SENATE BILL NO. 996 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 9, 2007 A BILL to amend and reenact § 37.2-311 of the Code of Virginia, relating to review of application of federal funds or services used in substance abuse programs. ---------- Patron-- Blevins ---------- Referred to Committee on Education and Health ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 37.2-311 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 37.2-311. Review of applications for state or federal funds or services used in substance abuse programs.

A. No state agency that is authorized to issue final approval or disapproval of or to make a final review and comment on any application for state or federal funds or services that are to be used in a substance abuse program shall take final action on an application until the application is first reviewed and commented on by the Department to determine its compatibility with the comprehensive interagency state plan for substance abuse services, and thereafter the review and comment by the Department shall remain a part of the application documents. A local government applicant for such federal funds or services is exempt from this requirement.

B. Every applicant for any federal or state funds, services, loans, grants-in-aid, matching funds, or services that are to be used in connection with any substance abuse program shall submit a copy of the application for those funds, services, loans, grants-in-aid, matching funds, or services to the Department for review and comment simultaneously with submission of the application to the funding source. A local government applicant for such federal funds, loans, grants-in-aid, matching funds, or services is exempt from this requirement.

C. The Department shall review and comment on each application within 45 days after receiving the application or in accordance with the requirements of the funding source.

D. Each state agency requesting an appropriation or a change in an existing appropriation from the General Assembly for substance abuse programs shall submit the request to the Department for review and comment to determine its compatibility with the comprehensive interagency state plan for substance abuse services and shall supply the Department with all relevant information, including a full report on funds expended pursuant to prior appropriations. The Department shall provide the Governor and the General Assembly with its assessment of each request by a state agency for an appropriation or a change in an existing appropriation.