Relating to the opioid settlement fund, establishing the opioid epidemic response advisory council, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions

The bill requires the advisory council to identify projects related to opioid addiction and overdoses that should be awarded grants from the opioid settlement fund and opioid settlement future fund. The general assembly shall then award grants to the projects that address the priorities identified in the bill. From among those projects awarded grants, the bill requires the advisory council to identify projects that include promising practices or theory-based activities for which the director of the department shall conduct additional research and experimental evaluation. The bill requires the chairperson of the advisory council to annually report to the general assembly regarding grants proposed by the advisory council and awarded by the general assembly and the advisory council and the director of the department of management to annually report to the general assembly regarding the efficacy of individual projects and the progress made with respect to the benchmarks established by the advisory council. The annual report due to be submitted by the advisory council by January 31, 2031, shall include the advisory council’s recommendations regarding the continuation of grants and appropriations from the opioid settlement fund. The bill appropriates $249,000 to the department annually from the opioid settlement fund for the provision of administrative services to the advisory council and for the administration of awarded grants. The bill takes effect upon enactment.