Community Access

Can I provide input on spending?

• 45-55% state share: Yes (not required). Although there is no legal requirement for either the state or local governments to seek public input on the use of opioid settlement funds, Florida’s Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement has provided a dedicated opportunity for public comment at each of the meetings it has held.[1]

  • The Council also welcomed feedback on its 2023 report and recommendations via email ([e-mail]).[2]

  • Note: The Council advises both state and local governments on their uses of funds but does not have direct spending authority over any of Florida’s three shares.[3]

• 30-40% regional share: Up to each county or non-qualified county’s managing entity (not required). “There are 47 non-qualified counties that receive funding through the Managing Entities. A Managing Entity … plan[s] and manage[s] the daily operational delivery of behavioral health services through a coordinated system of care.”[4] Neither qualified counties nor non-qualified counties’ managing entities are required to seek public input on spending their share of settlement funds. However, each may choose to seek such input.

  • Note: Qualified counties are those who meet specified criteria (e.g., had a population of 300,000 or more, had an abatement plan as of December 31, 2021, entered into an interlocal agreement with municipalities representing a majority of the county’s population).[5] These 20 counties receive their monies directly.[6]

• 15% city/county share: Up to each locality (not required). Local governments are not required to seek public input on spending their share of settlement funds. However, each may choose to seek such input. For example, in Summer 2024 Pinellas County sought public input on the use of its opioid settlement funds through an online survey and a series of listening sessions.[7] Watch for similar opportunities to weigh in on city and county spending decisions, such as at city council meetings and town halls.

Can I apply for grants?

It depends. As of September 1, 2024, it is unclear whether the state has established any settlement-funded grant opportunities for which community organizations are eligible to apply. Local governments may create grant programs to distribute their share of funds. The existence, parameters, and processes for local settlement grant programs will vary by locality, so stay alert for new opportunities. Visit the Opioid Settlement Community Grants Portals (OpioidSettlementTracker.com and Legal Action Center) for the most up-to-date information on settlement grant opportunities for community organizations.

Where do I go for updates?

• For updates on all shares, visit the Department of Children and Families’ Florida Opioid Settlement website, which contains information about the Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement and its meetings (including upcoming dates and links to watch past meetings).

• To find updates on specific local shares, a good starting point is to check the websites for your county commission, city council, or local health department.

What else should I know?

Not applicable.

Citations

1. Legislation to create the Council was not enacted until June 2023, and its meetings began in September 2023. See 2023 FL HB 783. ↑

2. Virtual Meeting Minutes. Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement. November 6, 2023. ↑

3. Fla. Stat. Ann. Sec. 397.335(4)(a). ↑

4. 2023 Annual Report. Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement. December 1, 2023 (see “Utilization of the Regional Funds (Fiscal Year 2022-2023) by qualified counties” and “Utilization of the Regional Funds by non-qualified counties”). ↑

5. Fla. Stat. Ann. Sec. 17.42(4)(a)-(e); Florida Opioid Allocation and Statewide Response Agreement, Sec. A.16. ↑

6. 2023 Annual Report. Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement. December 1, 2023 (“The Regional Funds for the qualified counties do not flow through the Department or the Managing Entities”). ↑

7. Sarah Blazonies. Pinellas County seeks public’s input on opioid settlement funds. Spectrum News 9. June 7, 2024 (updated June 8, 2024). Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