SSB 5380, sponsored by Senator Annette Cleveland (D–Vancouver) and the companion bill SHB 1331, sponsored by Representative Eileen Cody (D–West Seattle), have passed out of their policy committees and are now both in their respective fiscal committees.

Both bills modify the protocols for using medications to treat opioid use disorder and requires therapeutic courts that receive funding from the state’s criminal justice treatment account and city and county jails to provide medication assisted treatment.

SHB 1331 includes funding language for city and county jails to provide medication assisted treatment. SSB 5380 provides no funding language for city and county jails but mandates medication assisted treatment. AWC is working to make sure funding language appears in the Senate version of the bill.

Dates to remember

SSB 5380 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday, February 19 at 3:30.