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PRINTER'S NO. 479
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 516
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ROBINSON, BARTOLOTTA, KANE, FONTANA, STEFANO,
COSTA, PENNYCUICK, MILLER AND TARTAGLIONE, MARCH 25, 2025
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 25, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for substance use overdose
awareness, treatment and recovery support; establishing the
Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program; and
providing for powers and duties of 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 52C
SUBSTANCE USE OVERDOSE AWARENESS,
TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORT
Subchapter
A. Preliminary Provisions
B. Opioid Overdose Awareness
C. Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program
SUBCHAPTER A
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Sec.
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52C01. Scope of chapter.
52C02. Definitions.
§ 52C01. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to substance use and misuse treatment
and support services.
§ 52C02. 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:
"Alcohol." The term includes "malt or brewed beverages" and
"liquor" as defined in section 102 of the act of April 12, 1951
(P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code.
"Applicant."
(1) Any of the following:
(i) A recovery support provider.
(ii) A person that provides support and technical
assistance to a recovery support provider.
(2) The term does not include an individual or a for-
profit entity.
"Commonwealth agency." An executive agency or independent
agency as those terms are defined in 2 Pa.C.S. § 101 (relating
to definitions).
"Conspicuous location." A location open to the public where
an individual is likely to see and read the poster developed
under section 52C12(a)(1) (relating to development of opioid
overdose awareness materials). The term includes a bathroom,
bulletin board, entrance, exit, hallway or lobby.
"Controlled substance." As defined in section 2 of the act
of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled
Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.
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"Department." The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs of
the Commonwealth.
"Metropolitan transportation authority." An authority
operating under 74 Pa.C.S. Ch. 17 (relating to metropolitan
transportation authorities).
"Municipality." A county, city, borough, incorporated town
or township.
"Opioid antagonist." A drug or device approved under 21
U.S.C. Ch. 9 (relating to Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act)
for emergency reversal of known or suspected opioid overdose,
including naloxone hydrochloride or other similarly acting drugs
approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for
the treatment of an opioid overdose.
"Peer recovery specialist." An individual with continuous
personal recovery from a substance use disorder who has received
substance use recovery-focused education and training in
recovery support services.
"Program." The Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant
Program established under section 52C42 (relating to Lifetime
Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program).
"Recipient." An applicant that receives a grant under this
chapter.
"Recovery from substance use ." The process of change through
which an individual who had been engaging in substance use takes
steps to improve the individual's health and wellness, leads a
self-directed life and strives to reach the individual's own
potential.
"Recovery support provider." Any of the following that
provide recovery support services to individuals, families and
communities in this Commonwealth:
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(1) A nonprofit organization.
(2) A hospital or other health care provider.
(3) A municipality.
(4) A single county authority created under the act of
April 14, 1972 (P.L.221, No.63), known as the Pennsylvania
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act.
(5) A recovery house licensed under Subarticle (b) of
Article XXIII-A of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929.
"Recovery support services." Any of the following services
relating to an individual in recovery from substance use :
(1) Providing a network of peer support provided by peer
recovery specialists for an individual in recovery from
substance use , including advocacy for individuals in recovery
from substance use .
(2) Providing and supporting a network of family support
or community support for families and communities of those in
recovery from substance use .
(3) Providing crisis intervention referrals for
individuals in recovery from substance use .
(4) Assisting an individual in recovery from substance
use in gaining stable living arrangements, including
assisting the individual in identifying appropriate living
arrangements and preparing necessary paperwork.
(5) Assisting an individual in recovery from substance
use in obtaining gainful employment, including providing a
skill evaluation and assisting the individual in identifying
employment opportunities.
(6) Creating and maintaining the technical assistance
needs of workplaces that provide support for employees in
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recovery from substance use .
(7) Providing mentoring service to an individual in
recovery from substance use .
(8) Providing referrals, assistance or consultation for
individuals in recovery from substance use in obtaining
services under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and
(7).
"Substance use ." The use or misuse of a controlled substance
or alcohol.
SUBCHAPTER B
OPIOID OVERDOSE AWARENESS
Sec.
52C11. Scope of subchapter.
52C12. Development of opioid overdose awareness materials.
