Opioid addiction treatment, prevention fund advanced

A bill to fund treatment and prevention of opioid addiction advanced from general file July 22.

LB1124, introduced by Omaha Sen. Sara Howard, would create the Nebraska Opioid Recovery Fund as the repository of any money that the state may receive from a federal Department of Justice lawsuit against opioid manufacturers accused of deceptive advertising.

The bill also would require the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to report annually to the Legislature, governor and attorney general regarding how funds were distributed and the outcomes achieved.

Howard said the fund should be established now even though money from a settlement has not been received.

“Receiving this money will go a long way in combating the opioid epidemic,” she said.

Howard introduced a technical amendment, adopted 43-0, that would clarify how the fund would be managed and expenditures made.

Lawmakers advanced LB1124 to select file on a 46-0 vote.