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Committee sends plan to funnel alcohol-tax revenue to local coordinating councils
Summary
The Indiana House Public Policy Committee approved House Bill 14‑34, which would rename the Addiction Services Fund and redirect specified alcohol‑tax revenue into a new Alcohol Misuse Prevention and Treatment Fund to provide stable grants for county local coordinating councils (LCCs).
The Indiana House Public Policy Committee on Thursday approved House Bill 14‑34 by a 12‑0 vote to establish an Alcohol Misuse Prevention and Treatment Fund and to redirect specified alcohol‑tax revenues to provide a steady funding stream for local coordinating councils (LCCs).
Representative Tyson Smaltz (presenting) described the bill’s core elements: rename the Addiction Services Fund, create a grant program for LCCs, and redirect existing tax revenue that currently goes to the general fund and the state construction fund into the new fund. Smaltz said the proposal would provide recurring local support — citing an illustrative $720,000 per year from the general fund and about $1.5 million from the state construction fund — for county‑level coalitions to address local alcohol misuse priorities such as underage and binge drinking.
Committee members and multiple LCC leaders and prevention professionals testified in favor. Rebecca Calhoun, executive director of Drug Free Noble County and Drug Free DeKalb County, told the committee LCCs have seen declining local interdiction fees and inconsistent funding; she described LCCs as “the first line of defense” for prevention, treatment and justice initiatives. Amanda Morrison, director of prevention services at Jimenez Corporation (the fiscal agent for SAFE in Lake County), and Lisa Hutchison, chair of Drug Free Boone County, also supported the bill and described programs funded by LCCs including law‑enforcement overtime for event patrols, medication‑assisted treatment supports, school prevention programming and public awareness campaigns.
Representative Smaltz and supporters emphasized that LCCs are locally based coalitions defined in Indiana Code 5‑2‑11‑1.6 and that the legislation would allow communities to target funds to locally identified priorities and be held to performance metrics. Committee members asked about inter‑county coordination and program duplication; witnesses described monthly coalition meetings, three‑year planning cycles and existing evaluations required by state review.
Representative Lucas briefly noted research showing reduced alcohol use in some states that adopt different cannabis policies; no opposition testimony was recorded in committee. The committee adopted an amendment defining a local coordinating council and then voted to send the bill forward with a do‑pass recommendation.
