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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6698
AN ACT CONCERNING DRUG POLICY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
PEER SUPPORT SERVICES.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Services (DMHAS) commissioner to replace current law’s peer
navigator pilot program for people with opioid use disorder with a
statewide program. It opens the program to any community that opts to
participate and requires the commissioner to use any available funds in
the Opioid Settlement Fund (see BACKGROUND ) to pay for
administering it.
The bill also establishes an Office of the Chief Drug Policy Officer,
overseen by the chief drug policy (CDP) officer. Under the bill, the office
serves as the central point of contact for the statewide peer navigator
program and a centralized location for collecting and analyzing
information on services provided to people with substance use
disorders and their families. The bill places the office within the Office
of Governmental Accountability (OGA) and makes technical and
conforming changes (see BACKGROUND).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
STATEWIDE PEER NAVIG ATOR PROGRAM
Current law requires the DMHAS commissioner to establish a pilot
program in up to five urban, suburban, and rural communities to serve
people with opioid use disorder. Among other things, each
participating community must form a team of two peer navigators.
The bill instead requires the commissioner, by January 1, 2024, to
replace the pilot program with a statewide peer navigator program in
all communities that choose to participate. In doing so, she must use 2023HB-06698-R000187-BA.DOCX
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available funds from the Opioid Settlement Fund and consult with the
CDP officer.
As under current law, each participating community must form a
team of at least two peer navigators who must, among other things, (1)
travel throughout the community to address the health care and social
needs of people with opioid use disorder and (2) complete regularly
updated training on non-coercive and non-stigmatizing methods for
engaging them. Under the bill, the DMHAS commissioner consults with
the CDP officer to determine the training.
As under existing law, a “peer navigator” is a person with experience
working with people with substance use disorder who (1) provides
nonmedical mental health care and substance use services and (2) has a
collaborative relationship with health care professionals authorized to
prescribe medications to treat opioid use disorder.
Annual Report
The bill requires the DMHAS commissioner and CDP officer to
submit a report annually beginning by January 1, 2025, to the General
Law and Public Health committees on the success of the statewide
program serving people with opioid use disorder.
CHIEF DRUG POLICY OFFICER
The bill establishes an Office of the Chief Drug Policy Officer within
OGA and overseen by the CDP officer. This officer is appointed by the
governor subject to the legislature’s approval, serves a four-year term or
until the next successor is appointed and has qualified, and may be
reappointed.
The bill requires that this officer be knowledgeable about substance
use disorders and the services provided to people with substance use
disorders and their families. The officer must act independently of other
state agencies in doing his or her duties, regardless of conflicting laws.
Duties
Within available appropriations, the officer must:
1. appoint and direct necessary staff to fulfill the office’s mission; 2023HB-06698-R000187-BA.DOCX
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2. ensure that the office serves as (a) the central point of contact for
the state-wide peer navigator program (see above) and (b) a
centralized location for collecting information concerning
services provided to people with substance use disorders and
their families;
3. advise the public concerning the office’s purpose, contact
information, and services;
4. evaluate the services that state agencies and other entities
provide to people with substance use disorders and their families
and how they are provided, as well as receive and investigate
complaints as deemed prudent about their actions;
5. encourage coordination between state agencies in providing
services to people and families in order to prevent and eliminate
duplicated efforts and save the state money;
6. recommend changes to state policies on substance use disorders,
including changes in systems used to provide services to people
and families; and
7. conduct public education programs, undertake legislative
advocacy, and make proposals for systemic reform concerning
substance use disorders and services provided to people and
families.
Annual Report
The bill requires the CDP officer to submit a report annually by
January 31 to the governor and General Law, Public Health, and
Judiciary committees detailing and analyzing his or her work during the
preceding calendar year.
BACKGROUND
Related Bills
SB 1163, reported favorably by the Public Safety Committee,
authorizes the Opioid Settlement Fund’s monies to be used to equip
police officers with opioid antagonists. 2023HB-06698-R000187-BA.DOCX
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sHB 6696, reported favorably by the General Law Committee, (1)
requires Connecticut-licensed pharmacists, when dispensing an opioid
drug, to provide patients a free personal opioid drug deactivation and
disposal product and (2) authorizes pharmacists to seek reimbursement
from the Opioid Settlement Fund for these costs.
sHB 6718, reported favorably by the Children’s Committee,
appropriates $400,000 from the Opioid Settlement Fund in FY 24 for
costs of distributing pharmacy warning stickers and labels for opioid
drugs.
Office of Governmental Accountability
By law, OGA consists of independent divisions for which it provides
consolidated personnel, payroll, affirmative action, and administrative
and business office functions, including information technology
associated with these functions. (In practice, the Department of
Administrative Services performs these functions for OGA.) These
divisions have independent decision-making authority, including the
ability to make decisions on budgetary issues and employing necessary
staff.
Opioid Settlement Fund (CGS § 17a-674b et seq.)
PA 22-48 established the Opioid Settlement Fund as a separate non-
lapsing fund administered by a 37-member Opioid Settlement Advisory
Committee with assistance from DMHAS. The fund must contain
moneys the state receives from opioid-related judgements, consent
decrees, and settlements and can only be used following their
provisions, as confirmed by the attorney general and after the Opioid
Settlement Advisory Committee’s and the Office of Policy and
Management secretary’s approval.
COMMITTEE ACTION
General Law Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 22 Nay 0 (03/07/2023)