Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund Advisory Council convened to continue the discussion on recommendations regarding the use of opioid settlement funds.

In 2019, Maryland created the Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF) to receive all funds awarded to the State through legal settlements with prescription opioid manufacturers and distributors. In 2022, Maryland established the ORF Advisory Council with the passage of HB 794 to provide recommendations on the use of opioid settlement funds. The Maryland Association of Counties designee on the advisory council is Cecil County Health Officer Lauren Levy, JD, MPH.

Special Secretary of Overdose Response Emily Keller with Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response (MOOR) chairs the ORF Advisory Council. Special Secretary Keller provided an overview of SB 751, which was passed in the 2024 legislation session and added additional requirements regarding the use and reporting of funds from state opioid settlements. The legislation named community-based recovery organizations as allowable uses for restitution funds. You can read MACo’s testimony on SB 751 here. Maryland’s Office of the Attorney General also provided the council with an overview of settlements the State entered into. The ORF Advisory Council concluded the meeting by discussing the council’s recommendations due by November 1, 2024. MACo inquired about the balance of the State’s opioid settlement funds, and an update is pending.

Members of the public were allowed to provide comments at the end of the meeting and can also submit comments in writing to the council at any time by emailing StopOverdose@maryland.gov.

Visit StopOverdose.maryland.gov/ORF for more details.

View the virtual meeting agenda and the recording of the meeting.