Current through 2024 Legislative Session Act Chapter 531
Section 4808B - Prescription opioid settlement fund(a) A special fund known as the Prescription Opioid Settlement Fund (Settlement Fund) is established and the State Treasurer shall invest monies in the Settlement Fund consistent with the investment policies established by the Cash Management Policy Board. The State Treasurer shall credit interest to the Settlement Fund on a monthly basis consistent with the rate established by the Cash Management Policy Board. The Settlement Fund shall be administered collectively with the Prescription Opioid Impact Fund under § 5197 of this title.(b) The Settlement Fund shall hold all monies collected by the State and its subdivisions as a result of the terms of statewide opioid settlement agreements, judgments, or other recoveries in connection with a defendant's actual or alleged liability for contributing to the opioid crisis in Delaware that must be used for purposes of remediating or abating the opioid crisis in Delaware.(c) All money in the Settlement Fund is continuously available for expenditure under § 5197 of this title and spending limits imposed by the General Assembly, including for salaries and other routine operating expenses of the Settlement Fund or the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission.(1) Annually, $300,000 or 5% of the total annually deposited into the Settlement Fund, whichever is greater, may be used for administering this chapter and § 5196 through § 5197 of Title 16.(2) Money appropriated by the General Assembly to implement this chapter and § 5196 through § 5197 of Title 16 must be reimbursed from the Funds.(d) Money in the Settlement Fund must be used for activities in 1 or more of the following categories: (1) For services that remediate the harm caused by opioids.(2) To reduce harm caused by opioids.(3) Consistent with the terms of the settlement, judgment, or other source of the monies.(e) Money in the Settlement Fund may not be used to supplant existing state or local government funding.(f) Money in the Settlement Fund does not lapse at any time and must not be transferred to or commingled with any other fund.(g) The Behavioral Health Consortium shall distribute the money in the Settlement Fund based upon the recommendations of the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission.Added by Laws 2021, ch. 243,s 3, eff. 10/14/2021.