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GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON OPIOID ABUSE
Last Thursday, the Governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse, co-chaired by Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and Representative John Nygren, issued its report to Governor Scott Walker. The report makes several recommendations aimed at decreasing opiate use in Wisconsin, as well as assisting individuals addicted to opioids.
The report recommends a number of statutory changes, as well as several recommendations aimed at state agencies. Recommended expenditures included in the report total $12.1 million annually.
Recommendations included in the report specifically affecting counties include:
- Extending Wisconsin's Good Samaritan statute's limited liability to the person who overdosed.
- Amending state statutes to permit relatives to commit a drug-addicted family member in the same fashion currently allowed for alcoholism.
- Additional state resources for Children and Family Aids to help counties hire the social work staff they need to care for additional victims (children and families).
- Creation of a "Recovery Corps" (peer support specialists and recovery coaches) funded at $60,000 to train 20 recovery specialists annually to serve at substance abuse and peer support sites.
- $2,000,000 for recovery coaches in hospitals to ensure a smooth hand-off from in-patient care for an overdose to in- or out-patient care for addiction.
- $500,000 to support recovery coaches and peer specialists in community corrections settings with high concentrations of addict offenders.
- $2,016,000 in funding to support the start-up of three new medically assisted treatment (MAT) centers in underserved areas of the state.
- $400,000 for an Addiction Treatment & Recovery Hotline at the Department of Health Services (DHS).
- $50,000 for first responder education kits for sheriffs, police, social services, and emergency rooms.
- $330,000 for Regional Prevention Resource Centers that support community coalitions focused on substance abuse prevention and treatment.
- $1,000,000 to provide competitive Community Innovation Grants to implement the best treatment ideas developed by community coalitions; funds will focus on expanding MAT treatment, especially in conjunction with drug courts, and expanding recovery services.
- $1,000,000 for DHS to support education, training, and access through non-profits that serve high-risk populations, including veterans.
- Increasing funding for drug courts and other alternatives to incarceration for minor, drug-only offenses - $150,000 to expand the TAD program to more counties.
- $261,000 to launch a pre-booking diversion pilot program to allow non-violent arrestees a treatment option that diverts them away from the criminal justice system and into support and healing in the community.
- Creating a director-level position within the Secretary's Office at DHS to develop a statewide needs assessment and strategic plan, etc.
- $250,000 to fund three staff to operate a data analysis center.
- Seeking a federal waiver to conduct drug screening and testing for able-bodied adults without dependents who participate in FSET as part of the supplemental nutrition program; anyone who fails the drug screen will be provided treatment.
A full copy of the report can be accessed here.
See WCA's press statement on the report here.
Governor Walker called for a special session of the Legislature to implement the recommendations included in the report.
See the media release here.
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ADMINISTRATION CHANGES
Last week Governor Scott Walker announced changes to his administration.
Governor Scott Walker named Eric Esser as Acting Secretary of the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and Kathy Marschman as Acting Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA).
Both Esser and Marschman currently serve as Deputy Secretaries of their respective agencies and will begin serving as Acting Secretaries on Monday, January 9, 2017.
Former DSPS Secretary Dave Ross is now serving as Secretary of the Department of Transportation following the retirement of Mark Gottlieb. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos announced late last year he would be leaving the agency in early January.
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COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 9, 2017
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PLAN TO ATTEND WCA REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS
Each odd-numbered year, the Wisconsin Counties Association holds legislative briefings across the state to educate members on legislative issues affecting counties. This year, our legislative briefings will include a discussion on WCA's 2017-2018 Legislative Agenda, a review of the 2017-19 state biennial budget, as well as answer member questions regarding legislative initiatives.
Following please find a list of the dates, times and locations of the 2017 Regional Legislative Meetings. Please feel free to attend whichever meeting is most convenient for you.
Southeast District
Monday, March 13, 2017
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Country Springs Hotel
2810 Golf Road
Pewaukee, WI 53072
Counties in District: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha
North Central District
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Menominee Casino Resort
N277 Wisconsin 55
Keshena, WI 54135
Counties in District: Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Portage, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara, and Wood
East Central District
Thursday, March 16, 2017
9:00 a.m. - Noon
The Meadows Conference Center
850 Kepler Drive
Green Bay, WI 54311
Counties in District: Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan, and Winnebago
Southern District
Monday, March 20, 2017
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
North Star Conference Center at Comfort Inn & Suites
5025 County Road V
DeForest, WI 53532
Counties in District: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, and Sauk
Northwest District
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Flat Creek Inn & Suites
10290 Highway 27 South
Hayward, WI 54843
Counties in District: Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn
West Central District
Thursday, March 23, 2017
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Holiday Inn Eau Claire South
4751 Owen Ayres Court
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Counties in District: Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix
Western District
Friday, March 24, 2017
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Radisson Hotel La Crosse
200 Harborview Plaza
La Crosse, WI 54601
Counties in District: Adams, Buffalo, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marquette, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon
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UPCOMING WCA MEETINGS
- January 17 - WCA Transportation and Public Works Steering Committee
- January 18 - WCA County Ambassador Program
- January 27 - WCA Agriculture, Environment, and Land Use Steering Committee
- February 7-8 - WCA Legislative Exchange
- February 13 - WCA Taxation and Finance Steering Committee
- February 23 - WCA County Organization and Personnel Steering Committee
- March 3 - WCA Health and Human Services Steering Committee
- March 10 - WCA Judicial and Public Safety Steering Committee
- March 17 - WCA Board of Directors
See a complete listing of upcoming WCA meetings here.
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HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?
As a member-benefit, the Wisconsin Counties Association offers access to
The Wheeler Report,
WisPolitics, and
WisconsinEye.
If you would like to subscribe to any one of these news services, please contact Amy Dias, Office Manager at dias@wicounties.org or at 866.404.2700.
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QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about anything happening at the state level, please feel free to contact any member of the WCA Government Affairs Team:
Kyle Christianson,
Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
christianson@wicounties.org
Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf,
Deputy Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
diedrick@wicounties.org
Dan Bahr,
Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
bahr@wicounties.org
Marcie Rainbolt,
Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
rainbolt@wicounties.org
Chelsea Fibert,
Government Affairs Assistant
608.663.7188
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