The bill establishes an opioid settlement fund and creates an opioid reserve account under the control of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the opioid crisis in Iowa. It includes provisions for appropriations from the fund for the fiscal years 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028, allocating $9.1 million each year to administrative services organizations (ASOs) for crisis response, early intervention, treatment, and recovery efforts in designated behavioral health districts. Additionally, $3.9 million is earmarked annually for statewide prevention initiatives and for HHS to evaluate funded programs, ensuring that measurable outcomes are included in the assessments.

The bill outlines the process for ASOs to receive funding, requiring them to submit proposals to an evaluation panel composed of the attorney general, the director of HHS, and the drug policy director. The panel will prioritize proposals that demonstrate evidence-based practices for addressing opioid addiction. Furthermore, HHS is mandated to report to the general assembly by September 1 each fiscal year, detailing recommendations from district behavioral health advisory councils and evaluations of the previous year's initiatives. The bill also appropriates $20 million from the opioid settlement fund to the opioid reserve account for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to support efforts in increasing the capacity for opioid-related services.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 12.51