The Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council was formed to ensure that money recovered through the joint efforts of the state and its political subdivisions through a statewide opioid settlement agreement is allocated fairly and spent to remediate the opioid crisis using efficient, cost-effective methods.[1]
The Council is administratively attached to the Texas Comptroller's office, which provides the staff and facilities as necessary to assist the Council in performing its duties.[2]
The Council is composed of 14 members, including:[3]
six regional members appointed by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission from a list of qualified persons recommended by the respective local governments;
one member each appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Representatives and the Texas attorney general;
one member employed by a hospital district and appointed by the governor;
one member employed by a hospital district and appointed by the attorney general;
one member experienced in opioid-related harms who is employed by a law enforcement agency and appointed by the governor; and
one non-voting member who serves as the presiding officer of the Council and is the comptroller, or the comptroller's designee.
The current council members are:
The Honorable Glenn Hegar, presiding officer
Texas Comptroller
Austin, Texas
List continues
Katherine L. Yoder, M.B.A.
Austin, Texas
Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott.
John G. Mills, D.O.
Port Bolivar, Texas
Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott.
Ronald P. Enriquez, Jr.
Leander, Texas
Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott.
Sanjay P. Patel, M.D.
Odessa, Texas
Appointed by Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Carrie de Moor, M.D., F.A.C.E.P.
Frisco, Texas
Appointed by Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Pedro J. Fernandez, M.D.
Dallas, Texas
Appointed by Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young.
Region 9 & 10
J. Douglas Thornton, Pharm.D., Ph.D., B.C.P.S.
Houston, Texas
Appointed by Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young.
Region 3
List continues
John "Scott" Milton, M.D.
Lubbock, Texas
Appointed by Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young.
Region 11-15, 19
James Muns, M.D.
Heath, Texas
Appointed by Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan.
Lori K. Holleran Steiker, Ph.D., A.C.S.W.
Austin, Texas
Appointed by Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young.
Region 6-8, 16
Emmanuel Elueze, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.A., F.A.C.P.
Tyler, Texas
Appointed by Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young.
Region 1, 2, 17, 18
Robert Guevara, M.D.
Harlingen, Texas
Appointed by Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young.
Region 4, 5, 20
Denise Wilkes, M.D., Ph.D.
Kemah, Texas
Appointed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
June 2022: The Opioid Abatement Fund Council (OAFC) was fully appointed by external appointing authorities.
June 17, 2022: First payment of funds under Endo settlement made to Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company (the Trust Company).
June 21, 2022: First payment of funds under Teva settlement made to the Trust Company.
August
Aug. 9, 2022: OAFC held its first full council meeting.
October
Oct. 6, 2022: OAFC held full council meeting to receive presentations on the statewide impact of the opioid epidemic and fentanyl crisis from several state agencies:
Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Health and Human Services Commission
Department of State Health Services
Texas Education Agency
Department of Family and Protective Services
Texas Juvenile Justice Department
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Texas Workforce Commission
Oct. 13, 2022: First payment of funds under Johnson & Johnson/Jansen settlement payment made to the Trust Company.
November
Nov. 15, 2022: OAFC distributed $5 million to the Texas Access to Justice Foundation to provide civil legal aid to Texans personally impacted by the opioid crisis, including children whose caregivers suffer from opioid use disorder.
December
Dec. 27, 2022: Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) issued request for proposals (RFP No. 227a) to solicit proposals for two studies aimed at aiding the CPA and OAFC in developing funding priorities, understanding the landscape of substance use services in Texas and reducing duplication of existing funding efforts:
A scientific literature review of opioid abatement strategies.
A survey to identify and describe existing treatment, behavioral therapies and recovery support services in Texas.
2023
January
Jan. 3, 2023: First payment of funds under Global settlement made to the Trust Company.
Jan. 26, 2023: CPA released Fiscal Notes articles highlighting:
Texas Impact of the Opioid Crisis
Work of the Opioid Abatement Fund Council
February
Feb. 15, 2023: OAFC held full council meeting to:
Receive update from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation on its work to use the $5 million distribution to address the impact of opioids, fentanyl and illicit substances in Texas.
Approve publication of proposed rules governing the grant program.
