Task Force

Final Report
1.3 MB file - may take several minutes to open
Appendix A
Appendix B
(all in PDF format)

Members

Minutes
Aug 14-15,'02
Jul 17-18,'02
May 23, 2002
Apr 18, 2002
Mar 25, 2002
Mar 4, 2002
Feb 6, 2002

Meeting Summary

TASK FORCE MEMBERS PRESENT:  Jerry Archer, Mary Fay, Duane Grimes, Mary Haydal, Joey Jayne, Cathy Kendall, Marko Lucich, Janet Meissner, Roland Mena, Robin Morris, Bill Muhs, Rick Robinson, Peg Shea, Bill Snell.  Facilitated by Sandy Mack

AGENDA TOPICS (as amended at meeting)

Thursday:  8:00 am - 5:00 pm

• Start-up:
• Clarify "Voting" & Decisions
• Discuss & Decide Strategy Recommendations for "Top Priority" Desired Outcomes
• Review & Update Tasks & Time Line
• Public Comment

Friday: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

• Strategies - Funding
• Understand interests
• Brainstorm
• Discuss and Sort
• Alcohol Tax to Counties - Transfer - Discuss

THURSDAY July 18^th

WELCOME & OPENING PRAYER

Duane Grimes opened the meeting and Mary Haydal and Peg Shea offered opening prayers.

MEETING SUMMARY

Participants approved the May 23, 2002 meeting summary.  It will be posted on the Task Force Web Site.

http://www.discoveringmontana.com/martz/css/drugcontrol/default.asp

CLARIFY "VOTING" & DECISION MAKING

Bill Muhs pointed out in a memo to Duane Grimes that part of the Task Force's ground rules stated that though the Task Force would strive for 100% agreement in our strategy recommendations we decided that if 100% agreement could not be reached on a recommendation we would declare a majority at 17 of 20 members.  Bill pointed out that on average 14 Task Force Members have attended each meeting and suggested the group discuss this.

After discussion the decision was made to modify the original ground rule to if 100% agreement could not be reached on a recommendation then we would declare a majority at 85% of those Task Force Members present at a meeting. 

The rest of the ground rule stated that if the minority appeared to be of one category (e.g., prevention workers, Tribal members, etc.) or one "interest", then the group continued to work to try to honor those interests.  The facilitator had the responsibility to declare a topic discussion final. Recommendations that had less than 17 of the 20 members agreeing to it (modified to add -- or less than 85%) are presented under Section 8.0- Written Analysis, Items Not Agreed To, in the Task Force's Document

STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS

Task Force Members continued discussing the "Top Priority" Desired Outcomes and Strategies based on the 7/15/02 draft of the Working Document. 

TIME-LINE AND TASKS

There are several Action Items due by August 7^th (See Action Item Review - at end of summary).

With the last meeting on August 14^th and 15^th the facilitator expressed concern that there would not be enough time to incorporate the work from that meeting and have time for the Task Force Members to review and approve the changes before September 1^st.  The Task Force asked Jean Branscum if the "due date" could be moved to September 13^th.  Jean said that she felt that would be fine and would check with the Governor and let us know if there were any concerns.

Seventh Meeting (Final) -- (Helena)
Wednesday, Aug 14
8:00 am - 4:30 pm, and
Thursday, Aug 15
8:00 - 3:00 pm
State Capitol, Room 317

Sleeping Rooms are available at the Elkhorn Mountain Inn at 1 Jackson Creek Road, Montana City, MT 59634.  (Phone: 406-442-6625; Toll Free: 866-442-6625)

The agenda for the August meeting will include:

• An evening session
• Continued discussion of recommendations
• MCAA proposal
• Process evaluation (Not mentioned at meeting but on Task Force Time Line)

PARKING LOT

Task Force Members wanted to capture thoughts that did not fall within our agenda.  It was acknowledged that there may or may not be enough time during the next remaining meeting for the Task Force to address these items.

• Binge Drinking Issues.  Different ages receive different penalties.  Need tools to let them people know what the issues with binge drinking are.
• Don't allow minors into establishments that serve alcohol.
• Use a percentage of Tobacco Settlement dollars for ATOD programs.

PUBLIC COMMENT (Public and Expert Input and Comments)

Twenty five people attended the Public Comment portion of the meeting.  Those who provided comments are noted in bold: Verna Boucher, MGWWA; Dorothy Bradly, CJCC (Gallatin); Ed Brandt, Cardinal Distributing; Peter Bronken, Bronken's Dist.; Linda Budesde, SWCE Program; Claire Cantrell, ADSGC; Jenna Caplette, DUI Task Force; Trent Cold, Gallatin County CTC Coalition-Alcohol & Drug Services of Gallatin County; Jamie Cornish, MSU-Most of Us Campaign; Alison Counts, ICC Vice Chair; Roger Curtis; Kerry Erickson; Don Hargrove, Senate; Tony Herrera, Beyone the Pipe Project-InCare Network; Shelly Johnson, ADSGC; Greg Joose, Mt. Department of Justice; Nan LeFebvre, DPHHS Director's Office & MT Tobacco Use Prevention; Carl Lehrkind; Lehrkind Inc.; Jean McCauley, Southwest CD Program; Kent Mollohan, MT, Dept. of Transportation; Sarah Reener; Chris Rody; Casey Rudd, Connections; Mike Ruppert, Boyd Anderew; High School Teacher; Jerry Vanderpan, Treatment Court.

FRIDAY JULY 19^th

STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS - FUNDING AND RESOURCES

Task Force Members continued discussing the "Top Priority" Desired Outcomes and Strategies- specific to funding and resource issues. The group first identified their interests by answering the following question. Their responses appear below.  "When looking at funding options for ATOD programs it is important to me that…"

• … funded programs and services be on-going.  Also, funding needs to be flexible to test pilot or promising practices.
• … we consider the safety and well being of our citizens & guest in Montana, in conjunction with the fiscal restraints.
• … if at all possible, there is a direct correlation between the funding source and what you are attempting to impact.  For example: Tobacco settlement dollars should be used for tobacco prevention, education & cessation.  In this way as the use of tobacco goes down it decreases at a rate similar to funding.
• … we look at a comprehensive blueprint of what has to be accomplished and try to partnership whenever possible.  I would hope to look at what programs are needed and see how we can accomplish that and not let funding be the issue.  A lot of prevention, education and enforcement can be accomplished first and then with funding availabilities set priorities.
• …there's a relationship between the money raised and who's paying it.  (i.e. person's who use beer/alcohol pay for the cost of trating the disease; tobacco tax increases to discourage teens from starting).  Accountability and deterrent.
• … any money raised is earmarked for "Most of Us" type campaigns assessment and treatment etc.  That there is an ongoing funding stream.
• … the burden of these costs be borne by the users and abusers of alcohol & drugs.  These programs need fewer subsidies from those who do not drink or whose drinking does not cause problems.  Last, majority of fines/sanction dollars be retained at the local level.
• … there is no increase in taxes/fees.
• … we look to long term solutions through prevention methods and building structure(s) for prevention & treatment.  We should balance this approach with providing safety for our communities by enacting laws that protect us.
• … it is adequate!
• …all options are considered.  ATOD programs are not sacrificed to meet general fund deficit. Funding is directed to prevention, treatment, & law enforcement, not merely one area.
• … we focus on amiable solutions that maybe some of us don't like, but we can live with that serve the grater good of our state.
• … the funding source has (if possible) a correlation.

The group then brainstormed potential funding and resource ideas for ATOD programs.  The ideas were then discussed very briefly.  If all members agreed it should be a recommendation to further explore the opportunity it was placed in the recommendation category.  If some members could not live with the idea being recommended for further exploration, but others felt strongly it should be looked at, it was put in a "written analysis" category.  If all agreed to delete an item it was deleted.  The results of this exercise are included in the attached excerpts from the Working Document.  

ALCOHOL TAX TO COUNTIES - PROPOSAL TO CUT FUNDS

During Thursday's public comment period, six people commented on the Governor's proposal to transfer $1 million dollars of earmarked alcohol funds from counties to help balance the state budget.  They expressed alarm at the proposal and explained that the cut would drastically impact the treatment services they provide.  Task Force Members decided to add this item to the agenda to discuss on Friday.

Roland Mena presented an overview of the proposed tax cut and handed out a sheet with the full Special Session Proposal to reduce $45 million from the state budget.   The group decided that the proposed budget cut directly affected the area of their charge and since the special session was scheduled for August 5^th, with subcommittee meetings starting the week of July 25^th the Task Force felt some urgency in getting the information to the Governor and Attorney General.  They determined that waiting until the final report was due in September would be neglectful.  They decided to send an advisory letter to the Governor and Attorney General, through the Task Force contact representatives (Jean Branscum and Galen Hollenbaugh). The letter should include:

This is all we've got.  Only local discretionary funds that can be used to fund programs.  Some money is leveraged for more federal money.

$1 spent on treatment and prevention saves $7

Don't have enough money for prevention and treatment currently.

Double punch - Dept. of correction cuts

Attachment, Task Force List showing areas of expertise.

Not just taking away $1 million from a larger budget.  The budget goes to $0.

Jerry will sign the letter for the Task Force because Duane will be out of town.  Sandy will draft the letter and email it to all Task Force Members for review by Monday July 22^nd.  Comments need to be back to Sandy by the end of the day Tuesday July 23^rd.  The letter will be mailed Wednesday July 24^th.

ACTION ITEM REVIEW

Task Force Members will email the information they collect in the following action items to Sandy by Aug. 7.  Sandy will forward the information to all Task Force members via email on that day, giving members one week to review before our next meeting on Aug. 14^th.