Community Access

Can I provide input on spending?

• 85% state share: Yes (not required). Though the NH Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is not legally required to seek public input, the Commission has included a dedicated public comment period during its meetings,[1] which are typically held once per month.[2]

  • The Commission is required to maintain its “minutes, attendance rolls and votes, including records of all votes on funding requests, funding awards, and reports of funding by recipients” on its website,[3] which also hosts upcoming meeting dates and agendas.

  • You can also attend meetings of the Governor's Commission on Alcohol & Other Drugs,[4] with which the Commission is required to coordinate.[5], [6]

• 15% local share: Up to each locality (not required). Local governments are not required to seek public input on uses of their shares. However, each may choose to seek such input. Watch for 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 NH Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission has offered grants from the 85% state share in the past.[7] 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 Portal (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 Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission’s website, which includes upcoming meeting dates, including virtual attendance details, and past meeting materials.

• To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your city council, board of county commissioners, or local health department.

What else should I know?

Not applicable.

Citations

1. See, e.g., July 8, 2024 agenda. There is no legal requirement for New Hampshire to receive community input on the use of the 85% state share. Additionally, although the NH Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission must comply with New Hampshire’s open meetings law, the statute does not require public bodies to allow public comments or public participation in a meeting. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. Sec. 126-A:85(VI) ("Meetings of the advisory commission shall be conducted in accordance with RSA 91-A and take place no less than twice per year”) and N.H. Code R. He-C 1001.05(a) (reiterating the same). ↑

2. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. Sec. 126-A:85(VI) and Meeting Information & Related Documents. New Hampshire Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

3. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. Sec. 126-A:86(III) (“The commission shall create and maintain a website on which it shall publish its minutes, attendance rolls and votes, including records of all votes on funding requests, funding awards, and reports of funding by recipients”). See also N.H. Code R. He-C 1001.05(b) (“Notice of the time and place of each meeting shall be posted on the commission's internet webpage, in the department's brown building lobby, and in the legislative office building”); N.H. Code R. He-C 1001.06 (addressing Commission records). ↑

4. The Governor's Commission on Alcohol & Other Drugs is responsible for advising the governor and state legislature on the “delivery of effective and coordinated substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services throughout the state.” The Governor's Commission on Alcohol & Other Drugs. New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

5. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. Sec. 126-A:86(I). ↑

6. Commission meetings are open to the public and held at the NH State House Executive Council Chamber (Room 207) 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH. The Governor's Commission on Alcohol & Other Drugs. DHHS. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

7. See, e.g., RGA-2023-DBH-01-OPIOI: Opioid Abatement Programs. DHHS Division of Behavioral Health (on behalf of the NH Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission). Accessed September 1, 2024. This grant opportunity closed in September 2022. ↑