By JIM BUTLER

A Police Jury committee will get an update today from State Sen. Jay Luneau on opiod litigation.

The Personnel, Elections, Insurance and Legal Committee will hear the report behind closed doors at its 3 p.m. meeting.

Discussing of litigation response and strategy in executive session is allowable under the state’s Sunshine Law.

What might need to be talked about out of public hearing is speculative at best. Possibilities could be how much and when?

The state share of a settlement in 2021 was $600 million over 18 years. The Rapides share of that Opiod Abatement Fund was about $600,000 a year. Under the state’s formula, 20 percent of a parish’s share goes to the sheriff.

Initial payments were disbursed more than two years after the settlement.

The Memo of Understanding created under the administration of then-Atty. Gen. outlines specific manners in which the funding can be used.

Also today, the Ambulance, Fire, Health & Homeland Security Committee will be asked to recommend renewing an agreement with St. Martin and St. Mary Parishes for sheltering critical transportation needs for evacuees and their pets.

The agreement is part of those parishes’ emergency response planning. Both are located in the state’s Hurricane Alley.

Parties involved in the agreement are the jury, the Coliseum, the Sheriff’s Office and the Red Cross.

The impacted parishes pay daily rental fee plus fees for sanitation, garbage and electrical service. The renewal would extend the arrangement through May 2028.

The committee will also receive Acadian Ambulance’s monthly response report.

It notes 1,038 calls, all answered with the allowable contracted response time.

No update from the parish Ambulance Advisory Committee is on the posted agenda.