Authority: Title 2.2-2365 through 2.2-2376

A. The Opioid Abatement Authority shall abate and remediate the opioid epidemic in the Commonwealth through financial support from the Opioid Abatement Fund in accordance with § 2.2-2365 through § 2.2-376, Code of Virginia, 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.

B. To the extent necessary to fund the operations of the Opioid Abatement Authority, the Authority is authorized to request nongeneral fund appropriation increases in accordance with § 4-1.04 of the Appropriation Act.

C. The Opioid Abatement Authority shall include, as an addendum to its annual executive summary required pursuant to § 2.2-2373, Code of Virginia, an update on prior fiscal year activity related to the Commonwealth Opioid Abatement and Remediation Fund (the Fund), established pursuant to § 2.2-2377, Code of Virginia. Specifically, the addendum shall include an account of any deposits, designations, and expenditures made, along with corresponding performance measures, and other applicable data and information related to the use of the Fund settlement proceeds by state agencies.

D. Notwithstanding § 2.2-212, Code of Virginia, the Opioid Abatement Authority is an independent agency of the Commonwealth and is not subject to the provisions of that section.

E. In awarding grants to state agencies, the Board of the Opioid Abatement Authority shall ensure that the grant funds are within the scope of the statutory authority of the respective agency to administer such grants. In addition, grant funds shall be considered one-time in nature and shall not create an on-going obligation for the Commonwealth.

F. Out of appropriations provided in this act, $8,204,198 the first year and $8,271,200 the second year from nongeneral funds is for disbursement from the Commonwealth Opioid Abatement and Remediation Fund as follows: