Charge

Created via Chapter 171 of the Laws of 2022 and pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law § 25.18, the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board was established under the Office of Addiction Services and Supports to provide recommendations on how funding received by the Opioid Settlement Fund could be allocated.

Recommendations are required to be evidence-based and can consider federal, state, or local initiatives and activities that have shown to be effective in preventing and treating substance use disorders as well as maintaining recovery and assisting with the collateral effects of substance use disorders for individuals and their families or support system.

Board Charter

Membership*

Chair 

Debra Pantin, MSW, MS-HCM 
Appointed by the Governor 
Date of Appointment: February 9, 2022

 

Vice-Chair

Justine Waldman, MD
Appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
Date of Appointment: March 17, 2022

 

Members

Dr. Charles E. Argoff, MD
Appointed by The Association of Counties
Date of Appointment: January 28, 2025

 

Lawrence S. Brown, MD 
Appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate 
Date of Appointment: February 7, 2022 (effective March 18, 2022)

Linda Beers, MPH
Appointed by the Minority Leader of the Assembly 
Date of Appointment: May 15, 2025

Tracie Gardner
Appointed by the Attorney General 
Date of Appointment: May 17, 2024

 

Stephen Giordano, PhD
Appointed by the Association of Counties 
Date of Appointment: April 14, 2022

 

Migdalia Jimenez, RN BSN
Appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate
Date of Appointment: August 7, 2025

 

Ashley Livingston
Appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
Date of Appointment: March 17, 2022

 

Cheryll Moore, BSN
Appointed by the Association of Counties
Date of Appointment: June 1, 2022

 

Dr. Michelle Morse, MD, MPH
Acting Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Designee: Dr. Rebecca Lin-Walton 

 

Michael Orth, MSW
Appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate (selected from a list of nominees by the Association of Counties) 
Date of Appointment: June 23, 2025

 

Carmen Rivera
Appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly 
Date of Appointment: March 17, 2022

 

Joyce Rivera, PhD, MPhil, MA
Appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate 
Date of Appointment: February 7, 2022 (effective March 18, 2022)

 

Tisha M. Smith, EdD
Appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly (selected from a list of nominees by the Association of Counties) 
Date of Appointment: March 21, 2022

 

Kevin Watkins, MD
Appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate (selected from a list of nominees by the Association of Counties) 
Date of Appointment: November 8, 2021

 

Agency Leadership 

Dr. Chinazo Cunningham
Commissioner, Office of Addiction Services and Supports

 

Dr. James V. McDonald, MD, MPH
Commissioner, Department of Health
Designee: Dr. David Holtgrave

 

Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan
Commissioner, Office of Mental Health
Designee: Dr. Thomas Smith

 

Blake G. Washington
Director, Division of the Budget
Designee: Peggy O’ Shea, MPAFF

 

*Board members serve three-year terms, though some may be appointed to complete unexpired terms in the event of a vacancy or remain as holdovers until a successor is appointed. Agency leadership members serve continuously by virtue of their position (Commissioners of OASAS, OMH, DOH, and the Director of the Division of the Budget).

2025 Report

The Board's 2025 Report was issued on November 1, 2025. 

2025 Report

 

Past Reports

The Board provides their recommendations in a written report to the Governor, the temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, the Chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, and the Chairs of the Senate and Assembly Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committees by November 1st each year.

 

Public Participation

The New York State Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board (Board) welcomes interested observers at its meetings. The meetings are open to the public in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. To make these meetings as productive as possible, however, the Board has established certain guidelines as it pertains to public participation. 

Meeting Guidelines

  1. Discussion and Public Presentations
    1. Board: Discussion during the meeting of the full Board is limited to Board members and staff. Public presentations will be limited to the time allotted on the agenda
    2. Presentations:
      1. Those who wish to participate shall identify themselves to a staff person prior to the meeting and indicate the agenda item they would like to support, oppose or comment on. Advance registration for public participation, whether in-person or via videoconferencing, may be required. Such advance registration requirements will be posted on the meeting notice.
      2. Except as otherwise provided in these Guidelines or at the discretion of the Chair, there will be a limit of three minutes for oral presentations. In the interest of having the meeting progress in a timely manner, one representative of an organization or facility shall be appointed as a spokesperson for that group. Also, it is requested that all members of the public, whether an individual or a representative of a group or facility, present only new views or ideas on an agenda item, rather than reiterate a thought or position similar to a previous presenter.
      3. Handouts are not permitted.
  2. Written Materials: Written materials relevant to the agenda of the Board must be sent, preferably by electronic transmission, to the Executive Secretary at least five business days prior to the meeting: Joelle Foskett, Director of Government Affairs, OASAS, 1450 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203. The Executive Secretary will share communications with the Board Chair, who in turn will verbally summarize the material for the Board members. If the material is not submitted in advance, but is brought to a meeting, it will not be distributed but will instead be considered for a future meeting.
  3. Press Inquiries: All Press inquiries concerning Board or Department activities should be directed to the Executive Secretary.
  4. Observers will be accommodated within the physical limitations of the meeting room and in accordance with the number allowed by the building’s fire safety code.

Upcoming Meetings

Please check back for the next meeting date. 

Past Meetings

2025 Meetings

October 16, 2025

 

September 12, 2025

 

July 22, 2025

 

May 22, 2025

 

May 8, 2025 Administrative Meeting 

 

February 27, 2025

 

2024 Meetings

October 28, 2024

 

October 8, 2024

 

September 24, 2024

 

September 13, 2024

 

July 10, 2024

 

May 17, 2024

 

February 26, 2024

 

2023 Meetings 

December 18, 2023

 

October 31, 2023

 

October 13, 2023

 

September 26, 2023

 

July 10, 2023

 

May 15, 2023

 

March 6, 2023

 

2022 Meetings

December 14, 2022

 

October 31, 2022 

 

October 19, 2022

Allocation Based on Votes

 

October 14, 2022 

 

September 30, 2022 

 

September 20, 2022

Watch Meeting

 

August 29, 2022 

 

August 3, 2022

 

July 18 to 19, 2022

 

June 28, 2022

 

June 14, 2022

Contact Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board

Please send comments and suggestions related to Board activities to:

Contact us by email: