This bill proposes the addition of a new article to the Code of West Virginia, specifically Article 29, which establishes an excise tax on manufacturers and distributors of opioid drugs and their derivatives, as well as substances classified as Schedule II drugs. The tax is set at one cent for every 100 pills sold, with the total amount calculated based on the number of overdose deaths in West Virginia from the most recent year available, as reported by the Department of Health's Epidemiology Division. The Tax Commission will notify pharmacies of the appropriate tax amount, which must be collected and remitted to the Tax Commissioner.

The proceeds from this tax will be directed to the Ryan Brown Addiction Prevention and Recovery Fund, aimed at funding drug addiction and prevention programs in the state. Notably, the bill prohibits pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, or pharmacies from passing the cost of this excise tax onto patients. The legislation emphasizes the importance of addressing the opioid crisis by utilizing tax revenue to support addiction prevention and recovery efforts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-29-1