Establish working groups:
Code of Ethics Working Group
Cycles and Strategies Working Group
Hospital District Formula Working Group
Peer Review Working Group
March
March 7, 2023: The Trust Company made the first distribution of $47.1 million to Texas cities and counties.
April
April 7, 2023: Proposed rules governing grant program published in the Texas Register.
May
May 9, 2023: CPA executed interagency contract for RFP No. 227a with University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) to conduct scientific literature review.
June
June 8, 2023: OAFC held full council meeting and:
Received summary of public comments received on proposed rules governing grant program.
Approved final rules governing the grant program.
June 9, 2023: Unappropriated funds from McKinsey settlement, including funds from April 2021, 2022 and 2023 transferred from General Revenue Fund to Opioid Abatement Trust Fund as directed by Senate Bill 30, the supplemental appropriations bill for the 88th Regular Session.
June 26, 2023: First payment of funds under Mallinckrodt settlement made to the Trust Company.
July
July 7, 2023: Final rules governing grant program published in the Texas Register.
July 10, 2023: Final rules governing grant program took effect.
September
Sept. 25, 2023: OAFC held full council meeting to create additional working groups:
Notice of Funding Availability Working Group
Short Term Strategies and Research Working Group
OAFC launched a public survey to gain better insight on Texans’ views on the opioid epidemic and strategies to counter its harmful effects.
October
Oct. 25, 2023: OAFC held a full council meeting where Teaching Hospitals of Texas and Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals presented on the impact of the opioid crisis on Texas hospital districts and proposed a formula for fund distribution as mandated by Senate Bill 1827.
Oct. 30, 2023: OAFC closed public survey.
November
Nov. 25, 2023: OAFC held full council meeting to:
Approve abatement strategies and grant plans:
$25 million to distribute naloxone to communities hardest hit by the opioid crisis;
$25 million to promote substance abuse prevention and awareness for students in grades kindergarten through 12th (K-12), as well as their parents and caregivers; and
$25 million to bolster training, recruitment and retention, and certification assistance for behavioral health workforce.
Approve publication of proposed rules implementing hospital district funding distribution.
Receive presentation from UTHealth Houston on results of literature review report.
December
Dec. 4, 2023: CPA approved a one-year, no-cost contract extension with UTHealth Houston to refine research in literature review and services census reports.
Dec. 29, 2023: Proposed rule implementing hospital district funding distribution published in the Texas Register.
2024
February
Feb. 7, 2024: OAFC held full council meeting.
Feb. 23, 2024: First payment of funds under Walmart settlement made to the Trust Company.
Feb. 27, 2024: OAFC posted Notice of Funding Availability and Request for Applications for Naloxone Distribution and Naloxone Administration Training opportunity grants to distribute and administer naloxone in communities hardest hit by the Opioid crisis.
March
March 1, 2024: The Trust Company distributed $47 million to Texas cities and counties.
March 15, 2024: Final rule implementing hospital district funding distribution was published in the Texas Register.
March 18, 2024: Final rule implementing hospital district funding distribution took effect.
March 20, 2024: OAFC held full council meeting and voted to approve first round of distributions to hospital districts.
April
April 10, 2024: OAFC opened application for Naloxone Distribution Opportunity Grant.
May
May 28, 2024: OAFC issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the K-12 substance abuse prevention and awareness education grant.
May 31, 2024: Deadline for application submission for the Naloxone Distribution Opportunity grant.
Upcoming Milestones
(Dates are tentative and subject to change)
Summer 2024
Distribute first funding to hospital districts.
Issue Notice of Awards for Naloxone Distribution Opportunity Grant.
Issue notice of funding availability for K-12 substance abuse prevention and awareness education grant cycle.
Open applications for K-12 substance abuse prevention and awareness education grant.
Issue RFI for the Peer-to-Peer Workforce Enhancement grant.
Launch Hospital District Distribution Interactive dashboard.
Fall 2024
Issue Notice of Awards for K-12 substance abuse prevention and awareness education grants.
Winter 2024
Issue Notice of Funding Availability for Peer-to-Peer Workforce Enhancement grant cycle.
Open applications for the Peer-to-Peer Workforce Enhancement grant cycle.
Issue Notice of Awards for Peer-to-Peer Workforce Enhancement grant.
Contact Us
If you have questions or comments regarding the work of the OAFC contact us.
