Credit drug free.org
Oklahoma lawmakers took the first step in setting up a fund to pay for ongoing costs of abating Oklahoma’s opioid epidemic.
Senate Bill 610 would establish the Opioid Settlement and Judgement Revolving Fund. Sen. Greg McCortney (R-Ada) had his legislation passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee he chairs on Wednesday.
Any future awards from lawsuits against companies that made, distributed or marketed the powerful, addictive painkillers would go into it. The fund will be invested by the state treasurer; 4% of that fund will be appropriated or, will be eligible to be appropriated by the legislature each year in perpetuity, McCortney said.