This bill addresses the management and appropriation of funds from the opioid settlement fund in Iowa. It mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the Attorney General (AG) submit annual proposed legislative bills for appropriations from the fund, ensuring that 75% of unencumbered and unobligated funds are allocated to HHS and 25% to the AG. The bill emphasizes the importance of considering recommendations from district behavioral health advisory councils to promote equitable statewide services. Additionally, it requires that any disbursements from the fund be accompanied by a statement indicating that the funding is a one-time allocation from the opioid settlement fund.

For the fiscal year 2024-2025, the bill appropriates $12 million to HHS for grants to nonprofit organizations focused on treating co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, specifically for the renovation and expansion of a recovery campus. It also allocates $30 million to HHS for broader efforts to abate the opioid crisis in the state. The bill stipulates that any unencumbered or unobligated funds at the end of the fiscal year will not revert but remain available for designated purposes until the close of the succeeding fiscal year. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 12.51