Budget Amendment ID: FY2019-S4-651

EHS 651

Expansion of the Municipal Naloxone Bulk Purchase Trust Fund

Messrs. Lesser and Cyr, Ms. Friedman, Messrs. Crighton, Hinds, Welch and Keenan, Ms. L'Italien, Ms. Gobi, Messrs. Boncore, O'Connor, Feeney and Tran and Ms. O'Connor Ives moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section X the following section:-

"SECTION XX.  Chapter 29 of the general laws is hereby amended by striking out section 2RRRR and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 2RRRR. (a) There shall be a Naloxone Bulk Purchase Trust Fund to be administered and expended by the commissioner of public health or a designee for the naloxone bulk purchase program. Any eligible purchaser may join the program to purchase naloxone. The state office of pharmacy services shall assist with the purchasing and distribution of naloxone on behalf of the program. The department of public health shall provide technical assistance to participating eligible purchasers to ensure that eligible purchasers complete all training and registration requirements.

(b) The fund shall consist of: (i) payments made by participating eligible purchasers for the purchase of naloxone; (ii) revenue from appropriations or other monies authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; and (iii) funds from public or private sources, including, but not limited to, gifts, grants, donations, rebates and settlements received by the commonwealth that are specifically designated to be credited to the fund. Funds received under clauses (ii) or (iii) shall be apportioned in a manner determined by the department and shall only be applied to provide price reductions for municipal first responder agencies purchasing naloxone through the program. Amounts credited to the fund shall not be subject to further appropriation and monies remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund. The commissioner shall report annually not later than October 1 to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the fund's activity. The report shall include, but not be limited to, revenue received by the fund, revenue and expenditure projections for the forthcoming fiscal year and details of all expenditures from the fund, the eligible purchasers participating in the program, the amount of naloxone purchased by each eligible purchaser and the discount procured through bulk purchasing.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “eligible purchaser” shall include: (i) any state agency, municipality, or municipal agency; (ii) any public educational institution including, but not limited to, public elementary, secondary and vocational-technical schools, public colleges, community colleges, and universities; (iii) any organization with a current contract with the department of public health; and (iv) any organization that the department deems as an eligible purchaser."