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
1 Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for substance use overdose
3 awareness, treatment and recovery support; establishing the
4 Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program; and
5 providing for powers and duties of the Department of Drug and
6 Alcohol Programs.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
10 Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
11 CHAPTER 52C
12 SUBSTANCE USE OVERDOSE AWARENESS,
13 TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORT
14 Subchapter
15 A. Preliminary Provisions
16 B. Opioid Overdose Awareness
17 C. Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program
18 SUBCHAPTER A
19 PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
20 Sec.
 1 52C01. Scope of chapter.
2 52C02. Definitions.
3 § 52C01. Scope of chapter.
4 This chapter relates to substance use and misuse treatment
5 and support services.
6 § 52C02. Definitions.
7 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
8 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
9 context clearly indicates otherwise:
10 "Alcohol." The term includes "malt or brewed beverages" and
11 "liquor" as defined in section 102 of the act of April 12, 1951
12 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code.
13 "Applicant."
14 (1) Any of the following:
15 (i) A recovery support provider.
16 (ii) A person that provides support and technical
17 assistance to a recovery support provider.
18 (2) The term does not include an individual or a for-
19 profit entity.
20 "Commonwealth agency." An executive agency or independent
21 agency as those terms are defined in 2 Pa.C.S. § 101 (relating
22 to definitions).
23 "Conspicuous location." A location open to the public where
24 an individual is likely to see and read the poster developed
25 under section 52C12(a)(1) (relating to development of opioid
26 overdose awareness materials). The term includes a bathroom,
27 bulletin board, entrance, exit, hallway or lobby.
28 "Controlled substance." As defined in section 2 of the act
29 of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled
30 Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.
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 1 "Department." The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs of
2 the Commonwealth.
3 "Metropolitan transportation authority." An authority
4 operating under 74 Pa.C.S. Ch. 17 (relating to metropolitan
5 transportation authorities).
6 "Municipality." A county, city, borough, incorporated town
7 or township.
8 "Opioid antagonist." A drug or device approved under 21
9 U.S.C. Ch. 9 (relating to Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act)
10 for emergency reversal of known or suspected opioid overdose,
11 including naloxone hydrochloride or other similarly acting drugs
12 approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for
13 the treatment of an opioid overdose.
14 "Peer recovery specialist." An individual with continuous
15 personal recovery from a substance use disorder who has received
16 substance use recovery-focused education and training in
17 recovery support services.
18 "Program." The Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant
19 Program established under section 52C42 (relating to Lifetime
20 Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program).
21 "Recipient." An applicant that receives a grant under this
22 chapter.
23 "Recovery from substance use." The process of change through
24 which an individual who had been engaging in substance use takes
25 steps to improve the individual's health and wellness, leads a
26 self-directed life and strives to reach the individual's own
27 potential.
28 "Recovery support provider." Any of the following that
29 provide recovery support services to individuals, families and
30 communities in this Commonwealth:
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 1 (1) A nonprofit organization.
2 (2) A hospital or other health care provider.
3 (3) A municipality.
4 (4) A single county authority created under the act of
5 April 14, 1972 (P.L.221, No.63), known as the Pennsylvania
6 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act.
7 (5) A recovery house licensed under Subarticle (b) of
8 Article XXIII-A of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
9 No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929.
10 "Recovery support services." Any of the following services
11 relating to an individual in recovery from substance use:
12 (1) Providing a network of peer support provided by peer
13 recovery specialists for an individual in recovery from
14 substance use, including advocacy for individuals in recovery
15 from substance use.
16 (2) Providing and supporting a network of family support
17 or community support for families and communities of those in
18 recovery from substance use.
19 (3) Providing crisis intervention referrals for
20 individuals in recovery from substance use.
21 (4) Assisting an individual in recovery from substance
22 use in gaining stable living arrangements, including
23 assisting the individual in identifying appropriate living
24 arrangements and preparing necessary paperwork.
25 (5) Assisting an individual in recovery from substance
26 use in obtaining gainful employment, including providing a
27 skill evaluation and assisting the individual in identifying
28 employment opportunities.
