HB2369: Prescription medication; Substance Abuse Services Council, to conduct 1 year study, report.


HOUSE BILL NO. 2369
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules
on February 3, 2009)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Nutter)
A BILL to direct the Substance Abuse Services Council to recommend best strategies to address abuse of prescription medication in the Commonwealth; Report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  1. That the Substance Abuse Services Council (the Council) created pursuant to 2.2-2696 of the Code of Virginia shall conduct a one-year study of the abuse of prescription medication in the Commonwealth and recommend best strategies to combat such abuse and to coordinate with the Commonwealth's public and private efforts to control prescription medication abuse. The Council shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before November 15, 2009.

2. The Council shall work with the following individuals and entities to carry out the provisions of this act: (i) community treatment providers possessing experience with treating persons addicted to prescription pain medication, (ii) Commissioners of the Department of Health and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, (iii) Chief Medical Examiner, (iv) a representative of the Advisory Committee on the Prescription Monitoring Program of the Department of Health Professionals, (v) Superintendent of the State Police, (vi) Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services, (vii) Executive Director of the Virginia Community Health Care Association, (viii) Secretary of Commerce and Trade, (ix) Director of the Virginia Employment Commission, (x) the Governor's Chief Workforce Development Officer, (xi) Virginia Workforce Council, and (xii) such other agencies and entities as the Council may deem appropriate.

3. The Council shall also work in conjunction with any joint subcommittees or other entities of the legislative or executive branch tasked to study substance abuse issues in Virginia. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Council for this study, upon request.

4. The Council's report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

HOUSE BILL NO. 2369
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 14, 2009
A BILL to direct the Substance Abuse Services Council to recommend best strategies to address abuse of prescription medication in the Commonwealth; Report.
Patron-- Nutter

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. 1. That the Substance Abuse Services Council (the Council) created pursuant to 2.2-2696 of the Code of Virginia shall conduct a one-year study of the abuse of prescription medication in the Commonwealth and recommend best strategies to combat such abuse and to coordinate with the Commonwealth's public and private efforts to control prescription medication abuse. The Council shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before November 15, 2009.

2. The Council shall work in conjunction with any joint subcommittees or other entities of the legislative or executive branch tasked to study substance abuse issues in Virginia. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Council for this study, upon request.

3. The Council's report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.