Community Access

Can I provide input on spending?

• 50% state share: Yes (required). Pursuant to the Michigan Open Meetings Act and according to its bylaws, the Opioid Advisory Commission (OAC) is required to include the opportunity for public comment in its meetings,[1] which must take place at least quarterly but in practice have occurred about every other month.[2]

  • Community Impact Survey. The OAC has also issued a survey intended to “include community voices — especially individuals and families who have been directly impacted — in conversations around planning and use of state opioid settlement funds.”[3]

  • Virtual listening sessions and regional events. The OAC links to past virtual listening sessions and regional events on its website (under “Community Voices”).[4] Keep an eye out for future programming,[5] and subscribe to OAC meeting notifications by emailing this address: [e-mail].[6]

  • Community Engagement and Planning Collaborative (CEPC). The OAC has also convened an advisory group to support and advise on “key priority areas related to community engagement and health equity.”[7]

  • “Feedback or questions.” The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) has an opioid settlements website, and has stated that “[f]eedback or questions regarding the opioid settlements and investments or the MDHHS opioids settlements website may be directed to [e-mail].”[8]

  The Michigan Opioids Task Force's meetings include dedicated public comment periods as well.[9] The Task force is subject to the Michigan Open Meetings Act and must hold at least four public meetings per year.[10] It is also required to “promote stakeholder participation,”[11] and its activities may include engaging in “outreach to ensure all stakeholders in impacted areas are informed, educated, and empowered.”[12]

• 50% local share: Generally, yes. Though local governments are not required to seek public input as to opioid settlement spending specifically, Michigan’s Open Meetings Act requires public bodies to accept public comment at their meetings.[13] Each locality may choose to seek public input beyond this requirement. For example, the Board of Commissioners in Kalamazoo County established an Opioid Settlement Fund Task Force by resolution, which meets regularly and receives feedback from members of the public.[14] Berrien County’s Opioid Settlement Taskforce similarly provides that its “[c]ommunity members are encouraged to reach out with questions, concerns or feedback regarding opioid settlements or the Opioid Settlement Taskforce.”[15] Watch for other opportunities to weigh in on city and county spending decisions, such as city council meetings and town halls.

Can I apply for grants?

Yes. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has established settlement-funded grant opportunities for which community organizations are eligible to apply. Visit their Settlement Spending page to view current funding opportunities. Local governments also 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 the state share, visit the OAC’s website, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) Opioid Settlements page, and the Michigan Opioid Task Force’s page. You can also subscribe to OAC meeting notifications by emailing [e-mail] and sign up for updates from MDHHS’ Opioid Task Force here.

• For updates on the local share, visit the Michigan Association of Counties’ Opioid Settlement Resource Center Dashboard, which describes counties’ funded plans and strategies, and the Michigan Attorney General’s Opioids website, which contains an Opioid Settlement Funds Implementation in Action section describing certain localities’ uses of funds.[16] Another way to find updates on the local share is to check the websites for your county commission, city council, or local health department (e.g., Berrien County, Cass County, Calhoun County, Kalamazoo County).

What else should I know?

Not applicable.

Citations

1. Bylaws, Art. VIII. Michigan Opioid Advisory Commission. August 31, 2022 (“Pursuant to Michigan’s Open Meetings Act, individuals may express their opinions on Commission matters. … For a Commission agenda item, the Commission will ask if any member of the public wishes to make a comment before the Commission. … Comments shall pertain to a topic or topics which might normally come before the Commission”). See also Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. Secs. 4.1851(10) ("The opioid advisory commission shall conduct its business in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275”); 15.263(5) (“A person must be permitted to address a meeting of a public body under rules established and recorded by the public body”). For background on the requirements of the Michigan Open Meeting Act, consult this resource. ↑

2. Opioid Advisory Commission (“Meeting Minutes”). Michigan Legislative Council website. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

