The Joint Subcommittee on Human Services approved the Legislative Fiscal Office recommendation to retroactively allow the Oregon Health Authority to submit a supplemental State Opioid Response (SOAR) application worth $592,771 to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

John McElveen, Oregon’s state opioid treatment authority and principal investigator for the state’s SOAR grant, said the supplemental award (for year two of the existing SOAR grant) was narrowly targeted to develop and expand young‑adult recovery housing and fund treatment coordination services. "The supplemental funding was designed to develop and expand young adult recovery housing for individuals with stimulant or opioid use disorder," McElveen said, adding that the agency selected a current grantee familiar with program reporting and the population to administer the award because of the short timeframe (notification Aug. 22 and application due Aug. 29).

Stacy Chase of the Department of Administrative Services’ Chief Financial Office recommended approval; the Legislative Fiscal Office likewise recommended retroactive approval of the SAMHSA supplemental award. A committee member moved to approve the LFO recommendation; no objections were recorded and the motion was carried to the full committee.

The committee did not record a roll‑call tally; committee minutes show a voice approval to carry the recommendation forward. OHA staff indicated they will proceed with the grantee and the SOAR reporting and accountability requirements.