Raised Bill No. 448 Summary

• Commissioner of Correction must provide information and counseling regarding opioid use disorder treatment options to inmates at risk of or suffering from opioid use disorder no later than 45 days before their release, effective October 1, 2020.

• Department of Correction shall establish a medication-assisted treatment program by January 1, 2021, with phased expansion: at least 5 facilities in year one, 30% of all inmates by year two, 60% by year three, and 100% by year four and beyond, effective July 1, 2020.

• Participating facilities must enable qualified staff to dispense FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder treatment and prioritize placement of inmates who were receiving such treatment before incarceration.

• Inmates already receiving medication-assisted treatment before incarceration must continue treatment while incarcerated unless they voluntarily discontinue or a licensed health care provider determines it is no longer appropriate.

• Commissioner must report annually to the Governor and legislative committees from November 1, 2021 through November 1, 2025, detailing program costs, expansion projections, practice changes, treatment types provided, and inmate participation statistics.