2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26102551D

SENATE BILL NO. 599

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 14, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact § 9.1-116.8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund; grant procedures.

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Patron—Srinivasan

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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 9.1-116.8 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 9.1-116.8. Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of funding and supporting the planning and implementation of locally administered jail-based addiction recovery and substance use disorder treatment and transition programs in local and regional jails. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director of the Department or his designee.

B. The Fund shall be administered by the Department, and the Department shall adopt guidelines, in consultation with the Virginia Sheriffs' Association and the Virginia Association of Regional Jails, to make funds available to local and regional jails for the planning or operation of substance use disorder treatment services and transition services for persons with substance use disorder who are incarcerated in local and regional jails. The guidelines shall direct the distribution of funds to programs including medical assisted treatment therapies, addiction recovery and other substance use disorder services, or reentry and transitional support.

C. The Department shall establish a grant procedure, in consultation with the Virginia Sheriffs' Association and the Virginia Association of Regional Jails, to govern funds awarded for this purpose, which shall include requirements that (i) any grant awarded be made for up to three years and (ii) an applicant for a grant submit a plan demonstrating how such applicant will become independently financially viable within the time period for which the grant is awarded. No grant funds shall be used by the grantee to supplant funding for an existing program.