Across Kentucky and the nation, communities are suffering from the effects of the rampant opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S. Opioid Prescribing Rate Map, Kentucky providers prescribed 79.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons, while the average national rate was 51.4 prescriptions in 2018.
House Bill 427, sponsored by Rep. Danny Bentley, creates the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission to oversee the distribution of the state’s portion of potential opioid litigation settlement funds.
In Kentucky, counties and cities negotiated a 50-50 split between the state and local governments. Half will be allocated by the commission for the state’s permitted uses, while the remaining half will be allocated to counties and cities. These funds will be distributed to the local governments through a trustee appointed jointly by KACo and the Kentucky League of Cities.
“We applaud Attorney General Daniel Cameron and his office for their continued efforts in working with us on this important piece of legislation,” KACo President and Madison County Judge/Executive Reagan Taylor said. “With the allocation of these vital funds, counties will be able to provide resources and ensure recovery efforts in local communities that have been devastated by the opioid epidemic.”
Cameron said Kentucky is closer to ensuring settlement funds are disbursed throughout the commonwealth to those who desperately need them to keep fighting this crisis.
“There was an incredible amount of collaboration that went into putting together this legislation, and each group put their interests aside to ensure Kentuckians will receive the maximum if a settlement is reached,” Cameron said. Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore played an instrumental part in the negotiations. His service as co-chair of the National City-County Task Force on the Opioid Epidemic and his role as NACo president gave him expanded insight into the challenges brought by this scourge, and a look at best practices deployed by counties from around the nation.
Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission- HB427 Rep. Danny Bentley
- Oversees the distribution of the state’s portion of opioid litigation settlement funds
- Each state will determine the distribution of funds between state and local governments from this national settlement.
- In Kentucky, counties and cities negotiated a 50-50 split between the state and local governments.
- Half will be allocated by the commission for the state’s permitted uses.
- Half will be allocated to counties and cities and will be distributed to the local governments through a trustee appointed jointly by KACo and KLC.
- The local government formula will be determined in the federal settlement documents.
