# Advisory Bodies

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

**Yes.** The [Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Opioid-Commission/Pages/default.aspx) (KYOAAC) was created by state law.\[1] The KYOAAC is responsible for awarding funds from the 50% Commonwealth share.\[2]

In addition to its grantmaking role,\[3] the KYOAAC is empowered to develop spending priorities,\[4] work with state agencies and other stakeholders to develop project metrics,\[5] recommend state or local policy changes,\[6] and create regulations to carry out its duties.\[7]

The KYOAAC has formed specialized subcommittees, including a Treatment and Recovery Subcommittee, as well as a Prevention, Reform, and Compliance Subcommittee.\[8]

The KYOAAC is required to meet at least twice each calendar year,\[9] though in practice it has [met more frequently](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Opioid-Commission/Pages/default.aspx),\[10] and its meetings must be conducted in accordance with Kentucky’s [Open Meetings Law](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Documents/2022%20-%20Open%20Records%20Open%20Meetings%20Guide.pdf).\[11]

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

**Not necessarily.** One appointee of the KYOAAC must represent “victims of the opioid crisis,”\[12] but the law does not say that person must themselves have lived and/or living experience. A list of KYOAAC members may be found [here](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Opioid-Commission/Pages/default.aspx).

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

The composition of KYOAAC’s nine (9) voting and two (2) non-voting members is defined by state law to include:\[13]

* State Attorney General or their designee, who serves as chair\[14]
* State Treasurer or their designee\[15]
* Secretary of the [Cabinet for Health and Family Services](https://www.chfs.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx) (CHFS) or their designee\[16]
* Member appointed by the University of Kentucky from its [HEALing Communities Study](https://healingstudy.uky.edu/) team\[17]
* Member appointed by the state Attorney General representing “victims of the opioid crisis”\[18]
* Member appointed by the state Attorney General representing “the drug treatment and prevention community”\[19]
* Member appointed by the state Attorney General representing law enforcement\[20]
* Two (2) citizens at large appointed by the state Attorney General\[21]
* Two (2) non-voting members appointed by the Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives and President of the Kentucky Senate, respectively\[22]

KYOAAC members’ terms are served concurrently with their respective offices (state Attorney General, Treasurer, and CHFS Secretary, or their designees), staggered two-year terms (the remaining six voting members), or at the pleasure of their appointing authorities (non-voting legislative appointees).\[23] Current KYOAAC members are listed [here](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Opioid-Commission/Pages/default.aspx).

### 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 Kentucky 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?

The Kentucky Attorney General (AG) exercises a notable level of influence over the KYOAAC’s composition. In addition to serving as a voting Chair, the AG appoints five of the remaining eight voting members.\[24]

### Citations

1. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(1). ↑
2. Ky. Rev. Stat. Secs. 15.291(5). ↑
3. *See* [KYOAAC Grant Portal](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Priorities/Tackling-the-Drug-Epidemic/Pages/Opioid-Abatement-Advisory-Commission-.aspx) and [Real Dollars for Real Recovery](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Priorities/Tackling-the-Drug-Epidemic/Pages/Opioid-Abatement-Grants-Map.aspx) grants map. ↑
4. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(6)(b). ↑
5. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(6)(c). ↑
6. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(6)(d). ↑
7. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(7)(b). ↑
8. *See* various subcommittee minutes [here](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Opioid-Commission/Pages/default.aspx). ↑
9. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(4)(b). ↑
10. *See, e.g.*, Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (“[2024 Meeting Schedule](https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Opioid-Commission/Pages/default.aspx)”). Kentucky Attorney General website. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑
11. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(4)(a). ↑
12. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(2)(a)(5). ↑
13. Ky. Rev. Stat. Secs. 15.291(2)(a)-(b). *See also* [Attorney General Coleman Announces Appointments to Opioid Commission](https://www.kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=AttorneyGeneral\&prId=1595). Kentucky Attorney General press release. July 2, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024 (“The Commission is comprised of nine voting and two non-voting members including stakeholders from the prevention and treatment community, law enforcement and victims of the drug crisis”). ↑
14. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(2)(a)(1). ↑
15. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(2)(a)(2). ↑
16. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(2)(a)(3). ↑
17. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(2)(a)(4). ↑
18. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(2)(a)(5). ↑
19. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(2)(a)(6). ↑
20. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(2)(a)(7). ↑
21. Ky. Rev. Stat. Sec. 15.291(2)(a)(8). ↑
22. Ky. Rev. Stat. Secs. 15.291(2)(b)(1)-(2). ↑
23. Ky. Rev. Stat. Secs. 15.291(3)(a)-(b), (2)(b). ↑
24. Ky. Rev. Stat. Secs. 15.291(3)(a)(1), (5)-(8). ↑