Sec. 17a-674a. 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fund. Report.
Sec. 17a-674d. Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Membership. Duties.
Sec. 17a-674h. Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund. Report.
Sec. 17a-667a. Fact sheet re opioids and opioid use disorder. Marketing campaign and public service announcements. Information portal re detoxification and rehabilitation beds and slots for outpatient treatment. Report. Working groups re disposal of opioid drugs and substance abuse treatment referral programs. Working group to establish goals for combatting opioid use disorder. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Health care provider” means any person or organization that furnishes health care services and is licensed or certified to furnish such services pursuant to chapters 370, 372, 373, 375, 376, 376a, 376b, 377, 378, 379, 380, 383, 383a, 383b and 383c, or is licensed or certified pursuant to chapter 368d;
(2) “Pharmacist” means a pharmacist licensed pursuant to chapter 400j;
(3) “Opioid drug” has the same meaning as provided in section 20-14o; and
(4) “Opioid antagonist” has the same meaning as provided in section 17a-714a.
(b) On or before October 1, 2017, the Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council, established under section 17a-667, shall develop (1) a one-page fact sheet that includes, in clear and readily understandable language in at least twelve-point font size, the risks of taking an opioid drug, the symptoms of opioid use disorder and services available in the state for persons who experience symptoms of or are otherwise affected by opioid use disorder, and (2) strategies to encourage health care providers and pharmacists to disseminate the one-page fact sheet. Such one-page fact sheet shall be made available on the Internet web site of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for use by health care providers and pharmacists to disseminate to any person (A) whom such provider treats for symptoms of opioid use disorder, (B) to whom such provider issues a prescription for or administers an opioid drug or opioid antagonist, or (C) to whom such pharmacist dispenses an opioid drug or opioid antagonist or issues a prescription for an opioid antagonist.
(c) (1) The Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council shall examine the feasibility of the following:
(A) Developing a marketing campaign and making monthly public service announcements on the Internet web sites and social media accounts of the appropriate state agencies, as designated by the council, and any radio station and television station broadcasting to persons in the state, regarding (i) the risks of taking opioid drugs, (ii) symptoms of opioid use disorder, (iii) the availability of opioid antagonists in the state, and (iv) services in the state for persons with or affected by opioid use disorder; and
(B) Establishing a publicly accessible electronic information portal, in the form of an Internet web site or application, as a single point of entry for information regarding the availability of (i) beds at a facility in the state for persons in need of medical treatment for (I) detoxification for potentially life-threatening symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol or drugs, and (II) rehabilitation or treatment for alcohol dependency, drug dependency or intoxication, and (ii) slots for outpatient treatment using opioid medication that is used to treat opioid use disorder, including methadone and buprenorphine. Such examination shall include the ability of the portal to (I) provide real-time data on the availability of beds and slots, including, but not limited to, the types of beds and slots available, the location of such beds and slots and the wait times, if available, for such beds and slots, and (II) be accessible to the public.
(2) Not later than January 1, 2019, the council shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health on the outcome of such examination.
(d) The Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council shall convene a working group to advise the council of any recommendations for statutory or policy changes that would enable first responders or health care providers to safely dispose of a person's opioid drugs upon their death. Not later than February 1, 2018, the council shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health regarding the recommendations of the working group.
(e) The Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council shall convene a working group to study substance abuse treatment referral programs that have been established by municipal police departments to refer persons with an opioid use disorder or seeking recovery from drug addiction to substance abuse treatment facilities. The working group shall (1) examine such referral programs, (2) identify any barriers faced by such referral programs, and (3) determine the feasibility of implementing such programs on a state-wide basis. Not later than February 1, 2018, the council shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and public safety and security regarding the findings of the working group.
(f) The Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council shall convene a working group to establish one or more goals for the state to achieve in its efforts to combat the prevalence of opioid use disorder in the state. Not later than July 1, 2026, the council shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health regarding each goal established by the working group.
(P.A. 17-131, S. 7; P.A. 18-48, S. 2; P.A. 25-168, S. 175.)
History: P.A. 17-131 effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 18-48 amended Subsecs. (b) to (e) by replacing “Alcohol and Drug Policy Council” with “Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council”, effective May 29, 2018; P.A. 25-168 added Subsec. (f) re working group to establish goals for combatting opioid use disorder, effective June 30, 2025.
