sent to the mayor. Together, the laws will enhance transparency in the city\u2019s plan to increase public bathrooms, expand the number of park water drinking fountains citywide, and implement new measures to prevent opioid overdose deaths in city jails.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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