HB 2879 Summary

• Creates the Substance Abuse Treatment Provider Loan Repayment Fund administered by the Department of Health Services, providing grants up to $1,500 monthly to medical professionals (physicians, psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, substance abuse counselors) providing treatment in state prisons, juvenile corrections facilities, or county jails.

• Establishes prioritized grant eligibility based on facility type: state prison providers receive first priority, followed by juvenile corrections providers, then county jail providers.

• Requires the Department of Health Services to annually transfer $2,000,000 from the Medical Marijuana Fund to the Substance Abuse Treatment Provider Loan Repayment Fund after all implementation costs are covered.

• Directs additional Medical Marijuana Fund transfers of $5,000,000 to the State Department of Corrections for substance abuse treatment, $1,000,000 for employment specialists at prisons, and $125,000 to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System for prisoner reentry coordination programs.

• Makes technical amendments to marijuana testing requirements and nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary oversight provisions.