Community Access

Can I provide input on spending?

• 46.11% 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. For example, Lewis County issued a survey to collect public input for its Community Services Board’s subcommittees to use to determine priorities for the county’s grant program.[1] Watch for other opportunities to weigh in on city and county spending decisions, such as city council meetings and town halls.

• 36.39% Opioid Settlement Fund share: Yes (not required). The Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board (OSFAB) includes a dedicated public comment period at each of its meetings.[2] Visit the OSFAB’s website to find upcoming meeting dates and agendas. These agendas show that the OSFAB typically invites public comment towards the end of each meeting.[3] The OSFAB is required to meet at least quarterly,[4] although it has historically met more frequently.[5] Review the OSFAB’s public participation guidelines here.

  • Community calls. The New York Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) also holds periodic community calls related to opioid settlement spending. Find upcoming meeting dates and view materials and recordings from past meetings under “Community Input” on OASAS’ Opioid Settlement Funding Initiatives website.

• 17.5% state share: No opportunities available (not required). The state has not established recurring opportunities for the public to provide input on uses of its 17.5% share.[6]

Can I apply for grants?

Yes. Visit OASAS’ Opioid Settlement Funding Initiatives website and scroll down to “Open Projects” to see current grant opportunities from the 36.39% Opioid Settlement Fund share. 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 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?

• To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your county executive or local health department. See, e.g., the opioid settlement-specific webpages from Albany County, Cayuga County, Delaware County, and Livingston County.

• For updates on the Opioid Settlement Fund share, visit OASAS’ Opioid Settlement Fund and Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board websites.

• A single resource containing updates exclusive to the state share could not be found.[7] See the state Attorney General’s and State Senate’s general opioid settlement websites.

• You can also sign up for updates from Community Education Group’s Appalachian Opioid Remediation (AOR) Database, which tracks information about the 13 states of Appalachia.

What else should I know?

Not applicable.

Citations

1. NCPR News. Lewis County asking for public input on how to use opioid lawsuit settlements. North Country Public Radio. May 2, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. As another example, see Seneca County to host public forum on opioid crisis. FingerLakes.com. August 17, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

2. Note that there is no legal requirement for New York to receive community input on the use of the 36.39% Opioid Settlement Fund share. Additionally, although the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board must comply with New York’s open meetings law, the law does not require public bodies to allow public comments in a meeting. N.Y. Mental Hyg. Law Sec. 25.18(c)(8). ↑

3. See, e.g., Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board July 10, 2024 agenda. Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board website. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

4. N.Y. Mental Hyg. Law Sec. 25.18(c)(8). See also New York State Opioid Settlement Sharing Agreement, Sec. V(A)(2). July 20, 2021. ↑

5. See Past Meetings. Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board website. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

6. If you see this change, email [e-mail]. ↑

7. If you see this change, email [e-mail]. ↑