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Panel discusses opioid grants, settlement pass-throughs and federal cap on administrative spending
Summary
Committee heard that the substance abuse program is shifting federal and state fund sources to comply with a federal administrative cap while maintaining staffing; the director reported pass-through grants including an update on a Boise State collegiate recovery program.
Alex Williamson of the Legislative Services Office summarized the Division of Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention budget and noted prior one-time COVID-relief funding, an $8 million state opioid response grant made ongoing in FY2024, and a FY2025 ongoing enhancement largely funded from the Millennium Income Fund.
The division told the committee it is on a corrective action plan with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for exceeding a 5% cap on administrative (personnel) spending within the substance-use block grant. To return to federal compliance while maintaining staffing, the department asked the Legislature to approve swaps of fund sources: about $533,900 from liquor-control dedicated money to pay personnel costs and a related reallocation of roughly $673,900 on the federal side from personnel to trustee and benefit payments.
Senator Cook pressed whether the proposal simply masks administrative overspending by moving personnel costs to other state-dedicated funds. Legislative analysts said the shift is intended to move personnel costs onto non-federal sources so the federal block-grant ratio is compliant while preserving the program’s staff. Director Alex Adams said the department proposed a net reduction in authorized FTP across the program even as it reallocated funding sources.
The committee also discussed opioid-settlement and Millennium Fund spending that the department has administered as a pass-through. Representative Tanner asked about a $100,000 Boise State University grant to develop a collegiate recovery program. Adams said Boise State established the program, reporting that university staff “have established the collegiate recovery program on campus” and that they had “hosted 7 social events for 375 students.” Adams emphasized that the department served as a check-writing pass-through and had no operational oversight of those grantees.
Representative Tanner also asked for an update on the Idaho Drug Free Youth program funded by Millennium Income Funds; Adams said the program had nine chapters in schools, hosted an Idaho Youth Summit and local events, and the department could provide the report to the committee. The department said it would share written follow-up on program outcomes and on how the fund swaps would affect compliance and staffing.
Why it matters: the federal corrective action and fund swaps bear on continued eligibility for federal block-grant funds and the department’s ability to keep staff in place. Settlement and Millennium funds directed through the department as pass-through support local recovery and prevention programs, and committee members asked for performance information before making decisions on ongoing appropriation language.