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Sec. 17a-674a. 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fund. Report. (a) There is established an account to be known as the “9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fund”, which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account. The account shall contain any moneys required to be deposited in, or transferred to, the account pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services solely for the following purposes: (1) Ensuring the efficient and effective routing of calls made to the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by persons in the state to an appropriate crisis center; and (2) personnel and the provision of acute mental health, crisis outreach and stabilization services by directly responding to the 9–8–8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
(b) The following moneys shall be deposited in, or transferred to, the 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fund: (1) Any appropriation made by the General Assembly to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for deposit in the fund; (2) any grants or gifts intended for deposit in the fund; and (3) interest, premiums, gains or other earnings on the fund.
(c) Moneys remaining in the 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fund (1) shall not revert to the General Fund at the end of any fiscal year and remain available in subsequent fiscal years for the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section, and (2) shall not be subject to transfer to any other fund, or to transfer, assignment or reassignment for any purpose other than the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section.
(d) On or before January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on the deposits and expenditures of the 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fund to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, public health, human services and children.
(P.A. 22-47, S. 25; P.A. 25-110, S. 61.)
History: P.A. 25-110 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to General Fund and make a technical change, effective July 1, 2025.
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Sec. 17a-674d. Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Membership. Duties. (a) There is established an Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee to ensure (1) that proceeds received by the state pursuant to section 17a-674c are allocated and spent on substance use disorder abatement infrastructure, programs, services, supports and resources for prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction, and (2) robust public involvement, accountability and transparency in allocating and accounting for the moneys in the fund.
(b) The committee shall consist of the following members:
(1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee;
(2) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;
(3) The Commissioners of Children and Families, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Public Health, or said commissioners' designees, who shall serve as ex-officio members;
(4) The president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives, the minority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Senate and House chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and public health, or their designees, provided such persons have experience living with a substance use disorder or are the family member of a person who has experience living with a substance use disorder;
(5) Twenty-five individuals representing municipalities, who shall be appointed by the Governor;
(6) The executive director of the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health, or a representative of the commission designated by the executive director; and
(7) Eight individuals appointed by the commissioner as follows: (A) A provider of community-based substance use treatment services for adults, who shall be a nonvoting member; (B) a provider of community-based substance use treatment services for adolescents, who shall be a nonvoting member; (C) an addiction medicine licensed health care professional with prescribing ability, who shall be a nonvoting member; (D) three individuals with experience living with a substance use disorder or family members of an individual with experience living with a substance use disorder; and (E) two individuals with experience supporting infants and children affected by the opioid crisis.
(c) The commissioner shall be co-chairperson of the committee. The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint a co-chairperson from among the individuals representing municipalities appointed pursuant to subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this section. The co-chairpersons of the committee shall be nonvoting members.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, it shall not be a conflict of interest for a trustee, director, officer or employee of an organization, or for any person having a financial interest in such organization, to serve as a member of the committee, provided such trustee, director, officer, employee or person shall disclose such position or interest to all other members of the committee and abstain from deliberation, action and vote by the committee under this section that specifically concerns the organization of which such member is a trustee, director, officer or employee, or in which such member has a financial interest.
(e) All initial appointments to the committee shall be made not later than October 1, 2022. Each member of the committee, other than the ex-officio members, shall serve for a term of two years, shall serve no more than two consecutive terms and may serve until a successor is appointed, except that in the event of any vacancy, the appointing authority shall fill such vacancy for the unexpired portion of such term. Any member of the committee may be removed by the appointing authority for misfeasance, malfeasance or wilful neglect of duty.
(f) The committee shall have the following duties and powers:
(1) Recommend and approve policies and procedures for administration of the committee and criteria for the application, awarding and disbursement of moneys from the fund, to be used for the purposes set forth in section 17a-674c;
(2) Recommend and approve goals, objectives, rationales for such goals and objectives, sustainability plans and performance indicators relating to: (A) Substance use disorder prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction efforts, including, but not limited to, methods of engaging persons who utilize harm reduction services in treatment and recovery; (B) reducing disparities in access to prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction programs, services, supports and resources; and (C) improving health outcomes in traditionally underserved populations, including, but not limited to, persons who live in rural or tribal communities, are members of racial or ethnic minorities or were formerly incarcerated; and
(3) Approve the allocation of moneys from the fund.
