2021 -- S 0058 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 IN RESTRICTED RECEIPT FUNDING IN

THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS

     Introduced By: Senators Seveney, DiPalma, Lombardo, Sosnowski, Archambault,
Acosta, and Anderson

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     WHEREAS, Over eighty-one thousand (81,000) drug overdose deaths occurred in the

United States in the twelve (12) months ending in May, 2020, the highest number of overdose

deaths ever recorded in a twelve (12)-month period;

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Health reported three hundred eighty-four

(384) accidental drug overdose deaths in 2020, representing a jump of twenty-five percent (25%)

over the prior year, to its highest level since records have been kept;

     WHEREAS, The misuse of and addiction to opioids -- including prescription pain

relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl -- is a serious national crisis that affects

public health as well as social and economic welfare;

     WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total

"economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is seventy-eight

billion five hundred million dollars ($78,500,000,000) a year, including the costs of healthcare,

lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That the first five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in restricted receipt

funding appropriated in the behavioral healthcare services program within the department of

behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals for fiscal year 2022 shall be used

to support the state's seven (7) regional substance abuse prevention coalitions. The funds shall be

apportioned equally in the amount of seventy-one thousand four hundred twenty-eight dollars

     ($71,428) to each regional coalition.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 IN RESTRICTED RECEIPT FUNDING IN

THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS

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     This joint resolution would authorize that the first five hundred thousand dollars

($500,000) in restricted receipt funding appropriated in the behavioral health care service

program within the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals

for fiscal year 2022 would be used to support the state's seven (7) regional substance abuse

prevention coalitions. The funds would be apportioned equally in the amount of seventy-one

thousand four hundred twenty-eight dollars ($71,428) to each regional coalition.

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