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 appropriates $9.1 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2026 through 2027-2028 to be distributed to administrative services organizations (ASOs) for crisis response, early intervention, treatment, and recovery efforts within designated behavioral health districts. ASOs must submit proposals to an evaluation panel, which includes the attorney general and other key officials, to receive funding. Additionally, $3.9 million is allocated each year for statewide prevention initiatives and for HHS to evaluate funded programs, ensuring they meet measurable outcomes.

The bill also mandates HHS to report to the General Assembly by September 1 each year on recommendations for future fund disbursements and evaluations of the previous fiscal year's programs. Furthermore, it creates an opioid reserve account to support efforts in increasing the capacity for opioid-related services, allowing ASOs to apply for funds to enhance the number of behavioral health providers. The bill appropriates $20 million from the opioid settlement fund for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to be deposited into this account.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 12.51