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2-5, the department shall:
(1) Employ a full-time manager of the committee and provide public health research and policy expertise, support staff, facilities, technical assistance and other resources to (A) assist the manager of the committee in planning and supporting the functions of the committee, including ensuring that proceeds received by this state pursuant to section 17a-674c are allocated and spent on substance use disorder abatement infrastructure, programs, services, supports, and resources for prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction, and (B) ensure robust public involvement, accountability and transparency in allocating and accounting for the moneys in the fund;
(2) Utilize, where feasible, appropriations from the General Fund and existing infrastructure, programs, services, supports or other resources to address substance use disorders, overdoses and drug-related harms;
(3) Prepare for review and approval by the committee of the department's goals, objectives, rationales for such goals and objectives, sustainability plans and performance indicators relating to (A) substance use disorder prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction efforts, including, but not limited to, methods of engaging persons who utilize harm reduction services in treatment and recovery, and (B) reducing disparities in access to prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction programs, services, supports and resources;
(4) Evaluate applications and make recommendations to the committee for the awarding of contracts and disbursements of moneys from the fund exclusively for permissible expenditures set forth in section 17a-674c;
(5) Upon receipt of final approval by the committee, disburse moneys from the fund exclusively for permissible expenditures set forth in section 17a-674c;
(6) Approve suspensions of allocations of moneys from the fund to recipients found by the committee or commissioner to (A) be substantially out of compliance with applicable contracts, policies, procedures, rules, regulations or state or federal law, or (B) have used such awards for a purpose other than an approved purpose, provided the committee may resume approval of such allocations once the committee has determined the recipient has adequately remedied the cause of such suspension;
(7) Maintain oversight over the expenditure of moneys from the fund to ensure moneys are used exclusively for the purposes set forth in section 17a-674c, including, but not limited to, implementing procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of the infrastructure, programs, services, supports or resources that are funded pursuant to said section; and
(8) Implement and publish on the department's Internet web site policies and procedures for administration of the committee and for the application, awarding and disbursement of moneys from the fund, to be used for the purposes set forth in section 17a-674c.
(h) On or before October 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, recipients of moneys from the fund shall file with the committee an annual report for the prior fiscal year detailing the effectiveness of infrastructure, programs, services, supports or resources that were funded, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) A description of how the recipient used the moneys for their intended purposes;
(2) The number of individuals served, delineated by race, age, gender and any other relevant demographic factor, which shall be reported in a deidentified manner;
(3) A specific analysis of whether the infrastructure, program, service, support or resources reduced mortality or improved prevention, treatment, harm reduction or recovery outcomes; and
(4) If a plan to ensure the sustainability of the infrastructure, program, service, support or resources funded exists, a summary of such plan.
(i) The committee shall hold quarterly public meetings. A meeting may be called by the chairperson or by a majority of the committee's members. Members may attend meetings in person, remotely by audiovisual means or, upon approval by the chairperson, by audio-only means. For each meeting of the committee, a majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If there is a quorum, then all actions of the committee shall be taken by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at the meeting. Each voting member shall have one vote. The committee shall terminate when all moneys received pursuant to section 17a-674c have been received and disbursed unless the Attorney General certifies that additional moneys are anticipated.
(j) The department shall create and maintain an Internet web site where the committee shall publish (1) meeting minutes, including, but not limited to, records of all votes to approve expenditures of moneys from the fund, (2) recipient agreements and reports required under subsection (h) of this section, (3) policies and procedures approved by the committee, (4) reports received from municipalities pursuant to subsection (e) of section 17a-674c, and (5) the committee's annual reports.
(P.A. 22-48, S. 3; P.A. 23-92, S. 3; 23-97, S. 35; P.A. 24-150, S. 1; P.A. 25-168, S. 115.)
History: P.A. 22-48 effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 23-92 amended Subsec. (j) by adding new Subdiv. (4) re reports received from municipalities pursuant to Sec. 17a-674c and redesignated existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (5), effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 23-97 amended Subsec. (b) by adding reference to joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and making technical changes in Subdiv. (4), replacing “Seventeen” with “Twenty-one” in Subdiv. (5) and replacing “Six” with “Eight” and adding Subpara. (E) re individuals with experience supporting infants and children affected by the opioid crisis in Subdiv. (7), effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 24-150 amended Subsec. (b) by adding “and ranking members” in Subdiv. (4) and replacing “Twenty-one” with “Twenty-three” in Subdiv. (5), effective June 6, 2024; P.A. 25-168 amended Subsec. (b)(5) by replacing “Twenty-three” with “Twenty-five”, effective June 30, 2025.
