Recent legislation is prompting local governments to opt back into a statewide opioid settlement. Indiana House Bill 1193 was signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb earlier this month. It changes the way money from opioid manufacturers and distributors is funneled to cities, towns and counties.
Porter County Attorney Scott McClure says the county opted out of a previous version since it would have prohibited the county from taking part in future settlements and taken away local control. "The Family and Social Services Administration would ultimately have received Porter County's funds, and that would have then been distributed and decided upon by the Family and Social Services Administration," McClure told the county commissioners last week.
House Bill 1193 resolved those issues, according to Hammond City Council Member Scott Rakos. "They've changed it to where cities like Hammond and I believe it's 74 other ones would have more input and would also get back more of the settlement," Rakos said during last week's Hammond City Council meeting.
The Hammond City Council and Porter County Commissioners both took action last week to opt back into the settlement.
Porter County is set to receive a total of 2.8 million dollars from Johnson & Johnson and three opioid distributors over the next several years, minus attorney fees. Commissioner Jeff Good expects that it's just the beginning.
"There still could be other people coming forward, too, to be named in this agreement . . . so there's more coming," Good said.
