# Advisory Bodies

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

**Yes.** Though the state government has not established an advisory body to inform uses of its 1/3 share, the [Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership](https://www.arorp.org/about/) (ARORP) — a partnership between the Arkansas Municipal League and Arkansas Association of Counties — was created by the [cities](https://www.arorp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cities-Distribution-Agreement-without-exhibits.pdf) and [counties](https://www.arorp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Counties-Distribution-Agreement-without-exhibits.pdf) distribution agreements to oversee their combined 2/3 share of opioid settlement funds.\[1] The distribution agreements require the [ARORP Advisory Board](https://www.arorp.org/our-team/) to “study proposals and make recommendations . . . regarding programs and strategies to abate the Arkansas opioid epidemic.”\[2]

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

**No.** Though there are no published rules requiring the [ARORP Advisory Board](https://www.arorp.org/our-team/) to include a member with lived and/or living experience, its [website](https://www.arorp.org/our-team/) describes its members as “intentionally selected to represent people with lived experience and a diversity of geographic regions, economic sectors, and demographics.”\[3]

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

The [ARORP Advisory Board](https://www.arorp.org/our-team/) is required to have an equal number of members appointed by the Director of the Arkansas Municipal League and the Director of the Arkansas Association of Counties.\[4] As of September 1, 2024, the Advisory Board had 12 members representing a mix of backgrounds, including law enforcement, judges, clinicians, and a youth advocate. Current members of the ARORP Advisory Board are listed [here](https://www.arorp.org/our-team/).

### **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 Arkansas, whose combined 2/3 share of funds are overseen by the [Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership](https://www.arorp.org/about/) (ARORP), are not each required to establish individual opioid settlement advisory bodies. However, localities may independently 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. [About Us](https://www.arorp.org/about/). Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership website. Accessed September 1, 2024 (“The cities and counties distribution agreements (substantively the same), under which the cities and counties formed ARORP together and established a mission statement, guidelines for ARORP, and guidelines for applicants. The city/county distribution agreements are exhibits to the MOU”). ↑
2. [Cities Distribution Agreement, Sec. 5](https://www.arorp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cities-Distribution-Agreement-without-exhibits.pdf#page=3); [Counties Distribution Agreement, Sec. 5](https://www.arorp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cities-Distribution-Agreement-without-exhibits.pdf#page=3). *See also* [Our Board](https://www.arorp.org/our-team/). Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership website. Accessed September 1, 2024 ↑
3. [Our Board](https://www.arorp.org/our-team/). Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership website. Accessed September 1, 2024 (emphasis added). ↑
4. [Cities Distribution Agreement, Sec. 5](https://www.arorp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cities-Distribution-Agreement-without-exhibits.pdf#page=3); [Counties Distribution Agreement, Sec. 5](https://www.arorp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cities-Distribution-Agreement-without-exhibits.pdf#page=3). ↑


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