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[COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR] ORDINANCE NO. 230824

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Sponsor:  Councilmember Ryana Parks-Shaw

Directing the Director of Health to utilize $2,268,752.11 from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Health Levy Fund and $2,631,247.89 from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Opioid Program Fund to support the expansion of medically assisted treatment (MAT) programs, Safe Haven beds, and respite beds in Kansas City, Missouri to support the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals recovering from persistent substance use disorder, including those who are unhoused; appropriating $2,268,752.11 in the Health Levy Fund; estimating revenue of $911,179.34 in the Opioid Program Fund; appropriating $2,631,247.89 in the Opioid Program Fund; and designating requisitioning authority.

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WHEREAS, substance use disorder contributed to at least 305 deaths in Kansas City, Missouri in 2022; and

WHEREAS the Kansas City metropolitan region had a 22% increase in drug overdose deaths between 2021 and 2022, representing the largest increase of any region in the state; and

WHEREAS, the overdose death rate in Black residents of the Kansas City metropolitan area was nearly two times higher than that of White residents of the Kansas City metropolitan area in 2022; and

WHEREAS, the Kansas City, Missouri City Council has made a commitment to eradicating chronic houselessness; and

WHEREAS, substance use overdoses continue to increase at the state, county, and local levels; and

WHEREAS, medically-assisted treatment is proven to reduce substance use, but is a tool that is underutilized in Kansas City; and

WHEREAS, Safe Haven and respite beds provide low-barrier support for substance use treatment in ways that are not currently available in currently available shelter options; and

WHEREAS, stigma remains as a significant barrier to health care providers offering treatment to those suffering from substance use disorder; and

WHEREAS, persistent racial and ethnic inequities exist, with respect to access to substance use treatment, necessitating improved peer support and outreach efforts; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1.  The Kansas City Health and Housing Departments shall collaborate to expand respite care, Safe Haven beds, and medically assisted treatment clinics throughout Kansas City, Missouri, using the competitive bid process.

Section 2. That all healthcare providers in Kansas City, Missouri be offered training to improve awareness and build skills toward becoming administrators of medically assisted treatment for substance use disorder.

Section 3. That peer outreach and support initiatives shall be leveraged and expanded to reduce inequities in access to substance use treatment and care.

Section 4. That expansions in access to services are sustained through the pursuit of    diverse funding streams and mechanisms.

Section 5. That the sum of $2,268,752.11 is hereby appropriated from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Health Levy Fund in the following account:

24-2330-503333-B                                       Substance Use Treatment                                                               $2,268,752.11

Section 6. That the revenue in the following account of the Opioid Program Fund is hereby estimated in the following amount:

24-2331-502390-479976                               Opioid Settlements                                                                                      $  911,179.34

Section 7. That the sum of $2,631,247.89 is hereby appropriated from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Opioid Program Fund in the following account:

24-2331-502390-B                                                        Opioid Settlements                                                                                    $2,631,247.89

Section 8. That the Director of Health is hereby designated as requisitioning authority for Account Nos. 24-2330-503333 and 24-2331-502390.

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                     I hereby certify that there is a balance, otherwise unencumbered, to the credit of the appropriation to which the foregoing expenditure is to be charged, and a cash balance, otherwise unencumbered, in the treasury, to the credit of the fund from which payment is to be made, each sufficient to meet the obligation hereby incurred.

                                                                                                                              ___________________________________

                                                                                                                              Tammy L. Queen

                                                                                                                              Director of Finance

                                                                                                                              Approved as to form:

                                                                                                                              ___________________________________

                                                                                                                              Joseph A. Guarino

                                                                                                                              Assistant City Attorney