29 (6) Creating and maintaining the technical assistance
30 needs of workplaces that provide support for employees in
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 1 recovery from substance use.
2 (7) Providing mentoring service to an individual in
3 recovery from substance use.
4 (8) Providing referrals, assistance or consultation for
5 individuals in recovery from substance use in obtaining
6 services under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and
7 (7).
8 "Substance use." The use or misuse of a controlled substance
9 or alcohol.
10 SUBCHAPTER B
11 OPIOID OVERDOSE AWARENESS
12 Sec.
13 52C11. Scope of subchapter.
14 52C12. Development of opioid overdose awareness materials.
15 § 52C11. Scope of subchapter.
16 This subchapter relates to opioid overdose awareness.
17 § 52C12. Development of opioid overdose awareness materials.
18 (a) Opioid overdose awareness materials.--
19 (1) The Department of Health, in collaboration with the
20 department, shall:
21 (i) Develop a poster that contains the following
22 information:
23 (A) The signs of an opioid-related overdose.
24 (B) What to do in the event of an opioid-related
25 overdose.
26 (C) Where to find an opioid antagonist.
27 (D) Where to find additional resources and
28 information, which may include a quick-response or QR
29 code or a website URL.
30 (ii) Develop a pamphlet with information contained
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 1 on the poster developed under subparagraph (i).
2 (iii) Make the following available on the Department
3 of Health's publicly accessible Internet website:
4 (A) the poster developed under subparagraph (i);
5 and
6 (B) the pamphlet developed under subparagraph
7 (ii).
8 (iv) Make the poster developed under subparagraph
9 (i) available on the Department of Health's publicly
10 accessible Internet website in various sizes should an
11 entity wish to download the poster in a size other than
12 the one provided by the Department of Health.
13 (v) Provide the poster developed under subparagraph
14 (i) in additional languages upon request by an entity
15 listed under subsection (b).
16 (vi) Provide copies of the poster developed under
17 subparagraph (i) to each entity listed under subsection
18 (b) at no cost to the entity.
19 (2) The Department of Health may satisfy the
20 requirements for the poster under paragraph (1)(i) and the
21 pamphlet under paragraph (1)(ii) by updating existing
22 materials with information described in paragraph (1)(i).
23 (b) Display.--
24 (1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), the
25 following entities shall display the poster developed under
26 subsection (a)(1)(i) in a conspicuous location at the
27 entities' properties, where feasible, as determined by the
28 entity in discussion with the Department of Health:
29 (i) A Commonwealth agency.
30 (ii) A metropolitan transportation authority.
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 1 (iii) A municipality.
2 (2) An entity listed under paragraph (1) shall not be
3 required to display the poster described in subsection (a)(1)
4 (i) if the entity already displays a poster with the
5 information described in subsection (a)(1)(i) and provides
6 the Department of Health with notice of the use of the
7 alternative poster.
8 SUBCHAPTER C
9 LIFETIME RECOVERY FROM
10 SUBSTANCE USE GRANT PROGRAM
11 Sec.
12 52C41. Scope of subchapter.
13 52C42. Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program.
14 52C43. Application and review.
15 52C44. Costs.
16 52C45. Funding.
17 52C46. Survey.
18 52C47. Report.
19 § 52C41. Scope of subchapter.
20 This subchapter relates to grants to support lifetime
21 recovery from substance use and misuse.
22 § 52C42. Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use Grant Program.
23 (a) Establishment.--The Lifetime Recovery from Substance Use
24 Grant Program is established within the department.
25 (b) Purpose of program.--The program shall provide grants to
26 assist in the development, expansion or improvement of recovery
27 support services delivery in this Commonwealth.
28 (c) Statewide and geographic balance.--The department shall
29 award a portion of the amount available under this subchapter to
30 applicants seeking grants on a Statewide basis and a portion of
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 1 the amount to each of the geographic areas of this Commonwealth
2 designated under section 52C43(a)(2) (relating to application
3 and review).
4 § 52C43. Application and review.
