AAC LITIGATION LESSONS

Additionally, eight guidelines inform individuals and organizations, including counties and cities, that submit proposals and seek funding to abate the opioid epidemic:

1. A proposal submitted by any person or entity other than the Partnership director shall include a letter or letters of support signed by the county judge of each county to be served by the proposal, and the mayor of each first-class city to be served by the proposal. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain the necessary signatures of county and city support.

2. A proposal should demonstrate evidence-based strategies to abate the opioid epidemic in Arkansas, in a manner consistent with approved purposes as defined in the Arkansas Opioids MOU, settlement agreements, and court orders approving settlements and bankruptcies.

3. A proposal should address the guiding principles of the Partnership outlined above, with honest and candid analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the proposal considering the guiding principles.

4. A proposal should be designed to treat, prevent, and reduce opioid use disorder and the misuse of opioids or otherwise abate or remediate the opioid epidemic. Each proposal should discuss and demonstrate this nexus.

5. A proposal should include suggested data and benchmarks/milestones to assist with evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposal if approved.

6. A proposal should include a sustainment plan for continuation of the proposal after proposed funding from the Partnership.

7. The Partnership may require outcome-related data from any entity that receives abatement funds.

8. The Partnership may require a proposal to achieve benchmarks/milestones as a condition of ongoing funding. Project funding is not guaranteed and may be dependent on completion of deliverables and reporting. Noncompliance with state or federal law, noncompliance with guidelines, or noncompliance with project benchmarks/ milestones, may result in funding termination.

As noted in the guidelines, applicants must obtain signatures of support from county judges and mayors in areas to be served by abatement proposals. We included this requirement for you, especially county judges and mayors, who authorized the litigation brought by all Arkansas counties and cities. We recognize, as you do, that the opioid epidemic has spawned a variety of local problems in need of local solutions. We want you to have the opportunity to study and approve (or reject) proposals designed to serve your communities — because you are on the front lines, and you know your communities best.

An applicant’s failure to obtain your signature for a project in your county will prevent funding — so you have veto power over proposals designed to serve your area. And although your signature does not guarantee funding for a project, your signature carries great weight, because we want to pursue projects that you believe in, for your communities. When a project is approved and funded in your county, ARORP will notify you so you can promote and celebrate your local abatement efforts, and so you have the knowledge to connect your citizens with resources they need. We hope you are pleased to play this part in the process, and we thank you for your input and your service.

The county and city distribution agreements call for the creation of the ARORP Advisory Board to study proposals and make recommendations to the AAC, AML, and ARORP directors, regarding programs and strategies to abate the Arkansas opioid epidemic. AAC Director Chris Villines and AML Director Mark Hayes have empaneled an advisory board with 12 members, each bringing relevant experience and perspective, and a strong desire to serve our communities, families, and addicts, in response to the opioid epidemic (www.arorp.org/our-team/).

On Nov. 4, 2022, the advisory board had its inaugural meeting. All 12 members of the board attended in-person. Each board member introduced themselves and shared the background and experience that motivates them to serve on this board.

After the board meeting, ARORP hosted a press conference to announce the formation of ARORP and the funding process described above, to introduce the ARORP Advisory Board, to unveil the ARORP website, and to explain the funding process to the public. Please read the ARORP update from Kirk Lane and Tenesha Barnes, to learn more about the many exciting programs and proposals that ARORP has studied, approved, and funded to date.

Finally, the county and city distribution agreements provide that the counties and cities “desire the state as an equal 1/3 participant in the Partnership”— just as the counties and cities desired to unite with the state from the beginning of the opioid litigation in 2018, and consistent with the unity reflected in the equal split in the Arkansas Opioids MOU. As stated plainly in the first ARORP principle, “Abatement efforts will be most effective if Arkansas governments unite and work cooperatively together, as they have in opioid litigation, on behalf of the people.”

With unity in mind, we were excited to hear from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin at the Feb. 9 meeting of the County Judges Association of Arkansas. Griffin praised the work of the counties and cities and ARORP, and he committed to cooperate and unify with the counties and cities on opioid abatement in Arkansas. This is wonderful news for Arkansas, and for your communities, families, and addicts.

The cavalry has arrived and is grateful to serve.