OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-6698
AN ACT CONCERNING DRUG POLICY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
PEER SUPPORT SERVICES.
Primary Analyst: MT 3/20/23
Contributing Analyst(s): ES
Reviewer: MM
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 24 $ FY 25 $
State Comptroller - Fringe
Benefits
1
GF - Cost Approximately
$225,000
Approximately
$225,000
Governmental
Accountability, Off.
GF - Cost Approximately
$500,000
Approximately
$500,000
Resource of the Opioid
Settlement Fund
Opioid
Settlement
Fund-
Potential Cost
See Below See Below
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
This bill has a significant and indeterminate cost by creating a new
state office within the Office of Government Accountability (OGA).
Comparing salaries and costs for similar executive specialized positions
such as the Office of the Child Advocate, the Office of the Victim
Advocate and the Contracting Standards Board Chair it is estimated that
this position would cost the state $216,471 in salary and benefits
annually. The bill also charges the Drug Policy Officer with hiring staff
to fulfill their duties. The staff of this office is likely to be a small,
specialized staff similar to several offices within OGA. To staff this
1
The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts
administered by the Comptroller. The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost
associated with most personnel changes is 42.82% of payroll in FY 24. 2023HB-06698-R000187-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
position similarly would require 2 Assistant Drug Policy Officers, 1
Office Manager and 1 Research Analyst. Similar positions and salary
and benefit costs are estimated to be around $540,000 annually. This
estimate may also be impacted by the staff sought by the person hired
to fill this position and may adjust in line with workload and need.
There may be other one-time or ongoing costs for technology, supplies,
travel and materials.
Sections 4 and 5 could result in a cost to the Opioid Settlement Fund
associated with expanding the peer navigator program. The cost to
support at least two peer navigators per community and meet the
requirements of the program is anticipated to be approximately
$150,000 to $175,000 per community. The extent of the cost to implement
the program statewide is dependent on the terms and conditions
established by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
(DMHAS) and the Chief Drug Policy Officer.
The Opioid Settlement Fund is a separate, nonlapsing fund
administered by a 37-member Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee
with assistance from DMHAS. Expenditures must be approved by the
Committee and used only in accordance with the controlling judgment,
consent decree, or settlement.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation and salary adjustments.