State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2021

To amend the 21st Century Cures Act to reauthorize and expand a grant program for State response to the opioid use disorders crisis, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2021 2. Grant program for State and Tribal response to opioid and stimulant use and misuse Section 1003 of the 21st Century Cures Act ( 42 U.S.C. 290ee–3 1003. Grant program for State and Tribal response to opioid and stimulant use and misuse (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary (b) Grants program (1) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall award grants to States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations for the purpose of addressing opioid and stimulant use and misuse, within such States, such Indian Tribes, and populations served by such Tribal organizations and Urban Indian organizations, in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) Minimum allocations; preference In determining grant amounts for each recipient of a grant under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— (A) ensure that each State receives not less than $4,000,000; and (B) give preference to States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations whose populations have an incidence or prevalence of opioid use disorders or stimulant use or misuse that is substantially higher relative to the populations of other States, other Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or Urban Indian organizations, as applicable. (3) Formula methodology (A) In general Before publishing a funding opportunity announcement with respect to grants under this section, the Secretary shall— (i) develop a formula methodology to be followed in allocating grant funds awarded under this section among grantees, which includes performance assessments for continuation awards; and (ii) not later than 30 days after developing the formula methodology under clause (i), submit the formula methodology to— (I) the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (II) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (B) Report Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2021 (i) assesses how grant funding is allocated to States under this section and how such allocations have changed over time; (ii) assesses how any changes in funding under this section have affected the efforts of States to address opioid or stimulant use or misuse; and (iii) assesses the use of funding provided through the grant program under this section and other similar grant programs administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (4) Use of funds Grants awarded under this subsection shall be used for carrying out activities that supplement activities pertaining to opioid and stimulant use and misuse, undertaken by the State agency responsible for administering the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant under subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300x–21 et seq. (A) Implementing prevention activities, and evaluating such activities to identify effective strategies to prevent substance use disorders. (B) Establishing or improving prescription drug monitoring programs. (C) Training for health care practitioners, such as best practices for prescribing opioids, pain management, recognizing potential cases of substance use disorders, referral of patients to treatment programs, preventing diversion of controlled substances, and overdose prevention. (D) Supporting access to health care services, including— (i) services provided by federally certified opioid treatment programs; (ii) outpatient and residential substance use disorder treatment services that utilize medication-assisted treatment, as appropriate; or (iii) other appropriate health care providers to treat substance use disorders. (E) Recovery support services, including— (i) community-based services that include peer supports; (ii) mutual aid recovery programs that support medication-assisted treatment; or (iii) services to address housing needs and family issues. (F) Other public health-related activities, as the State, Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Urban Indian organization determines appropriate, related to addressing substance use disorders within the State, Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Urban Indian organization, including directing resources in accordance with local needs related to substance use disorders. (c) Accountability and oversight A State receiving a grant under subsection (b) shall include in reporting related to substance use disorders submitted to the Secretary pursuant to section 1942 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300x–52 (1) the purposes for which the grant funds received by the State under such subsection for the preceding fiscal year were expended and a description of the activities of the State under the grant; (2) the ultimate recipients of amounts provided to the State; and (3) the number of individuals served through the grant. (d) Limitations Any funds made available pursuant to subsection (i)— (1) notwithstanding any transfer authority in any appropriations Act, shall not be used for any purpose other than the grant program in subsection (b); and (2) shall be subject to the same requirements as substance use disorders prevention and treatment programs under titles V and XIX of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 290aa et seq. (e) Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations The Secretary, in consultation with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations, shall identify and establish appropriate mechanisms for Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations to demonstrate or report the information as required under subsections (b), (c), and (d). (f) Report to Congress Not later than September 30, 2024, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, a report that includes a summary of the information provided to the Secretary in reports made pursuant to subsections (c) and (e), including— (1) the purposes for which grant funds are awarded under this section; (2) the activities of the grant recipients; and (3) for each State, Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, and Urban Indian organization that receives a grant under this section, the funding level provided to such recipient. (g) Technical assistance The Secretary, including through the Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shall provide States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations, as applicable, with technical assistance concerning grant application and submission procedures under this section, award management activities, and enhancing outreach and direct support to rural and underserved communities and providers in addressing substance use disorders. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Indian Tribe The term Indian Tribe Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 5304 (2) Tribal organization The term Tribal organization tribal organization (3) State The term State 42 U.S.C. 300x–64(b) (4) Urban Indian organization The term Urban Indian organization (i) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general For purposes of carrying out the grant program under subsection (b), there is authorized to be appropriated $1,750,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027, to remain available until expended. (2) Federal administrative expenses Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year to award grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall not use more than 20 percent for Federal administrative expenses, training, technical assistance, and evaluation. (3) Set aside Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year to award grants under subsection (b) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall— (A) award 5 percent to Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations; and (B) of the amount remaining after application of subparagraph (A), set aside up to 15 percent for awards to States with the highest age-adjusted rate of drug overdose death based on the ordinal ranking of States according to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. . October 19, 2021 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2021 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and otherwise changes the State Opioid Response Grant program. This program, which is managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, provides funding for states, territories, and Indian tribes and tribal organizations to address the opioid crisis. Specific changes to the program include (1) expanding its scope to also address stimulant use and misuse, (2) establishing a funding methodology and minimum funding allocations, and (3) allowing the use of grant funds for recovery support services. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on issues concerning the funding and other aspects of the program.