HomeMy WebLinkAbout25-161 RESOLUTION NO. 25-161
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY,
FLORIDA AMENDING RESOLUTION NO.24-
081 OF THE OPIOID ABATEMENT FUNDING
ADVISORY BOARD; PROVIDING UPDATED
PROVISIONS FOR THE COMPOSITION OF
THE BOARD; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS,the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made
the following determinations:
1. A local,state,and national crisis arose as a result of the manufacture,distribution,and over-
prescribing of opioid analgesics("opioids")and resulted in opioid overdoses and addictions
throughout municipalities, counties, states, and the nation; and
2. The crisis has caused an undue strain on local government finances to implement programing
to combat the opioid epidemic,to mitigate the harmful effects of the opioid epidemic in the
community,and to increase educational campaigns to counteract mis-information about the
addictive nature and harmful effects of opioids; and
3. As a result of the national opioid crisis,many governmental entities throughout the country
filed lawsuits against opioid manufacturers,distributors,and retailers,hereinafter referred to
as the "defendants", to hold them accountable for the damage caused by their
misfeasance,nonfeasance,and malfeasance,as well as to recover monetary damages for
past harm and financial compensation for ongoing and future abatement efforts; and
4. Three governmental entities in St.Lucie County deemed the opioid crisis significant enough
to secure litigation counsel and individually elect to file suit against the defendants as
follows: the City of Port St. Lucie, the City of Fort Pierce, (hereinafter referred to as the
"MDL Cities")and the County; and
5. The lawsuits filed by the MDL Cities and the County were consolidated with other lawsuits
filed by state, tribal and local governmental entities into what is known as the National
Prescription Opiate Litigation in the United States District Court of the Northern District of
Ohio, Eastern Division, case number 1:17-MD-2804; and
6. The Attorney General has proposed entering into agreements with local governments within
the State of Florida to receive Settlement funds. This agreement(hereinafter referred to as
the "State MOU"), as currently drafted, divides settlement funds into three portions
designated as City/County, Regional and State funds;and
7. The parties recognize that local control over Settlement funds is in the best interest of all
persons within the geographic boundaries of St. Lucie County and ensures that Settlement
funds are available and used to address opioid-related impacts within St.Lucie County and
are, therefore, committed to the County qualifying as a "Qualified County" and thereby
receiving Regional funds pursuant to the State MOU; and
8. St.Lucie County Regional Funding will be used in accordance with the requirements of the
State MOU, and guidelines set forth by a board established by resolution of the Board of
County Commissioners(hereinafter referred to as the"St.Lucie County Opioid Abatement
Funding Advisory Board"),which will include utilizing the Opioid Taskforce data,State of
Florida Department of Health data,and projections; and
9. On December 14, 2021, the Board adopted Resolution No. 21-427 creating the St. Lucie
County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board;and
10. On April 23,2024,the Board adopted Resolution No.24-081,amending and restating
Resolution No. 21-427,to among other things,allocate the management of the St. Lucie
County Regional Opioid Settlement Funds to the Florida Department of Health in St.
Lucie County;and
11.The Board desires to amend resolution 24-081 as stated herein.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St.
Lucie County, Florida:
1. This Board does hereby create the St. Lucie County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory
Board for the purpose of advising the Board of County Commissioners on matters relating to
Final Review Recommendations and shall have the following duties and functions:
a. Shall meet regularly and as often as needed to effectuate its responsibilities, but no
less than quarterly and on a schedule which allows the St. Lucie County Opioid
Abatement Funding Advisory Board to provide the data compiled for and arising out
of its quarterly meeting to the Board of County Commissioners for review and
consideration.
b. May establish bylaws and an annual process which includes the following:
I. A date certain each year by which the Board must meet and review the data
available from previous years, tending to evidence the local status of the
opioid epidemic and the effect of abatement programming.
