Interim Studies & Commission Listings

Opioid Abatement Authority

    Reference:
    » HB 2322; (2021 Special Session I)
    » SB 1469 (2021 Special Session I)
  • Description: The purpose of the Authority is to abate and remediate the opioid epidemic in the Commonwealth through financial support from the Opioid Abatement Fund (the Fund), in the form of grants, donations, or other assistance, for efforts to treat, prevent, and reduce opioid use disorder and the misuse of opioids in the Commonwealth. The Authority's exercise of powers are deemed to be the performance of an essential governmental function and matters of public necessity for which public moneys may be spent and private property acquired. The Authority must (i) establish specific criteria and procedures for awards from the Fund; (ii) establish requirements for the submission of funding requests; (iii) evaluate funding requests in accordance with the criteria established by the Authority; (iv) make awards from the Fund in a manner that distributes funds equitably among all community services board regions of the Commonwealth, including the establishment of mandatory minimum percentages of funds to be awarded from the Commonwealth to each participating locality; (v) evaluate the implementation and results of all efforts receiving support from the Authority; and (vi) administer the Fund in accordance with law. The Authority may (1) make grants and disbursements from the Fund that support efforts to treat, prevent, and reduce opioid use disorder and the misuse of opioids or otherwise abate or remediate the opioid epidemic; (2) pay expenditures from the Fund that are necessary to carry out its purposes; (3) contract for the services of consultants to assist in the evaluation of the efforts funded by it; (4) contract for other professional services to assist it in the performance of its duties and responsibilities; (5) accept, hold, administer, and solicit gifts, grants, bequests, contributions, or other assistance from federal agencies, the Commonwealth, or any other public or private source to carry out its purposes; (6) enter into any agreement or contract relating to the acceptance or use of any grant, assistance, or support provided by or to it or otherwise in furtherance of its purposes; (7) perform any lawful acts necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes; and (8) employ such staff as is necessary to perform the its duties and determine the duties of such staff and fix the salaries and compensation of such staff, which shall be paid from the Fund.
  • Report Date: Annually, by the first day of regular session
  • Staff Contact:

    Anthony E. “Tony” McDowell, Executive Director, tmcdowell@voaa.us
    Mike Tweedy and Sydnee Pottebaum, Senate Finance and Appropriations Staff

All members appointed by By Statute. Appointment coincident with House term.
House Members:
Name
The Honorable Briana D. Sewell, Designee, Chairman of House Appropriations Committee
All members appointed by By Statute. Appointment coincident with Senate term.
Senate Members:
Name
The Honorable Todd E. Pillion, Designee, Chair of Senate Finance Committee
Citizen Members:
Name Representing Appointed By Term
8 Citizens Governor  
Ex Officio Members:
Name Title
The Honorable Janet Kelly Secretary of Health and Human Resources
Membership and Term Information:
Max # House: 1 Appointment Coincident With House Term? YES
Max # Senate: 1 Appointment Coincident With Senate Term? YES
Max # Citizens: 1
Max # Ex Officio: 1
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