SB 2726

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-153-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE THE TERMS "SETTLEMENT FUNDS" AND "FUND"; TO PROVIDE THAT THE LEGISLATURE MAY DETERMINE WHICH OF THE APPLICANTS FROM THE LIST OF RECOMMENDED GRANT RECIPIENTS RECEIVED FROM THE MISSISSIPPI OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL RECEIVE SETTLEMENT FUNDS AND THE AMOUNT EACH APPLICANT SHALL RECEIVE, IF ANY, BY SEPARATE LINE ITEMS IN AN APPROPRIATION BILL; TO REQUIRE THE ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHEN DEVELOPING PRIORITIES TO GUIDE THE SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS, TO ALIGN WITH CERTAIN STRATEGY PILLARS FOR ADDRESSING OPIOID USE DISORDER AND OVERDOSE; TO DIRECT THE ADVISORY COUNCIL, BY AND THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO SOLICIT AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH A QUALIFIED THIRD PARTY TO CREATE AND ADMINISTER AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR THE SUBMISSION OF GRANT PROPOSALS, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GRANT APPLICANTS IN SUBMITTING SUCH PROPOSALS, PROVIDE AN INITIAL INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION, SCORING AND CATEGORIZATION OF PROPOSALS USING STANDARDIZED CRITERIA, GRANT ADMINISTRATION AND PROVIDE OUTCOME MONITORING, INCLUDING THE REVIEW OF QUARTERLY REPORTS AND OTHER NECESSARY DATA, AND THE REPORTING OF SUCH DATA TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TO THE PUBLIC ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S WEBSITE; TO PROHIBIT A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL FROM, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, INFLUENCING, SEEKING TO INFLUENCE, VOTING ON, OR PARTICIPATING IN THE RECOMMENDATION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS OR THE RECOMMENDATION TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANY ORGANIZATION WITH WHICH THE MEMBER HAS AN AFFILIATION; TO REQUIRE A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL TO RECUSE ON SUCH MATTERS; TO CONFORM THE QUORUM REQUIREMENT OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL; TO REVISE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO SETTLEMENT FUNDS; TO REENACT SECTION 27-103-305, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND; TO DIRECT THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN FUNDS INTO THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.