Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Establishing Opioid Recovery & Remediation Fund for Allocation of Settlement Funds to Address Opioid Crisis

Statement

Governor Phil Murphy today signed a bill (S-783) to codify the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council into law and establish an Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund -- building on steps taken via Executive Order No. 305 last year to help New Jersey determine how best to utilize opioid settlement funds to address the opioid crisis, which has tragically taken over 14,000 lives in New Jersey over the past five years alone.

New Jersey and various counties and municipalities throughout the state have signed onto nationwide settlement agreements with several opioid manufacturers and distributors for their involvement in the ongoing opioid epidemic. Over the next two decades, more than $600 million in funds from settlements in 2021 will be divided amongst the participating State and local governments in New Jersey.

"This legislation will further enable our ongoing efforts to address the impact of the opioid crisis on our state," said Governor Murphy. "With thorough input from subject matter experts and those with lived experiences regarding the use of these settlement funds, we have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of countless New Jersey residents and communities that have been affected by this crisis."

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