§ 52C11. Scope of subchapter.
This subchapter relates to opioid overdose awareness.
§ 52C12. Development of opioid overdose awareness materials.
(a) Opioid overdose awareness materials.--
(1) The Department of Health, in collaboration with the
department, shall:
(i) Develop a poster that contains the following
information:
(A) The signs of an opioid-related overdose.
(B) What to do in the event of an opioid-related
overdose.
(C) Where to find an opioid antagonist.
(D) Where to find additional resources and
information, which may include a quick-response or QR
code or a website URL.
(ii) Develop a pamphlet with information contained
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on the poster developed under subparagraph (i).
(iii) Make the following available on the Department
of Health's publicly accessible Internet website:
(A) the poster developed under subparagraph (i);
and
(B) the pamphlet developed under subparagraph
(ii).
(iv) Make the poster developed under subparagraph
(i) available on the Department of Health's publicly
accessible Internet website in various sizes should an
entity wish to download the poster in a size other than
the one provided by the Department of Health.
(v) Provide the poster developed under subparagraph
(i) in additional languages upon request by an entity
listed under subsection (b).
(vi) Provide copies of the poster developed under
subparagraph (i) to each entity listed under subsection
(b) at no cost to the entity.
(2) The Department of Health may satisfy the
requirements for the poster under paragraph (1)(i) and the
pamphlet under paragraph (1)(ii) by updating existing
materials with information described in paragraph (1)(i).
(b) Display.--
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), the
following entities shall display the poster developed under
subsection (a)(1)(i) in a conspicuous location at the
entities' properties, where feasible, as determined by the
entity in discussion with the Department of Health:
(i) A Commonwealth agency.
(ii) A metropolitan transportation authority.
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(iii) A municipality.
(2) An entity listed under paragraph (1) shall not be
required to display the poster described in subsection (a)(1)
(i) if the entity already displays a poster with the
information described in subsection (a)(1)(i) and provides
the Department of Health with notice of the use of the
alternative poster.
SUBCHAPTER C
LIFETIME RECOVERY FROM
SUBSTANCE USE GRANT PROGRAM
Sec.
52C41. Scope of subchapter.
52C42. Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program.
52C43. Application and review.
52C44. Costs.
52C45. Funding.
52C46. Survey.
52C47. Report.
§ 52C41. Scope of subchapter.
This subchapter relates to grants to support lifetime
recovery from substance use and misuse.
§ 52C42. Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use
Grant Program is established within the department.
(b) Purpose of program.--The program shall provide grants to
assist in the development, expansion or improvement of recovery
support services delivery in this Commonwealth.
(c) Statewide and geographic balance.--The department shall
award a portion of the amount available under this subchapter to
applicants seeking grants on a Statewide basis and a portion of
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the amount to each of the geographic areas of this Commonwealth
designated under section 52C43(a)(2) (relating to application
and review).
§ 52C43. Application and review.
(a) Guidelines.--No later than 45 days after the effective
date of this section and at the discretion of the department
thereafter, the department shall, after consulting with a
representative cross section of this Commonwealth's recovery
support providers, including individuals in recovery from
substance use or family members of individuals in recovery from
substance use, adopt guidelines for the administration of the
grant program under this subchapter and shall make the
guidelines available on the department's publicly accessible
Internet website. The guidelines shall include the following:
(1) The dates of the first and last day during which the
department will accept applications.
(2) A division of this Commonwealth into nine geographic
areas. To the extent practicable, the geographic areas under
this paragraph shall be comparable to geographic areas
recognized by the department for similarly focused grants.
(3) The standards by which an application will be
scored. The following apply:
(i) The standards adopted under this paragraph shall
be designed to ensure that the grants awarded under this
subchapter are used in the most effective manner across
this Commonwealth.
(ii) The standards adopted under this paragraph
shall prioritize:
(A) Applicants that are independent, nonprofit
organizations led and governed by representatives of
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local communities of individuals in recovery from
substance use .
(B) Applicants proposing to serve areas or
assist recovery support providers serving areas of
this Commonwealth with a high incidence of substance
use or that have demonstrated a need for additional
substance use recovery support services.
