Attorney General Ashley Moody today thanked Chair Jamie Grant and each member of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee for passing legislation to create a Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse. Representative Tyler Sirois is sponsoring HB 875 to create the task force. The legislation passed the subcommittee unanimously.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Ending the opioid crisis is a top priority, and I want to thank Chair Grant, Representative Sirois, Representative Sprowls, House leadership and each member of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee for moving us closer toward this goal. There is not a corner of the state that has not felt the grave effects of this crisis and establishing a statewide task force solely focused on this vital mission is crucial to ending the crisis and saving lives.”
Representative Jamie Grant said, “I want to thank Attorney General Moody for her leadership on this important public-safety issue. Creating this task force will provide a formalized structure to look at best practices and pinpoint programs that work. I look forward to watching this bill become law.”
Representative Tyler Sirois said, “Florida needs a statewide task force to effectively fight this growing epidemic. I am grateful for Attorney General Moody’s focus on this public-health crisis and I look forward to continuing to work with her office, my fellow house members and senators to see that this crucial legislation becomes law.”
Representative Chris Sprowls said, “Florida has made impressive strides in our fight against the opioid epidemic, but there’s still more work to be done. Attorney General Ashley Moody’s effort to bring the various stakeholders to the table to find common solutions and new strategies is emblematic of her no-nonsense, problem-solving approach to government. I know my colleagues in the Florida House share Attorney General Moody’s passion to end this crisis.”
Florida’s Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse would:
- Study the cost of the crisis on state and local governments;
- Identify available programs that have been successful in combating opioid abuse;
- Work to better understand the sources of addiction;
- Explore whether there is need for additional regulatory activity; and, among other things,
- Evaluate and identify ways to reduce the demand for opioids and decrease the supply.
The task force will also examine if law enforcement would benefit from new training or resources to help equip them to handle opioid users. The task force would be staffed by members of the Attorney General’s Office.
The senate companion bill, SB 1658, passed the Senate Health Policy Committee Monday.
