Committee
Data and Policy

This committee is responsible for overseeing any legislative action, promoting data-sharing among entities, and serving as a link and information provider to other committees.

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time.

Actionable Goals

Continue longstanding efforts to guide and support the legislative and data-related work of the BHC Committees.

Members

Carolyn Petrak

Co-Chair

Dr. Meghan Walls

Co-Chair

Accomplishments to Date

Formed the HB 220 Addiction Action Committee, formerly the Prescription Drug Advisory Committee. Bill Detail — Delaware General Assembly

Established the HS 1 for HB 440 Overdose System of Care. Delaware was the first in the nation to do this. Assigned under the BHC Access and Treatment Committee. Bill Detail — Delaware General Assembly

Enacted the SB 230 Mental Health Parity Act. Worked closely with Patrick Kennedy and the Kennedy Forum to accomplish this. Requires annual reporting by insurance carriers on coverage for serious mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies. Assigned under the BHC Access and Treatment Committee. Bill Detail — Delaware General Assembly

Enacted the HB 368 Green Alert Program. An alert system for at-risk active-duty military personnel or veterans who have gone missing, similar to the Gold Alert. Assigned under the BHC Education and Prevention Committee. Legislation Document (delaware.gov)

Established the HB 74 Take Care Delaware program, a partnership between law enforcement and schools to adopt a trauma-informed approach for children who have experienced a traumatic event, and to act in concert with police and schools. The bill allows an exception to existing law to share student information with the school. Bill Detail — Delaware General Assembly

Supported the SB 34 Opioid Impact Fee, paid by pharmaceutical manufacturers. The BHC actively supported the development of the Opioid Impact Fund (OIF) and the Settlement Fund and is responsible for its functioning. The OIF will ensure that settlement money is used to remediate and abate the opioid crisis so that the funds are not diverted to other purposes. As part of the BHC, the OIF ensures that decisions on how to spend funds are reached through consensus processes that consider the views and experience of affected communities. The BHC will distribute money received by the Settlement Fund and the Prescription Opioid Impact Fund (Impact Fund), enacted by Senate Bill No. 34 of the 150th General Assembly, according to the recommendations of the commission. The commission will continue to engage the public and relevant stakeholders for guidance on disbursement for greatest impact. Legislation Document (delaware.gov)

Enacted HB 372 Banning Powdered Alcohol. Assigned under BHC Data and Policy Committee. Bill Detail — Delaware General Assembly

Established HS 1 for HB 160 Behavioral Health Crisis Workforce, identifying data sources and linking them to workforce development needs. Law enforcement drug diversion programs were embedded in several agencies throughout the state. Bill Detail — Delaware General Assembly