By: Huffman S.B. No. 1901
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund
Council and Texas Opioid Abatement Trust Fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 403.503, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:
(d-1) The voting members of the council serve for staggered
terms of six years, with the terms of four or five members, as
applicable, expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
SECTION 2. Subchapter R, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 403.5041 to read as follows:
Sec. 403.5041. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. (a) A council member
shall recuse himself or herself from participating in the review,
discussion, deliberation, or vote on an application for an award
under this subchapter if the council member knows that the council
member or a person who is related to the council member within the
first degree of affinity or consanguinity has a professional or
financial interest in an entity that is directly receiving or
applying to receive money from the council.
(b) The council by rule may adopt additional conflict of
interest standards to implement this section or to comply with
Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code.
SECTION 3. Section 403.506, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:
(d-1) The trust company may reallocate for the purposes
described by Subsection (c)(2)(B) money that was distributed or
should have been distributed under Subsection (c)(1) if a county or
municipality:
(1) does not deposit the money before the second
anniversary of the date on which the money was distributed; or
(2) submits in writing to the trust company a document
indicating that the municipality or county affirmatively forfeits
or refuses to accept the money.
SECTION 4. Section 403.509(c), Government Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 5. At the first meeting of the Texas Opioid
Abatement Fund Council that is held on or after the effective date
of this Act, the voting members of the council shall draw lots to
determine which four members will serve a term expiring February 1,
2027, which four members will serve a term expiring February 1,
2029, and which five members will serve a term expiring February 1,
2031.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.