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Sec. 17a-674h. Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund. Report. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Eligible entity” means (A) a municipality, (B) a local or regional board of education, (C) a similar body governing one or more nonpublic schools, (D) a district department of health, (E) a municipal health department, (F) a law enforcement agency, or (G) an emergency medical services organization;
(2) “Emergency medical services personnel” has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-175;
(3) “Opioid antagonist” means naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting and equally safe drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a drug overdose;
(4) “Opioid drug” has the same meaning as provided in section 20-14o;
(5) “Opioid use disorder” means a medical condition characterized by a problematic pattern of opioid use and misuse leading to clinically significant impairment or distress;
(6) “Pharmacist” has the same meaning as provided in section 20-609a; and
(7) “Wholesaler” or “distributor” has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-70.
(b) There is established an Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund, which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account. The account shall contain any (1) amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by the state for the purposes of this section, (2) moneys required by law to be deposited in the account, and (3) gifts, grants, donations or bequests made for the purposes of this section. Investment earnings credited to the assets of the account shall become part of the assets of the account. Any balance remaining in the account at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the account for the fiscal year next succeeding. The State Treasurer shall administer the account. All moneys deposited in the account shall be used by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the purposes of this section. The department may deduct and retain from the moneys in the account an amount equal to the costs incurred by the department in administering the provisions of this section, except that said amount shall not exceed two per cent of the moneys deposited in the account in any fiscal year.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2024, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, shall use the Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund for the provision of opioid antagonists to eligible entities and by emergency medical services personnel to certain members of the public. Emergency medical services personnel shall distribute an opioid antagonist kit containing a personal supply of opioid antagonists and the one-page fact sheet developed by the Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council pursuant to section 17a-667a regarding the risks of taking an opioid drug, symptoms of opioid use disorder and services available in the state for persons who experience symptoms of or are otherwise affected by opioid use disorder to a patient who (1) is treated by such personnel for an overdose of an opioid drug, (2) displays symptoms to such personnel of opioid use disorder, or (3) is treated at a location where such personnel observes evidence of illicit use of an opioid drug, or to such patient's family member, caregiver or friend who is present at the location. Emergency medical services personnel shall refer the patient or such patient's family member, caregiver or friend to the written instructions regarding the administration of such opioid antagonist, as deemed appropriate by such personnel.
(d) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services may, within available appropriations, contract with a wholesaler or distributor for the purchasing and distribution of opioid antagonists in bulk to eligible entities pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Each eligible entity shall make such bulk-purchased opioid antagonists available at no charge to a family member, caregiver or friend of a person who has experienced an overdose of an opioid drug or displays symptoms of opioid use disorder.
(e) Emergency medical services organizations may obtain opioid antagonists for dissemination pursuant to subsection (c) of this section from a pharmacist pursuant to section 20-633c, 20-633d or 21a-286.
(f) Emergency medical services personnel shall document the number of opioid antagonist kits distributed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, including, but not limited to, the number of doses of an opioid antagonist included in each kit.
(g) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the executive director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services shall report to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services regarding the implementation of the provisions of subsections (c), (e) and (f) of this section, including, but not limited to, any information required under subsection (h) of this section for inclusion in the state substance use disorder plan developed pursuant to subsection (j) of section 17a-451 known to the executive director.
(h) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall include in the state substance use disorder plan developed pursuant to subsection (j) of section 17a-451 the following information: (1) The amount of funds used to purchase and distribute opioid antagonists, (2) the number of eligible entities that received opioid antagonists under this section, (3) the amount of opioid antagonists purchased under this section, (4) the use of the opioid antagonists purchased by each such eligible entity, if known by the commissioner, and (5) any recommendations regarding the Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund, including any proposed legislation to facilitate the purposes of this section.
(P.A. 23-97, S. 5; P.A. 24-68, S. 44; P.A. 25-101, S. 23; 25-110, S. 62; 25-168, S. 17.)
History: P.A. 24-68 amended Subsec. (c) by making a technical change, effective May 28, 2024; P.A. 25-101 amended Subsec. (a)(4) by replacing reference to 42 CFR 8.2 with reference to Sec. 20-14o, effective June 24, 2025; P.A. 25-110 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to General Fund and make a technical change, effective July 1, 2025; P.A. 25-168 made an identical change as P.A. 25-101, effective June 30, 2025.
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