Concord, NH – Today, the Senate passed legislation, SB 533, which would increase reporting requirements for substance abuse spending, and provide additional resources for critical priorities in the Department of Health and Human Services and Attorney General’s office.
“The Senate has made significant progress in working to combat the heroin and opioid crisis in the state and we all agree that we need to continue working to address these issues, but we must make sure that we are effectively spending taxpayer money before we can responsibly appropriate additional funding to address this issue. The legislation passed today includes additional oversight and reporting requirements from the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery so that we can make sure funds are being spent as effectively as possible to combat this crisis,” said Senate President Chuck Morse (R-Salem).
“As chair of the Joint Task Force on the response to the opioid and heroin crisis in the state, I agree that we should take every opportunity to ensure resources are being utilized to the best of their ability to combat this crisis, and by creating greater reporting requirement, we will be able to focus resources where there is the greatest need and where they are proven to be most effective,” said Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro). “This bill also establishes a new position in the Attorney General’s office to prosecute drug-related cases, creates a grant program for peer to peer recovery services, and provides the Governor the authority to use nearly $3 million in unspent funds within the Department of Health and Human Services to address other critical priorities. We expect the Governor will act quickly to direct these resources where they are needed most within DHHS, and we will begin to see positive results.”
“In light of several unanticipated financial obligations, we have prioritized finding ways to curb the opioid crisis and committed an additional 75% increase in funding in the state’s budget to address these issues. That being said, we also need to put in place accountability measures to both ensure money is well-spent, and this legislation gives the Governor the ability to transfer unspent funds in the Department of Health and Human Services to bolster those programs showing the most success,” said Senator Andy Sanborn (R-Bedford).
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