(4) Statistics to be used for determination of areas of
this Commonwealth that have a high incidence of substance
use .
(b) Application.--An application for a grant under this
subchapter shall be made on a form and in a manner required by
the department.
(c) Content of application.--An application for a grant
under this subchapter shall include the following:
(1) The name of the applicant.
(2) Whether, if awarded a grant under this subchapter,
the applicant would use the grant as follows:
(i) on a Statewide basis; or
(ii) within a geographic area under subsection (a)
(2).
(3) Subgrantees with which the applicant will contract
to provide substance use recovery support services.
(4) Recovery support providers to which the applicant
intends to provide support and technical assistance.
(5) Recovery support providers to which the applicant
intends to subgrant amounts received from the grant.
(6) A proposed budget of what eligible costs will be
paid for with a grant.
(d) Review of application.--Beginning after the last day
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that the department accepts applications, the department shall
review the applications in accordance with this section and the
guidelines adopted under subsection (a).
(e) Awarding of grants.--After review of the applications
under subsection (d), the department shall award grants as
follows:
(1) For applicants seeking a grant under subsection (c)
(2)(i), the department shall award grants to applicants whose
applications received the highest scores among applicants
seeking a grant on a Statewide basis.
(2) For applicants seeking a grant under subsection (c)
(2)(ii), the department shall award grants to applicants
whose applications received the highest scores among
applicants seeking a grant within each geographic area.
(f) Denial of applicant information.--An applicant that is
not awarded a grant under subsection (e) shall be provided with
information documenting the overall score the applicant
received, the score received for each of the standards under
subsection (a)(3) and the overall scores of all applicants in
the denied applicant's category under subsection (c)(2) .
§ 52C44. Costs.
An amount awarded as a grant under this subchapter may be
used for the following costs:
(1) Costs associated with providing recovery support
services to residents of this Commonwealth.
(2) Costs associated with assisting recovery support
providers with developing, expanding or improving recovery
support services, including providing training and
development of the tools and facilities necessary to provide
recovery support services.
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(3) Costs incurred by the recipient under section 52C46
(relating to survey).
§ 52C45. Funding.
(a) Appropriation.--The General Assembly may appropriate
money to the department for the program.
(b) Funding from Opioid Settlement Restricted Account.--
(1) Money appropriated to the department from the Opioid
Settlement Restricted Account may be used to make grants
under this subchapter.
(2) The department shall ensure that amounts under
paragraph (1) used for the program comply with restrictions
on the use of the money in the Opioid Settlement Restricted
Account.
(c) Funding from State Opioid Response Administration
appropriation.--Federal money appropriated by the General
Assembly for State Opioid Response Administration may be used
for the purposes of this subchapter.
§ 52C46. Survey.
(a) Performance of survey.--No less frequently than once per
year, a recipient shall perform a survey of individuals who
received recovery support services from the recipient during the
time period in which a recipient received a grant under this
subchapter.
(b) Contents of survey.--Results of the survey may not
contain any personally identifiable information.
(c) Voluntary participation.--Participation in the survey
under this section by an individual who received recovery
support services shall be voluntary.
(d) Submission to department.--A recipient shall provide
information received under subsection (a) to the department in a
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manner and form as requested by the department.
§ 52C47. Report.
(a) Annual report.--No later than March 31, 2025, and March
31 of each year thereafter, the department shall publish an
annual report that includes the following:
(1) The name and address of each recipient.
(2) The amount awarded to each recipient for each fiscal
year.
(3) The number of individuals who received recovery
support services from each recipient under paragraph (2) in
each fiscal year in which the recipient received a grant
under this subchapter.
(4) A review of results of the surveys conducted under
section 52C46 (relating to survey), including the percentage
of individuals receiving services from the recipient who
remain in long-term recovery after six months, one year, two
years, five years and more than 10 years.
(b) Prohibited content.--The report under this section may
not contain any personally identifiable information of an
individual who received recovery support from a recipient.
(c) Submission of report.--The report under this section
shall be submitted to the following:
(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
(3) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate.
(4) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Health Committee of the House of Representatives.
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(5) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
(d) Public availability.--The report shall be made available
to the public on the department's publicly accessible Internet
website.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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