# Advisory Bodies

### **Has the state established an advisory body for settlement funds?**

**Yes.**

* The **Oversight Commission on Alabama Opioid Settlement Funds** was established by joint legislative resolution ([2023 AL HJR 204](https://legiscan.com/AL/bill/HJR204/2023)) in 2023. The Commission is responsible for developing “a statewide plan for the investment and use of opioid settlement funds” and reviewing settlement fund expenditures.\[1]
* The [**Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council**](https://mh.alabama.gov/faq/alabama-opioid-overdose-and-addiction-council/) was established by [Executive Order 708](https://governor.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EO-708-Establishing-the-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-Addiction-Council.pdf) in 2017. This body was responsible for developing and submitting a "strategic action plan” on combating the state’s overdose crisis to the governor, which they may periodically update as necessary.\[2] The Council is also responsible for annually reporting “a detailed evaluation of … initiatives undertaken to combat Alabama’s opioid-use epidemic.”\[3] While some prior reports of the Council have made detailed recommendations around the use of opioid settlement funds, this body has a broader focus than strictly opioid settlement funds.\[4]

### **Is the state advisory body required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience?**

**It depends.** Alabama [House Joint Resolution 204](https://legiscan.com/AL/bill/HJR204/2023) does *not* require the Oversight Commission on Alabama Opioid Settlement Funds to include a member with lived and/or living experience. However, the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council is required to include two individuals “in recovery from opioid addiction” appointed by the [Recovery Organization of Support Specialists](https://ross4u.org/).\[5] It must also include two family members of “people who are or have been addicted to opioids” appointed by the [Council on Substance Abuse – NCADD](https://cosancadd.org/).\[6]

### **What is the overall membership of the state advisory body?**

The **Oversight Commission on Alabama Opioid Settlement Fund** has 16 members and is intended to “be inclusive and reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state.”\[7] Members include:

* Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health or their designee
* Direction of the Board of Pardons and Paroles or their designee
* The State Health Officer or their designee
* The Director of Finance or their designee
* Three experts in “programs and services for opioid treatment and abatement,” appointed by the Attorney General, the Governor, and the Lieutenant Governor, respectively\[8]
* An expert in programs and services for opioid treatment and abatement for veterans, appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs
* Six members of the state legislature, including legislative leadership and their legislator-appointees\[9]

The [**Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council**](https://mh.alabama.gov/faq/alabama-opioid-overdose-and-addiction-council/) has over 50 members with a wide range of focus areas and expertise.\[10] Numerous state agencies are represented on the Council, as well as legislators and professional associations such as the Alabama Pharmacy Association and the Alabama District Attorneys’ Association.\[11] The Governor may also add members “as deemed appropriate.”\[12] Review the Council’s 2023 membership in its [2023 Annual Report](https://mh.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-and-Addiction-Council-Report-to-the-Governor.pdf#page=24).

### **Are local governments required to establish a settlement advisory body? If so, are local advisory bodies required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience?**

**No (up to each locality).** Local governments in Alabama are not required to establish opioid settlement advisory bodies to inform spending of the 50% local share. However, localities may choose to establish advisory councils that include members with lived and/or living experience to help ensure that settlement spending reflects community priorities.

### **What else should I know?**

**Not applicable.**

### **Citations**

1. 2023 AL House Joint Resolution 204, [Preamble](https://legiscan.com/AL/text/HJR204/id/2817389/Alabama-2023-HJR204-Enrolled.pdf). ↑
2. Alabama Exec. Or. No. 708, Secs. [2-3](https://governor.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EO-708-Establishing-the-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-Addiction-Council.pdf#page=2). ↑
3. Alabama Exec. Or. No. 708, Sec. [3](https://governor.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EO-708-Establishing-the-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-Addiction-Council.pdf#page=3). ↑
4. *See, e.g.*, the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council’s [2023 Annual Report](https://mh.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-and-Addiction-Council-Report-to-the-Governor.pdf) and [2022 Annual Report](https://mh.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2022-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-and-Addiction-Council-Report-to-Governor.pdf). ↑
5. Alabama Exec. Or. No. 708, Sec. [4(z)](https://governor.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EO-708-Establishing-the-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-Addiction-Council.pdf#page=4). ↑
6. Alabama Exec. Or. No. 708, Sec. [4(aa)](https://governor.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EO-708-Establishing-the-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-Addiction-Council.pdf#page=4). ↑
7. 2023 AL House Joint Resolution 204, Sec. [(b)](https://legiscan.com/AL/text/HJR204/id/2817389/Alabama-2023-HJR204-Enrolled.pdf#page=4). ↑
8. 2023 AL House Joint Resolution 204, Secs. [(a)(5)-(7)](https://legiscan.com/AL/text/HJR204/id/2817389/Alabama-2023-HJR204-Enrolled.pdf#page=3). ↑
9. The Speaker of the House of Representatives or their designee; the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or their designee; the Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation-General Fund Committee or their designee; the Chair of the House Ways and Means-General Fund Committee or their designee; two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; and two members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. 2023 AL House Joint Resolution 204, Secs. [(a)(9)-(14)](https://legiscan.com/AL/text/HJR204/id/2817389/Alabama-2023-HJR204-Enrolled.pdf). ↑
10. *See* Alabama Exec. Or. No. 708, Sec. [4(a)-(aa)](https://governor.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EO-708-Establishing-the-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-Addiction-Council.pdf#page=3). ↑
11. Alabama Exec. Or. No. 708, Sec. [4](https://governor.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EO-708-Establishing-the-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-Addiction-Council.pdf#page=3)[.](https://governor.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EO-708-Establishing-the-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-Addiction-Council.pdf) ↑
12. Alabama Exec. Or. No. 708, Sec. [4(bb)](https://governor.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EO-708-Establishing-the-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-Addiction-Council.pdf#page=4). For example, the most current membership of the Council also includes representation from, e.g., March of Dimes, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. *See* [Council’s 2023 Annual Report](https://mh.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-Alabama-Opioid-Overdose-and-Addiction-Council-Report-to-the-Governor.pdf#page=24). ↑