CHARLESTON – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed a senate bill recognizing the creation of the West Virginia First Foundation that will manage nearly $1 billion in opioid settlements.
Justice signed Senate Bill 674 during a ceremony March 22. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey praised the move.
“I applaud Gov. Justice, the state Senate and the House of Delegates for the immediate attention given to this very important bill,” Morrisey said. “We will now have the groundwork desperately needed to facilitate the management of the state’s and political subdivisions’ nearly $1 billion in opioid settlements.
Morrisey
“These settlements will not bring back the lives lost from the opioid epidemic, but our hope is that the money would provide significant help to those affected the most.”
The bill also authorizes the governor to make appointments to the foundation’s board of directors with advice and consent of the state Senate.
The foundation is a private, nonstock, nonprofit foundation that will distribute any settlement or judgment funds awarded from litigation for abatement purposes. All 55 counties and 221 of the state’s 229 municipalities have signed the foundation’s Memorandum of Understanding.
The foundation will receive 72.5 percent of each settlement or judgement while 24.5 percent will be sent to local governments. The other 3 percent will be held in escrow by the state.
Morrisey says this allocation plan will maximize the money available for an opioid abatement fund and will distribute money throughout the state by helping people and funding projects most in need.
“This is the time to begin the healing from all the carnage caused by the opioid epidemic,” Morrisey said. “We must prevent another generation from falling prey to senseless death.”
The foundation will be managed by a board of 11 members, five of whom will be appointed by the governor. To represent the interests of local governments, the MOU establishes six regions, and one member will be chosen from each of those regions. An executive director will run the day-to-day operations of the foundation.
“So many lives have been lost and shattered by the opioid epidemic,” Morrisey said. “With this new law, West Virginia has dramatically improved its ability to take actions, including abatement, education and treatment to help our state recover from this epidemic.
“We will continue to fight for those families and we will serve as the voices of the sons and daughters they have lost. The severity of this problem and the harm done to West Virginians cannot be ignored.”
Justice praised Morrisey’s work on the issue.
“What a job he’s done,” the governor said. “These are our cities and our counties we’re talking about … this terrible, terrible epidemic has affected in such a hostile and terrible way, but we’ve got at least some things to celebrate here. Our Attorney General has delivered in many ways.”
Kanawha County Commissioners praised both Justice and Morrisey.
The Kanawha County Commission commends Governor Jim Justice and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for their hard work and efforts fighting the opioid crisis.
“As a former police chief, prosecutor and now County Commissioner, passing Senate Bill 674 and creating the West Virginia First Foundation is the most consequential litigation to begin the process of ending the opioid crisis which has devastated West Virginia,” Commission President Kent Carper said. “Governor Jim Justice has earned our gratitude through his leadership and by his relentless pursuit of this matter.
“Additionally, I commend Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for his tenacious efforts in bringing about victory in this protracted litigation.”
Commission Ben Salango agreed.
“We’ve all lost friends and family members from the opioid epidemic,” he said. “Today’s signing of Senate Bill 674 is a significant step in helping our State and our citizens recover from this crisis. I want to thank Governor Jim Justice for his leadership on this issue.
“I want to particularly thank our first responders, police officers, EMTs, 911 telecommunicators, law enforcement, prosecutors, and circuit judges who have been battling this crisis for years. The overwhelming burden that the pharmaceutical companies and distributors placed on our first responders and judicial system cannot be overstated.
“No amount of money will be enough to hold them accountable for the destruction they caused. However, I am thankful for this important Legislation and believe this is movement in the right direction.”
Commissioner Lance Wheeler did as well.
"As a County Commissioner who was born and raised here in Kanawha County, I like many have been personally afflicted by the opioid crisis through family and loved ones,” he said. “Today's signing of SB 674 and the creation of West Virginia First Foundation will bring hope to our communities to ensure money is properly used to fight the drug crisis we still see today.
“I would like to thank Governor Jim Justice who stood with Kanawha County since we initially started this litigation. I also would like to thank Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for seeing this through to the end.
“Today marks a must needed win for Kanawha County and the state of West Virginia.”