PRINTER'S NO. 334
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
391
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, HAYWOOD, FONTANA, DILLON, TARTAGLIONE,
CAPPELLETTI, COMITTA, COSTA AND KEARNEY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, FEBRUARY 21, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for emergency addiction
treatment; and imposing powers and duties on the Department
of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 83
EMERGENCY ADDICTION TREATMENT
Subchapter
A. Preliminary Provisions
B. Program
SUBCHAPTER A
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Sec.
8301. Scope of chapter.
8302. Definitions.
§ 8301. Scope of chapter.
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This chapter relates to emergency addiction treatment.
§ 8302. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs of
the Commonwealth.
"Program." The Emergency Addiction Treatment Program
established in section 8310 (relating to Emergency Addiction
Treatment Program).
SUBCHAPTER B
PROGRAM
Sec.
8310. Emergency Addiction Treatment Program.
§ 8310. Emergency Addiction Treatment Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Emergency Addiction Treatment
Program is established in the department to provide addiction
treatment in licensed long-term residential addiction treatment
facilities, including licensed halfway houses, for individuals
who are unable to obtain timely or appropriate treatment, as
determined by the department, and to establish treatment
facilities. The program shall be administered by the department.
(b) Powers and duties of department.--In order to provide
individuals seeking assistance with better and more timely
access to drug and alcohol addiction treatment, the department
shall:
(1) Maintain a toll-free telephone number to assist
individuals seeking help for drug and alcohol problems. The
telephone number shall be posted on the department's publicly
accessible Internet website and shall be posted or published
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by the department in other media as the department determines
is necessary to reach as many individuals as possible.
(2) Provide assistance in accessing addiction treatment.
The department may provide this service by contract.
(3) Develop and maintain a database identifying problems
and patterns in accessing appropriate addiction treatment.
(4) Develop and provide a program to educate and counsel
families with addiction problems on how to prevent and treat
addiction.
(5) Prepare an annual report to the General Assembly on
the activities described in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3),
including recommendations for improving access to addiction
treatment. The report shall be posted on the department's
publicly accessible Internet website.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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