,i #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eabd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #bg1 #bjah,ms4 ,mc,collum 7for herself and ,mr4 ,smucker7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to establish a community action opioid response grant program4 #a4 ,short title ,the ,act may be cited as the ,community ,action ,opioid ,response ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,establishment of the community action opioid response grant program 7a7 ,authorization of grant program ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,office of ,community ,services established under section #fgh of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iiab71 shall1 subject to the subsequent provisions of this section1 establish a grant program to enable ,community ,action ,agencies to respond to the needs of communities and low-income families and individuals in crisis resulting from the opioid addiction epidemic4 7b7 ,goals ,the goals of the grant program under this section are to expand and support effective community efforts to identify and respond to causes and consequences of opioid misuse and addiction experienced by low-income individuals1 families1 and communities4 7c7 ,eligibility ,any ,community ,action ,agency1 as defined in subsection 7i71 is eligible to apply for a grant under this section by submitting an application in such form and manner as specified by the ,secretary1 in accordance with subsection 7g77#a74 7d7 ,allowable uses of funds ,a grant awarded to a ,community ,action ,agency under this section may be used to support one or more of the following activities1 which may be conducted in coordination or partnership with other community organizations3 7#a7 ,enhanced public education to improve individual and community awareness1 with respect to opioid misuse or addiction1 including for children and youth4 7#b7 ,outreach and identification of individuals at risk of or experiencing opioid misuse or addiction1 and referral of such individuals to appropriate treatment1 recovery1 or other resources in the community4 7#c7 ,direct services to prevent1 treat1 or recover from opioid addiction4 7#d7 ,services to stabilize the education1 employment1 housing1 transportation1 or other needs of addicted or at-risk individuals and their family members4 7#e7 ,services to address and mitigate the impact of opioid addiction on children in the household4 7#f7 ,support and assistance to children1 and their caregivers1 who are in foster care or at-risk of placement in foster care because of the opioid addiction of their parents4 7#g7 ,development of partnerships with entities such as local healthcare providers1 substance abuse treatment organizations1 schools1 child welfare agencies1 social service organizations1 police departments1 prosecutors1 courts1 prisons1 local governments1 businesses1 and religious institutions1 in order to coordinate or expand resources available to addicted or at-risk individuals and their family members4 7#h7 ,training for agency personnel in issues related to opioid addiction1 including early identification of at-risk individuals and administration of overdose prevention medications4 7e7 ,grant funding limitations 7#a7 ,amount of grant ,a grant awarded under this section shall be in an amount that is not more than #a1jjj1jjj per year and not less than #ej1jjj per year4 7#b7 ,duration ,a grant awarded under this section shall be for not more than three years in duration unless otherwise approved by the ,secretary based on outcome data or extenuating circumstances4 7f7 ,reporting ,each ,community ,action ,agency receiving a grant under this section shall submit an annual report to the ,secretary detailing goals1 interventions1 outcomes1 and expenditures1 with respect to the program of such agency that is funded by such grant1 and make each such report so submitted by the ,community ,action ,agency available on the public website of the ,community ,action ,agency4 ,the ,secretary shall make each such report public on the public website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 ,for each year of the grant program under this section1 the ,secretary shall compile all of such reports so submitted to the ,secretary for such year and submit to ,congress the compilation with an annual summary4 7g7 ,expedited grant application1 review1 and award process 7#a7 ,application process and criteria ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall publish in the ,federal ,register the application process and criteria for grants under this section4 ,such criteria shall require each application submitted for a grant under this section to include-- 7,a7 a description of the objectives of the program and activities to be funded by the grant and how the grant will be used to achieve these objectives1 including specific activities and services to be conducted1 and specific populations or areas to be served 7including targeted subgroups such as incarcerated or homeless individuals72 7,b7 a description of innovative approaches to be used and evidence of likely success2 7,c7 a plan for measuring progress in achieving such objectives specified in subparagraph 7,a71 including a strategy to collect data that can be used to measure the project's effectiveness2 7,d7 identification of relevant community or other organizations with which the applicant will coordinate or partner and a description of the proposed coordination or partnership2 7,e7 assurances satisfactory to the ,secretary that the applicant has conducted an assessment of community needs related to opioid misuse and addiction among low-income individuals and families1 and that the proposed uses of the grant funds will address unmet needs identified by the assessment2 7,f7 assurances satisfactory to the ,secretary that funds awarded through the grant will not supplant other programs or resources in the community with similar objectives2 and 7,g7 assurances satisfactory to the ,secretary that evidence-based approaches will be used to the maximum extent practicable4 7#b7 ,community ,action ,opioid ,response ,grant ,application ,review ,panel 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall establish a ,community ,action ,opioid ,response ,grant ,application ,review ,panel of not less than #ae individuals1 including not more than #e employees from the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services and other ,federal agencies1 with expert knowledge of the opioid epidemic1 drug treatment1 community responses to poverty prevention1 child protection1 or post-recovery employment and training4 7,b7 ,duties ,such review panel shall review and evaluate applications for grants under this section and recommend to the ,secretary which of such applications should be awarded a grant under this section4 7,c7 ,grant selection priorities ,in reviewing and recommending applications for a grant1 such review panel shall consider and give priority to applications that demonstrate one or more of the following3 7i7 ,evidence of coordination and partnership with agencies or entities with experience or expertise in addressing opioid-related issues4 7ii7 ,evidence of leveraging non-,federal funds or in-kind resources to extend the reach or duration 7or both7 of the program proposed by the application4 7iii7 ,quality of methodology proposed to monitor the outcomes of the program proposed by the application and effectiveness in achieving goals of the program and mitigating the harmful health and socioeconomic impacts of opioid addiction4 7iv7 ,evidence of capacity-building and strengthening of community responses to the opioid crisis4 7v7 ,efforts to minimize the trauma and negative impact of foster care on children of addicted individuals4 7vi7 ,the applicant has a demonstrated knowledge of opioid-related needs in the target community4 7vii7 ,use of innovative or evidence-based approaches to address unmet opioid-related needs1 including to promote self-sufficiency and well-being for families with children impacted by opioid addiction4 7,d7 ,funding ,the ,secretary may use amounts appropriated to the ,office of the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to pay for all expenses associated with the ,community ,action ,opioid ,response ,grant ,application ,review ,panel4 7#c7 ,timing for awarding grants ,with respect to a year for which amounts are appropriated to carry out this section pursuant to subsection 7h71 not later than #abj days after such amounts are made available for such year1 the ,secretary shall award all such amounts for grants under this section for such year4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbb4 7#b7 ,tribal set aside ,of the amount appropriated for a year pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 to carry out this section1 not more than #g percent shall be designated for such year for grants to ,indian tribes or tribal organizations that receive direct payments under section #fgg of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iiaa74 7i7 ,definitions ,as used in this section3 7#a7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#b7 ,community ,action ,agency ,the term ,community ,action ,agency has the same meaning given the term eligible entity under section #fgc7a77;,a7 of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb74