Yes. There are two state-level advisory bodies:
Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board. Illinois’ Allocation Agreement required the creation of the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board (IORAB),[1] and the IORAB was formally established by executive order in 2022.[2] The IORAB is a sub-committee of the Opioid Overdose Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee (Steering Committee),[3] and its role is to provide “non-binding recommendations regarding the administration and distribution of the Illinois Remediation Fund.”[4] These recommendations are presented to the greater Steering Committee, which is ultimately responsible for making “the final determination as to the uses of Fund monies.”[5]
“Equitable allocation.” When recommending expenditures, the IORAB is required to work toward “ensur[ing] an equitable allocation of resources to all parts of the State” by taking rates of overdose death, opioid use disorder (OUD) rates, and other factors into account.[6]
Working groups. The IORAB may establish working groups to support its efforts.[7] Working groups are chaired by IORAB members and may contain both IORAB members and other individuals appointed by the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services “in consultation with” the Illinois Attorney General.[8] As of September 1, 2024, the IORAB has three working groups: the Access & Equity Workgroup,[9] the Medical & Research Workgroup,[10] and the Workforce Development & Infrastructure Workgroup.[11] Details on prior and upcoming meetings of these workgroups are available on their respective websites, and all provide space for public participation.
OOSA. The Office of Opioid Settlement Administration (OOSA), housed within the Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Substance Use, Prevention and Recovery, supports the IORAB with its duties.[12] The OOSA is responsible for presenting to the IORAB an “integrated and complementary approach to opioid use disorder and reduce and address trauma within [Illinois’] communities,” and to use technical assistance providers to engage “individuals with lived expertise, subject-matter experts, and other interested parties to develop a comprehensive [opioid abatement] plan for [IORAB’s] consideration.”[13]
Term limits. Excepting certain initial appointments, terms for IORAB members are generally four years.[14]
Opioid Overdose Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee. The Opioid Overdose Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee (Steering Committee) was established by executive order in 2020 in order to guide the work of the Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council (Council), to liaise between Council stakeholders and the governor’s office, and to oversee the implementation of the Statewide Opioid Action Plan (SOAP).[15] The Steering Committee receives non-binding recommendations from the IORAB and makes the ultimate decisions on expenditures from the 55% Remediation Fund Share.[16]
Duties beyond opioid settlements. More broadly, the Steering Committee’s duties include working with state agencies and other stakeholders to establish local recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC) councils in communities disproportionately impacted by the overdose crisis, evaluating existing and recommending new harm reduction strategies for inclusion in subsequent SOAPs, working with the Council’s Opioid Social Equity Committee to address social and racial disparities, and creating a comprehensive website that consolidates state agencies’ OUD resources, among other duties.[17]
Term limits. Steering Committee members are not subject to explicit term limits.
It varies.
The Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board: No. The IORAB is not required to include a member with lived and/or living experience.[18]
Opioid Overdose Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee: Yes. The Steering Committee must include “[a] person with lived experience of OUD, to be appointed by the Governor and compensated appropriately for their time devoted to the work of the Steering Committee.”[19]
The Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board (IORAB) has up to 16 voting members and 11 non-voting ex-officio members, all of whom are described in Executive Order No. 2022-19.[20] The current roster of IORAB’s voting members can be found here.
The 11 non-voting members are directors of state agencies or appointees of legislative leadership.[21]
Of the voting members, half are state appointments and half are representatives of local governments, one of whom must be from the City of Chicago. State appointments are made by the Attorney General in consultation with the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services; local government representatives are appointed by the Attorney General from each of the seven Illinois Department of Public Health regions.[22]
The seven-member Opioid Overdose Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee's membership is described Executive Order No. 2020-02. The current roster of the Steering Committee can be reviewed here. Each of its seven (7) members are derived from Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council:
Lieutenant Governor or their designee[23]
Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services or their designee[24]
Directors of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and Illinois State Police or their designees[25]
“One of the [Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory] Council Committee Chairs, to serve as the Council representative, elected by the Council”[26] (Council membership and committees may be found here)
A person with lived experience of OUD who is appointed by the Governor[27]
No (up to each locality). Local governments in Illinois are not required to establish opioid settlement advisory bodies to recommend uses of their combined 25-33% share. 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.
