Advisory Bodies
Has the state established an advisory body for settlement funds?
Yes. The Utah Opioid Task Force’s 17-member Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee (OSAC) is tasked with providing guidance on effective uses of opioid settlement funds to state and local leaders.[1] The OSAC is part of the Utah Opioid Task Force, which was formed within the Utah Attorney General’s office in 2017.[2]
Is the state advisory body required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience?
Not applicable. There are no formal legal mechanisms governing the composition or operation of the OSAC, meaning there are no specific requirements to include members with specific types of expertise or experience.
What is the overall membership of the state advisory body?
The OSAC currently has 17 members and is comprised of experts from a range of fields related to the overdose crisis, e.g., public health, harm reduction, justice system, pharmacy, lived experience.[3] Current OSAC members can be found on the Utah Opioid Task Force’s website.
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 Utah are not required to establish opioid settlement advisory bodies. 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
See Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Utah Opioid Task Force website. Accessed September 1, 2024. See also Utah Opioid Crisis Response Blueprint. Utah Opioid Task Force Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. January 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024 (“The [Committee] is composed of subject matter experts from a broad range of fields and has the singular task of providing guidance on utilizing settlement funds expected from various opioid litigations”). ↑
Who is the Committee? Utah Opioid Task Force website. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑
See Utah Opioid Crisis Response Blueprint - A Roadmap for Opioid Settlement Investments: County, Municipality, and Statewide Stakeholders Utah Opioid Task Force Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. January 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. ("Areas of expertise represented include: Treatment and Recovery, Addiction Medicine, Treatment Systems, Public Health, Harm Reduction, Law Enforcement/Public Safety, Legal and Justice Systems, Pharmacy, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Health Systems, Education, Public Policy, Opioid Overdose Prevention, Family Members, and Lived Experience with Substance Use”). ↑
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