Bill Text: MS SB2767 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: The Mississippi Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council; create.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-20 - Referred To Judiciary, Division A [SB2767 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2025-SB2767-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Judiciary, Division A
By: Senator(s) Boyd
Senate Bill 2767
AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISORY COUNCIL; TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; TO PROVIDE FOR AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 27-103-305, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATES THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) As used in this act, the following terms shall have the meaning herein ascribed unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Council" means the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council created in subsection (2) of this section.
(b) "Opioid settlements" means the settlements of opioid litigation with distributors Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, manufacturers Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson, Allergan and Teva, and pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Walmart.
(2) There is hereby created the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council to ensure monies received into the Opioid Settlement Fund are allocated and spent in accordance with the terms of the opioid settlements and to ensure public involvement, accountability and transparency in allocating and accounting for the monies in the fund.
(3) The purpose of the council is to review applications for grants funded by the opioid settlements' proceeds and to make recommendations to the Legislature for the appropriation of such funds.
(4) The Legislature may accept or reject each of the council's grant recipient recommendations but shall not amend or modify the recommended list of grant recipients.
(5) The council shall consist of the following voting members:
(a) The Attorney General or a designee, who shall serve as chair of the council;
(b) The State Health Officer or a designee, who shall serve as co-vice chair of the council;
(c) The Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health or a designee, who shall serve as co-vice chair of the council;
(d) Two (2) members appointed by the Governor;
(e) Two (2) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;
(f) Two (2) members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(g) A member appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;
(h) A member of the Mississippi Municipal League to be appointed by the President of the League;
(i) A member of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors to be appointed by the President of the Association;
(j) A member of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police to be appointed by the President of the Association; and
(k) A member of the Mississippi Sheriffs' Association to be appointed by the President of the Association.
(6) The following shall be nonvoting, advisory members of the council:
(a) A member of the Mississippi Prosecutors Association to be appointed by the President of the Association;
(b) A member of the Office of State Public Defender appointed by the State Public Defender;
(c) Three (3) judges with experience related to opioid substance abuse and intervention to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court;
(d) A member representing the Mississippi Division of Medicaid to be appointed by the Executive Director of the Division;
(e) A member to be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety;
(f) A member to be appointed by the Commissioner of Child Protection Services;
(g) A member to be appointed by the Superintendent of Education;
(h) A member of the Mississippi Medical Association to be appointed by the President of the Association;
(i) A member of the Mississippi Society of Addiction Medicine to be appointed by the President of the Society;
(j) A member representing the Community Mental Health Centers to be appointed by the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health;
(k) A member representing the Community Health Centers to be appointed by the State Health Officer;
(l) A member representing private sector substance abuse treatment facilities to be appointed by the State Health Officer;
(m) A member representing private sector substance abuse treatment facilities to be appointed by the State Health Officer;
(n) A member representing a peer support recovery specialist organization to be appointed by the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health; and
(o) A member from the State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court.
(7) Voting members may request to add additional nonvoting, advisory members with expertise in opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery. Such members may be added by a majority vote of the voting members.
(8) (a) Members appointed pursuant to subsection (5)(d) through (f) of this section shall serve an initial term ending on December 31, 2027. After the expiration of the initial term, each such appointment shall be for a term of four (4) years from the expiration of the previous term.
(b) All other members of the council shall serve for a three-year term.
(c) The respective appointing authority may remove a member for failure to attend at least one-half (1/2) of the scheduled meetings in any one-year period or for other good cause.
(d) If a vacancy on the council occurs, the respective appointing authority shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. Notwithstanding the expiration of a member's term, each member shall serve until a successor is duly appointed.
(e) Members of the council shall be appointed within sixty (60) days after effective date of this act. The chair of the council shall call the first meeting of the council no later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of this act.
(9) Members of the council shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, in accordance with Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972. All such expenses shall be paid from the Opioid Settlement Fund and not the General Fund.
(10) The council shall be housed within the Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall provide the staff and facilities necessary to assist the council in the performance of its duties.
(11) The council shall:
(a) Prepare and publish a list of priorities to guide the selection of grant recipients at its first meeting of each calendar year;
(b) Develop and publish criteria and procedures for the submission of grant applications for funds derived from opioid settlements;
(c) Review and evaluate applications based on established criteria to determine the most effective and impactful use of funds in addressing opioid-related issues, including prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts;
(d) Ensure all applications reviewed and evaluated for compliance with the terms of the opioid settlement agreements;
(e) Prepare a prioritized list of recommended grant recipients, which includes a description of how each recommended recipient complies with the council's published priorities;
(f) Upon approval of the total list of recommended grant recipients by the council, the list of recommended grant recipients shall be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, Chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, Chairs of the Senate Public Health and Welfare and House Public Health and Human Services Committees, and Chairs of the Senate and House Judiciary A Committees no later than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of the Regular Legislative Session.
(12) The council shall ensure that all funds appropriated comply with the terms and conditions of the respective settlement agreements and state laws governing the use of such funds.
(13) The council shall adopt necessary rules, regulations, and procedures to ensure a grant applicant expends all grants funds in a manner consistent with the terms of the opioid settlement agreements.
(14) The council shall terminate when all opioid settlement monies being paid pursuant to the Opioid Settlements have been received and disbursed unless the Attorney General certifies that additional funds are anticipated within one (1) year.
(15) (a) By December 1 of each year, the council shall submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor summarizing the distribution of funds, outcomes of funded programs, and any recommendations for improving the process of appropriation and administration of settlement funds.
(b) The report shall be made publicly available on the Attorney General's website.
SECTION 2. Section 27-103-305, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-103-305. (1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Opioid Settlement Fund. The fund shall consist of monies received by the Attorney General on behalf of the State of Mississippi from settlements of opioid litigation with distributors Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, manufacturers Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson, Allergan and Teva, and pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, which are deposited into the fund by the Attorney General.
(2) Monies in the fund shall be expended upon appropriation by the Legislature in accordance with the requirements of the opioid litigation settlements described in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