Not applicable.
Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement, Sec. 3.A(c). ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 4. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 4. ↑
Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement, Sec. 3.A(c); Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 4. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 4. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 6; Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement, Sec. 3.A(c). ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 7. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 7. ↑
IORAB Access & Equity Workgroup. Illinois Department of Human Services website. Accessed September 1, 2024 (“The Access & Equity Working Group's purpose is to provide recommendations to the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board regarding social and historical factors that impact access to affirming and culturally competent programs, practices, and policies intended to serve communities experiencing disparities in opioid use, overdoses, and other substance use disorders to make systemic changes for optimal health”). ↑
IORAB Medical & Research Working Group. Illinois Department of Human Services website. Accessed September 1, 2024 (“The Medical & Research working group's purpose is to provide recommendations to the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board regarding allocation of the opioid settlement fund. The mission of the Medical & Research working group is to determine the best evidence-based treatments and emerging medical practices for opioid use and other substance use disorders through analysis of current and relevant data and to implement a systemic framework that distributes resources to at-risk populations to maximize positive outcomes and reduce health inequities and/or disparities associated with racial, socio-economic, geographical, and other social determinants of health”). ↑
Workforce Development & Infrastructure Workgroup. Illinois Department of Human Services website. Accessed September 1, 2024 (“This working group will discuss, assess, and make recommendations on strategies that could reduce behavioral health workforce shortages as well as promote equitable organizational practices to the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board (IORAB). The group will make recommendations to the IORAB specific to workforce development and infrastructure. Recommendations must align with the SOAP priorities and/or the opioid abatement strategies outlined in the Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement”). ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Secs. 2, 4. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Secs. 6, 8. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 5. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2020-02, Sec. II. The Steering Committee, originally set to sunset on September 30, 2023, was subsequently renewed by Illinois Exec. Order No. 2023-08. The most recent SOAP is from 2022 and can be found here. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 4. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2020-02, Sec. III. The Steering Committee, originally set to sunset on September 30, 2023, was subsequently renewed by Illinois Exec. Order No. 2023-08. ↑
See Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 5. ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2020-02, Sec. IV(1)(g) (subsequently renewed by Illinois Exec. Order No. 2023-08). ↑
See Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 5. ↑
Illinois Attorney General or their designee; Chief Behavioral Health Officer or designee (serves as non-voting Chair); Secretary of Illinois Department of Human Services or designee; Director of Illinois Department of Public Health or designee; Director of Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services or designee; Director of Illinois State Police or designee; Director of Illinois Department of Corrections or designee; Two members of the Illinois House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House and the other by the House Minority Leader; Two members of the Illinois Senate, one appointed by the Senate President and the other by the Senate Minority Leader. Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 5(1)-(11). ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2022-19, Sec. 5 (“The remaining seven (7) representatives from participating local governments shall be appointed by the Attorney General as set forth in the Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement effective December 30, 2021 and representing local governments from each of the seven (7) Illinois Department of Public Health regions”); Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement, Sec. 3.A(c) (“The Attorney General or his delegate shall appoint the members of the Remediation Fund Advisory Board at his sole discretion, provided that at least one half (1/2) of the voting members of the Advisory Board shall be representatives of the [participating local governments] as determined by the [participating local governments]”). ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2020-02, Sec. IV(1)(a). ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2020-02, Sec. IV(1)(b). ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2020-02, Sec. IV(1)(c)-(e). ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2020-02, Sec. IV(1)(f). ↑
Illinois Exec. Order No. 2020-02, Sec. IV(1)(g). ↑