Appropriations Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-5436
AN ACT CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT AND APPROVAL FOR
Title: THE EXPENDITURE OF OPIOID LITIGATION SETTLEMENT FUNDS.
Vote Date: 4/7/2022
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/25/2022
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Appropriations Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
The bill requires the Office of Policy and Management to submit recommendations to the
General Assembly for approval of allocations of Opioid Settlement funds by the
Appropriations and Public Health Committees. This bill intends to implement legislative
oversight for the expenditure of these funds to support the coordinated effort to dispense in
the most effective use to strengthen behavioral health services, many of which have been in
crisis due the combination of underfunding, workforce shortage, and an increase demand in
services as people begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent
effects it has had on the people of Connecticut.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Nancy Navarretta, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
(DMHAS) Commissioner Navarretta submitted testimony respectfully requesting that the
committee support HB 5044, An Act Implementing The Governor's Budget Recommendations
Regarding The Use Of Opioid Litigation Proceeds, in lieu of passage of the committee's bill.
She attests that HB 5044 accomplishes the intent of HB 5436 but was developed in
consultation with the Office of the Attorney General (AG), so it codifies the specific
requirements of the negotiated settlement agreements. The Commissioner argues that the
alternate bill, HB 5044, establishes an Opioid Settlement Advisory Council with membership
that includes the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of
Representatives, the majority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives and the
minority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives, or their designees. She
clarifies that HB 5044 also requires the report to be submitted before the joint standing
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health
and appropriations, accomplishing the same goals as HB 5436.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Gian-Carl Casa, President & CEO, The Alliance Mr. Casa submitted testimony
supporting the submission of plans for the use of opioid litigation settlement funds to be
reviewed by the Appropriations and Public Health. He explains that through use of the
legislative process to properly evaluate the use of the expenditure of these funds, and which
will provide a public forum for comments from behavioral health professionals and people
with lived experiences with addiction or are in recovery. He states that by doing so, the
necessary input from the people doing the respective work in the field and those who have
had lived experiences will be effectively heard and taken into consideration in the spending of
the settlement.
Luke Bronin, Mayor, City of Hartford Mayor Bronin testified commending the intent of
these bills to provide greater transparency for the expenditure of settlement funds. However,
the Mayor also believes that it is vital that there be strong municipal representation and input
in all planning proposals. He explains that initiatives to reduce opioid overdoses are often
coordinated at the local level, and the costs and consequences of the opioid epidemic are felt
most directly at the local level. With that said, he respectfully requests that any legislation
seeking to determine appropriate expenditure of Opioid Litigation Settlement Funds include
municipal leadership and representation.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) CCM has concerns with HB 5436
as it would run contrary to the settlement agreement, which requires the state to convene an
advisory committee that is equally comprised of state and municipal officials to develop
recommendations for the allocation of these funds. It is CCM's belief that this proposal may
impose barriers towards appropriately allocating these funds in accordance with the
settlement and therefore possibly inhibit funding from being received. CMM does, however,
support HB 5044, favorably reported out of the Public Health Committee, as it would create
an advisory committee responsible to address the opioid crisis and develop a mechanism to
allocate a majority of the opioid settlement proceeds. Additionally, CCM explains HB 5044
would create a 32-member advisory board, with 16 members representing municipalities and
the other 16 representing the state and that they would be responsible for creating proposals
to address opioid prevention, treatment and recovery strategies, in addition to having the
authority to allocate the funding to implement their plans. With this explanation, CCM
encourages the committee to take no action on HB 5436.
Reported by: Taylor Hyde Date: April 20, 2022
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