Creating funds relating to the abatement of and response to opioid use, allowing school districts to obtain opioid antagonist prescriptions, and making an appropriation

This bill creates funds relating to the abatement of and response to opioid use. OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND. The bill creates an opioid settlement fund. The state portion of any moneys paid to the state as a result of a national settlement of litigation with entities that manufactured, marketed, sold, distributed, dispensed, or promoted opioids, made in connection with claims arising from the manufacturing, marketing, selling, distributing, dispensing, or promoting of opioids, are required to be deposited in the fund. This does not apply to such moneys paid to the state that are earmarked for or otherwise required to be transferred or distributed to counties, cities, or other local governmental entities. Moneys in the fund can only be used pursuant to appropriations from the fund by the general assembly for purposes of abating the opioid crisis in Iowa. OPIOID ANTAGONIST MEDICATION FUND. The bill provides that an opioid antagonist medication fund for first responders is created within the state treasury under the control of the department of public health (department). The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated to or deposited in the fund and may include available federal or state moneys, as well as any available opioid lawsuit settlement moneys. Funds may be transferred between other state agencies and the fund as appropriate. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for the purchase, maintenance, and replacement of opioid antagonist medication to be administered by first responders to persons experiencing an opioid-related overdose. Moneys in the fund may be designated for the purchase, maintenance, and replacement of opioid antagonist medication. First responders may contact the department for the procurement of opioid antagonist medication and the department shall keep a record of the distribution of moneys from the fund. The bill provides that moneys in the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure, unless federal regulations otherwise require, and interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. The bill provides that the department shall submit a report to the co-chairpersons and ranking members of the joint appropriations subcommittee on the justice system and to the legislative services agency on or before December of each year which shall contain a list of deposits and expenditures from the fund for the prior fiscal year and the amount of carryover funds, if any, to be distributed in the next fiscal year. The bill provides definitions.