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ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Senate and Assembly have both approved legislation that would track prescriptions for controlled substances electronically.

The "ISTOP" legislation would require pharmacists to immediately report the filling of painkiller prescriptions, including the patient and prescriber names, and require doctors to check patient records before writing new ones.

It's all part of an effort to crack down on prescription drug abuse in the state.

The measure would also require the health department to publish regulations by the end of December for electronic prescriptions for state-listed controlled substances.

Doctors would have to transmit those electronically to pharmacists within two years.

The bill passed in both the Senate and Assembly unanimously.