II. Must review the programs and services of the beneficiaries of St. Lucie
County Regional Funds to determine if deliverables of such programs and
services are met in order to hold beneficiaries accountable.
III. Must annually review outcomes, deliverables and data prior to
recommending a change in funding programs, services and locations.
2. The County will perform competitive solicitations for programming and services based on
the St.Lucie County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board Priority List in accordance
with a centralized, county-wide competitive grant process and the St. Lucie Litigating
Governments will be provided the opportunity to participate in the review process.
3. St. Lucie County Regional Funding may be used to enhance current programs or develop
new programs. Regional funding is not intended to supplant current funding sources and
general funds,and County staff will continue to seek funding for opioid related abatement at
the levels opioid abatement programs were funded as of the effective date of this Resolution.
4. Final Review recommendations will be approved by the St.Lucie County Opioid Abatement
Funding Advisory Board,who shall present recommendations to the St.Lucie County Board
of County Commissioners for approval.
5. The St.Lucie County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board and the Board of County
Commissioners shall use its best efforts to fund services and programs that are available to
all residents of St.Lucie County and shall strive to allocate funding and services in a manner
that equally benefits all residents of St. Lucie County.
6. The St. Lucie County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board shall consist of nine(9)
members who shall be appointed as follows:
a. St.Lucie County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board membership shall be
comprised of the following members appointed for two-year terms:
I. One member appointed by the City of Port St. Lucie;
2. One member appointed by the City of Fort Pierce;
3. One member appointed by the St. Lucie County Fire District;
4. One member appointed by the St. Lucie Sheriff's Office;
5. One member appointed by Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network,
Inc.;
6. One member nominated by the County Administrator and appointed by the
Board of County Commissioners to represent the hospitals in St. Lucie
County;
7. One member nominated by the County Administrator and appointed by the
Board of County Commissioners to represent the mental health community
with expertise in public health and addiction;
8. One member nominated by the County Administrator and appointed by the
Board of County Commissioners to serve as a stakeholder representative with
experience collaborating with community-based organizations to develop
prevention and intervention programming;
9. One county commissioner appointed by the Board of County Commissioners
Chair.
7. Vacancies for all members shall be filled upon:
1. Death of a member
2. Resignation
3. Removal by majority vote of the remaining members of the Committee
4. Three(3) unexcused absences in a six(6)month period
8. Vacancies shall be filled by one of the managers working for the individual creating the
vacancy.
9. The Administrator for the Florida Department of Health or designee shall establish a time
and place for holding meetings as shall be necessary. The Advisory Board shall adopt such
rules of organization and procedure as may be required. Five(5)advisory board members
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of official business at Advisory Board meetings.
10. The St. Lucie County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board may establish sub-
committees for specific subjects or tasks from among its members.The Advisory Board shall
hold its first meeting as soon as possible from the date this resolution is adopted.
11. The Administrator for the Florida Department of Health for St. Lucie County or designee
shall provide administrative support for the St. Lucie County Opioid Abatement Funding
Advisory Board and shall keep a record of its proceedings. Other support duties may include
setting the meeting agenda, neutral facilitation and managing discussion during meetings,
and tracking membership and member terms.
12. If any action,sentence,or clause of this resolution is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by
any court of competent jurisdiction,then said holding shall in no way effect the validity of
the remaining portions of this resolution.
13. This resolution shall take effect upon adoption.
After motion and second,the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Commissioner Jamie Fowler,Chair AYE
Commissioner Larry Leet, Vice Chair AYE
Commissioner James Clasby AYE
Commissioner Erin Lowry AYE
Commissioner Cathy Townsend AYE
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 19`1' day of August 2025.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY,FLORIDA
_ ; ,�d GOMM/84>
�./. cd _/, . y BY: VW.
DEPUTY CLERK 0 / CHAIR
* `� PPRO D AS TO LEGAL FORM AND
e � C = ' CTN SS:
c
couwr4
COU TY ATT N Y