3. Community Voices. Michigan Opioid Advisory Commission. Accessed September 1, 2024. The survey received over 1,000 responses. See Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian and Amy Epkey. Fiscal Year 2025 Opioid Settlement Budget, Slide 8 (“Community Engagement Efforts”). Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. February 28, 2024. ↑

4. Opioid Advisory Commission (“Community Voices”). Michigan Legislative Council website. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

5. For example, in February 2024, MDHHS noted that “[m]any more opportunities [are] soon to be announced, including listening session series.” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian and Amy Epkey. Fiscal Year 2025 Opioid Settlement Budget, Slide 8 (“Community Engagement Efforts”). Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. February 28, 2024. ↑

6. No subject line or additional content is necessary. ↑

7. As of September 1, 2024, members are listed as “coming soon.” Opioid Advisory Commission (“Community Voices”). Michigan Legislative Council website. Accessed September 1, 2024. See also Community Engagement & Planning Collaborative Charter. Michigan Opioid Advisory Commission. October, 12 2023. ↑

8. State of Michigan is a leader in addressing opioid addiction. Michigan Department of Health & Human Services press release. October 26, 2023 (“The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has launched an opioid settlements website as part of its continued effort to provide up-to-date information about how opioid settlements funds are being invested to support programs and resources that benefit Michiganders, local communities and stakeholders”). ↑

9. See, e.g., March 13, 2024 Approved Minutes. Michigan Opioids Task Force. Accessed September 1, 2024. See also 2023 MDHHS Opioid Annual Report. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed September 1, 2024 (“The OAC is a legislative commission, whereas the Executive branch called for the formation of the Michigan Opioids Task Force. The OAC is tasked to review initiatives/activities related to SUD services and establish priorities to address SUD/co-occurring conditions for purpose of recommending funding initiatives to the legislature. The Michigan Opioids Task Force is charged with identifying root causes of the opioid epidemic and implementing response actions. The OAC reports to the Legislative Council Administrator and overall purpose is to advise the legislature, whereas the Michigan Opioids Task Force reports to MDHHS. The OAC’s role is advisory. The Michigan Opioids Task Force will be required to report to the Governor regularly and will be expected to issue an annual report”). ↑

10. Michigan Executive Order 2022-12, Sec. 3(a). ↑

11. Michigan Executive Order 2022-12, Sec. 3(d). ↑

12. Michigan Executive Order 2022-12, Sec. 2(c)(6). ↑

13. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. Sec. 15.263(5) ("A person must be permitted to address a meeting of a public body under rules established and recorded by the public body"). For background on the requirements of the Michigan Open Meeting Act, consult this resource (see, e.g., "under Michigan’s OMA, public bodies must provide time during the public meeting to permit the members of the public in attendance an opportunity to address the public body"). ↑

14. Resolution Establishing the Kalamazoo County Opioid Settlement Fund Task Force. Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. October 3, 2023; Opioid Settlements (“Opioid Settlement Fund Task Force”). Kalamazoo County Government website. Accessed September 1, 2024 (“The 17-member Task Force meets the first Wednesday of every month from 11:30-12:30 in the Board Chambers and available virtually”). See, e.g., Notice and Agenda for Opioid Settlement Fund Task Force August 7, 2024 Meeting. Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners (“Public Comment” as agenda item #4); Notice and Agenda for Opioid Settlement Fund Task Force September 4, 2024 Meeting. Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners (same). ↑

15. Berrien County Opioid Settlement Taskforce. Berrien County website. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

16. As of June 2024, this section of the Michigan Attorney General’s Opioids website hosted information about certain counties’ plans for and uses of settlement funds, i.e., Monroe County Opioid Analytics Dashboard, Berrien County: Opioid Settlement Taskforce, Calhoun County: Use of Opioid Settlement Funds, Eaton County: Strategic Plan, Kalamazoo County: Allocation of Settlement Funds, Lenawee County: Opioid Action Plan, Monroe County: Opioid Analytics Dashboard, and Montcalm County: Public Services. ↑