HB2554 - 472R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

HB 2554

alcohol tax; substance abuse treatment

Sponsors: Representative Anderson

DPA	Committee on Human Services
DPA	Committee on Appropriations B
DPA	Caucus and COW
X	As Engrossed and As Passed the House	This bill as introduced contains *an Appropriation clause.*

HB 2554 creates the Addiction Reduction and Recovery Fund (ARRF) and appropriates $3.5 million from the General Fund (GF) to ARRF to fund drug and alcohol abuse services and prevention programs through Regional Behavioral Health Authorities (RBHAs). HB 2554 also appropriates $6 million to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for increased drug enforcement efforts, and $2.5 million to Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. for increased treatment services.

History

Last year, the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Behavioral Health Services contracted with five RBHAs to deliver substance abuse and mental health treatment services throughout Arizona. During 2005, DHS admitted 59,661 adolescents and adults for behavioral health services who reported an alcohol or drug related treatment concern. The most frequently used substance reported was alcohol, with nearly 45% of treatment participants assessed as suffering alcoholism. The second largest category was stimulant drugs (methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack cocaine) with 26% reporting a primary stimulant drug problem. Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act provide federal funding to assist states in the operation of medical assistance programs. Individuals and families eligible under Title XIX and XXI receive all medically necessary covered services for substance abuse through the RBHAs. Behavioral health services for Arizonans not eligible under Title XIX and XXI are based on available funding.

HB 2554 creates the ARRF to fund drug and alcohol abuse services and prevention programs through RBHAs. It appropriates a total of $12 million to ARRF, DPS, and Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. for increased treatment, prevention, and enforcement programs.

Provisions

· Establishes the ARRF to fund drug and alcohol abuse services and prevention programs through RBHAs and to be administered by the Director of the DHS.

· Allows the Director of DHS to accept and spend other funds from the federal government or private sources to supplement the ARRF’s purposes.

· Stipulates any federal government or private source funding will not revert to the GF at the end of the fiscal year.

· Specifies that all monies deposited in the ARRF are in addition to appropriated funds and other funding sources, and are not to replace those funds.

· Exempts funds in the ARRF from lapsing and indicates funds are subject to legislative appropriation.

· Empowers the Director of DHS to instruct the state treasurer to invest or divest monies in the ARRF, and deposit monies earned from investment in the ARRF.

· Requires the Director of DHS to spend ARRF monies through RBHAs as follows:

-$2.5 million for rural detoxification programs and related follow-up services, and

-$1 million for substance abuse and addiction prevention programs.

· Requires the RBHAs to make efforts to partner with community and faith-based organizations in implementing the prevention programs.

· Exempts ARRF monies from the normal administrative withholdings imposed by DHS and the RBHAs.

· Appropriates $3.5 million from the GF in FY 2006-2007 to the ARRF.

· Appropriates $6 million from the GF in fiscal year 2006-2007 to DPS, $5 million of which is to be used for increased methamphetamine interdiction, and $1 million of which is to be used for tip lines that receive information on methamphetamine activities.

· Appropriates $2.5 million from the GF in fiscal year 2006-2007 to the Department of Economic Security for substance abuse treatment services through the Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. program.

· Includes a purpose clause describing the intent of the bill as an effort to stem the growth of methamphetamine and other substance abuse.

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· Forty-seventh Legislature