On February 11, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Finance Committee in opposition to SB 495 – Opioid Restitution Fund – Authorized Uses.
This bill would create an avenue for money designated for victims and mitigation efforts through the Opioid Restitution Fund to be redirected to the Office of the Attorney General for attorneys’ fees and operating expenses.
The emotional, physical, and financial damage inflicted on communities across Maryland by the opioid crisis is almost
incalculable. The remediation efforts, while extensive, may never allow families and individuals to recover what they’ve lost. The Governor and General Assembly are responsible for ensuring State agencies are funded effectively to serve residents without taping into resources for victim services.
The provisions of this bill take funding directly from the victim remediation efforts to cover costs that are the rightful responsibility of the State. In doing so, it serves to compromise the work that thousands of public health officials and local governments are doing statewide.
SB 495’s cross-file, HB 728, was heard on February 12 in the House Health and Government Operations Committee. Karrington Anderson testified in opposition to this bill.
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