Florida Senate - 2023                   (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7038
       
       
        
       FOR CONSIDERATION By the Appropriations Committee on Criminal
       and Civil Justice
       
       
       
       
       604-02487-23                                          20237038pb
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to trust funds; creating s. 943.368,
    3         F.S.; creating the Opioid Settlement Trust Fund within
    4         the Department of Law Enforcement; providing the
    5         purpose of the trust fund; providing sources of funds;
    6         providing for the reversion of funds in the Opioid
    7         Settlement Trust Fund; providing for future review and
    8         termination or re-creation of the trust fund;
    9         providing an effective date.
   10  
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 943.368, Florida Statutes, is created to
   15  read:
   16         943.368 Opioid Settlement Trust Fund.—
   17         (1) The Opioid Settlement Trust Fund is created within the
   18  Department of Law Enforcement. The purpose of the trust fund is
   19  to abate the opioid epidemic in accordance with the settlement
   20  agreements reached by the state in opioid-related litigation or
   21  bankruptcy proceedings.
   22         (2) Funds to be credited to the trust fund shall consist of
   23  funds disbursed, by nonoperating transfer, from the Department
   24  of Financial Services’ Opioid Settlement Clearing Trust Fund in
   25  amounts equal to the annual appropriations made from this trust
   26  fund.
   27         (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
   28  any unencumbered balance in the trust fund at the end of any
   29  fiscal year and any encumbered balance remaining undisbursed on
   30  September 30 of the same calendar year shall revert to the
   31  Department of Financial Services’ Opioid Settlement Clearing
   32  Trust Fund.
   33         (4) In accordance with s. 19(f), Art. III of the State
   34  Constitution, the Opioid Settlement Trust Fund, unless
   35  terminated sooner, shall be terminated on July 1, 2027. Before
   36  its scheduled termination, the trust fund shall be reviewed as
   37  provided in s. 215.3206(1) and (2).
   38         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.