OVERDOSE FATALITY REVIEW ACT; ESTABLISH S.B. 133 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 133 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
CONTENT
The bill would enact the "Overdose Fatality Review Act" to do the following:
-- Allow a county or multiple counties to establish an overdose fatality review team and prescribe its membership.
-- Identify and prescribe the individuals that could be invited to participate in an individual overdose review or community overdose review.
-- Prescribe the duties and responsibilities of an overdose fatality review team, including identifying potential causes and incidence of drug overdose fatalities and proposing potential changes to law, policy, or funding for prevention.
-- Require an overdose fatality review team to submit an annual report to the public, the local health department of the participating county, and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
-- Prescribe certain confidentiality requirements for members of an overdose fatality review team.
BRIEF RATIONALE
According to testimony, overdose deaths in the United States hit a record during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing by 109% between 2019 and 2021. Reportedly, each review of an individual's death from opioid overdose requires significant work from county and State employees because statute does not standardize the death review process. The ability to establish an overdose fatality review team would improve the death review process.
Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the DHHS and an indeterminate fiscal impact on local units of government. The fiscal impact on a county would depend on if the county chose to implement an overdose fatality review team. If a county chose not to do so, there would be no fiscal impact; however, a county that implemented an overdose fatality review team would face increased costs resulting from administrative support to the review team, fees consistent with Section 4 of Freedom of Information Act for access to records or information to support the work of the review team, and any approved reimbursement for review team member activities. The magnitude of these costs would depend on the number of community and individual overdose reviews undertaken by the overdoes fatality review team, as well as the specific charges for access to records or information. The Department estimates that the cost to a county to implement an overdose fatality review team would range from $13,500 to $19,500, with yearly costs decreasing after the review team is established.
Date Completed: 9-29-23 Fiscal Analyst: Ellyn Ackerman
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.