Summary of House Bill 460
Bill Number: HB 460
Title: Appropriations, supplemental appropriations from the Opioid Treatment and Abatement Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025
Status: Enacted
Introduced: March 19, 2025
Effective Date: June 1, 2025
Purpose and Intent
House Bill 460 aims to address the ongoing opioid crisis by providing supplemental appropriations from the Opioid Treatment and Abatement Fund. The bill allocates a total of $41,059,071 for various programs and initiatives aimed at prevention, treatment, and recovery related to opioid use and addiction for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.
Key Provisions
The bill specifies the allocation of funds to various entities as follows:
- Department of Corrections: $900,000 for curriculum development, peer support, addiction counseling, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
- Board of Pardons and Paroles: $120,000 for passenger vans to expand opioid treatment programs.
- Department of Mental Health: $27,860,000, which includes:
- $2,000,000 for Medicaid State Match
- $1,000,000 for residential detox
- $1,000,000 for purchasing Naloxone
- $3,500,000 for the 988 Crisis Line
- $8,930,000 for prevention, treatment, and recovery grants
- $5,000,000 for co-occurring civil commitment beds
- $1,300,000 for a statewide marketing campaign
- $130,000 for medical education by the Alabama Society of Addiction Medicine
- $5,000,000 to establish a dedicated opioid treatment center.
- Auburn University: $1,000,000 for the expansion of the School of Pharmacy and related education programs.
- University of Alabama at Birmingham: $1,000,000 for residencies in psychiatry focused on substance abuse.
- USA Health University of South Alabama: $1,000,000 for training primary care providers in screening for opioid dependency.
- Department of Public Health: $500,000 for rapid response to overdose outbreaks.
- Administrative Office of Courts for Mental Health: $3,000,000 for Mental Health, Veterans, and Drug Courts Grant Program.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: $1,500,000 for the Veterans Pilot Program.
- Department of Human Resources: $500,000 for a grant program aimed at at-risk youth.
- Office of Prosecution Services: $2,600,000 for opioid prevention programs and related costs.
- Department of Forensic Sciences: $800,000 for fentanyl testing technology.
- Department of Senior Services: $279,071 for the Kinship Caregiver Pilot Program.
Fund Carryover
The bill stipulates that any unspent funds at the end of the fiscal year will not revert but will be carried forward for the purposes appropriated.
Impact
This legislation is expected to significantly enhance the state's capacity to combat the opioid crisis through targeted funding for treatment, prevention, and education initiatives. The diverse range of allocated funds aims to support various sectors, including healthcare, education, and law enforcement, thereby addressing the multifaceted nature of opioid addiction.
Procedural Timeline
- March 19, 2025: Bill introduced and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means General Fund.
- April 1, 2025: Reported out of committee and read for the second time.
- April 3, 2025: Passed in the House.
- April 15, 2025: Read in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund.
- April 29, 2025: Passed in the Senate and enrolled.
- May 1, 2025: Delivered to the Governor for signature.
- May 6, 2025: Enacted into law.
This summary provides a comprehensive overview of House Bill 460, detailing its purpose, key provisions, and expected impact on addressing the opioid crisis in Alabama.