5 (a) Guidelines.--No later than 45 days after the effective
6 date of this section and at the discretion of the department
7 thereafter, the department shall, after consulting with a
8 representative cross section of this Commonwealth's recovery
9 support providers, including individuals in recovery from
10 substance use or family members of individuals in recovery from
11 substance use, adopt guidelines for the administration of the
12 grant program under this subchapter and shall make the
13 guidelines available on the department's publicly accessible
14 Internet website. The guidelines shall include the following:
15 (1) The dates of the first and last day during which the
16 department will accept applications.
17 (2) A division of this Commonwealth into nine geographic
18 areas. To the extent practicable, the geographic areas under
19 this paragraph shall be comparable to geographic areas
20 recognized by the department for similarly focused grants.
21 (3) The standards by which an application will be
22 scored. The following apply:
23 (i) The standards adopted under this paragraph shall
24 be designed to ensure that the grants awarded under this
25 subchapter are used in the most effective manner across
26 this Commonwealth.
27 (ii) The standards adopted under this paragraph
28 shall prioritize:
29 (A) Applicants that are independent, nonprofit
30 organizations led and governed by representatives of
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 1 local communities of individuals in recovery from
2 substance use.
3 (B) Applicants proposing to serve areas or
4 assist recovery support providers serving areas of
5 this Commonwealth with a high incidence of substance
6 use or that have demonstrated a need for additional
7 substance use recovery support services.
8 (4) Statistics to be used for determination of areas of
9 this Commonwealth that have a high incidence of substance
10 use.
11 (b) Application.--An application for a grant under this
12 subchapter shall be made on a form and in a manner required by
13 the department.
14 (c) Content of application.--An application for a grant
15 under this subchapter shall include the following:
16 (1) The name of the applicant.
17 (2) Whether, if awarded a grant under this subchapter,
18 the applicant would use the grant as follows:
19 (i) on a Statewide basis; or
20 (ii) within a geographic area under subsection (a)
21 (2).
22 (3) Subgrantees with which the applicant will contract
23 to provide substance use recovery support services.
24 (4) Recovery support providers to which the applicant
25 intends to provide support and technical assistance.
26 (5) Recovery support providers to which the applicant
27 intends to subgrant amounts received from the grant.
28 (6) A proposed budget of what eligible costs will be
29 paid for with a grant.
30 (d) Review of application.--Beginning after the last day
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 1 that the department accepts applications, the department shall
2 review the applications in accordance with this section and the
3 guidelines adopted under subsection (a).
4 (e) Awarding of grants.--After review of the applications
5 under subsection (d), the department shall award grants as
6 follows:
7 (1) For applicants seeking a grant under subsection (c)
8 (2)(i), the department shall award grants to applicants whose
9 applications received the highest scores among applicants
10 seeking a grant on a Statewide basis.
11 (2) For applicants seeking a grant under subsection (c)
12 (2)(ii), the department shall award grants to applicants
13 whose applications received the highest scores among
14 applicants seeking a grant within each geographic area.
15 (f) Denial of applicant information.--An applicant that is
16 not awarded a grant under subsection (e) shall be provided with
17 information documenting the overall score the applicant
18 received, the score received for each of the standards under
19 subsection (a)(3) and the overall scores of all applicants in
20 the denied applicant's category under subsection (c)(2).
21 § 52C44. Costs.
22 An amount awarded as a grant under this subchapter may be
23 used for the following costs:
24 (1) Costs associated with providing recovery support
25 services to residents of this Commonwealth.
26 (2) Costs associated with assisting recovery support
27 providers with developing, expanding or improving recovery
28 support services, including providing training and
29 development of the tools and facilities necessary to provide
30 recovery support services.
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 1 (3) Costs incurred by the recipient under section 52C46
2 (relating to survey).
3 § 52C45. Funding.
4 (a) Appropriation.--The General Assembly may appropriate
5 money to the department for the program.
6 (b) Funding from Opioid Settlement Restricted Account.--
7 (1) Money appropriated to the department from the Opioid
8 Settlement Restricted Account may be used to make grants
9 under this subchapter.
10 (2) The department shall ensure that amounts under
11 paragraph (1) used for the program comply with restrictions
12 on t