·       Passed HB 410 (related to scope of practice for licensed alcohol and drug counselors). After nearly three years of dedicated effort by advocates, providers, and committed legislators, HB 410 was passed. HB 410 authorizes appropriately qualified Masters Degree prepared licensed alcohol and drug counselors (MLADCs) to provide treatment to individuals with co–occurring substance use and mental health disorders. HB 410 will improve the lives of those seeking integrated and cost effective treatment for co-occurring disorders. 

 

·       Defeated SB 475, (relative to removing all restrictions on “happy hour” advertising). Passage of this bill would have resulted in increased exposure of underage youth to alcohol advertising and encouraged excess consumption by legal drinkers. The defeat of SB 475 was only possible because of advocates like you who

let their legislators know they did not want more alcohol ads in their communities.

 

 

·       Protection of Funding for the Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund in the budget.  As the legislature worked around the clock in late May and early June to close the estimated $295 M budget gap for the current biennium, New Futures, advocates, and legislative supporters were there to ensure that reductions to the Alcohol Fund were small ($76,000 from an appropriation of $3.8 M) and that the control of the Fund remained with the Governor’s Commission. 

Stay tuned as over the summer New Futures will be working on a number of important issues, including:

 

·       Participation in a newly formed Governor’s Commission workgroup charged with defining what an improved and expanded Medicaid benefit for substance use disorder treatment would look like. The workgroup must make recommendations to the Governor’s Commission by October 1, 2010. 

 

·       HB 1493 Study Committee to examine state insurance law related to mental health and substance use disorder coverage. This study is both important and timely because of recent federal legislation that directly impacts insurance coverage. Federal legislation now mandates insurance “parity” (mental health/substance use disorders are covered at the same level as any other disease), and federal health care reform will also impact insurance coverage on the state level.

 

·       Special Session HB 1 Study Committee re Liquor Commission operations. The committee will consider the possible transfer of the Division of Liquor Enforcement and Licensing from the Liquor Commission to the Department of Safety. Last summer New Futures joined community advocates in support of the recommendation of a prior study committee that the enforcement, licensing, and education functions should remain within the Liquor Commission. This issue remains alive and we plan to continue our advocacy with the new study committee.