Pennsylvania SB 691: An Act amending Titles 35 (Health and Safety), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Nonnarcotic Medication Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program; in organization and jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, providing for court assessments for substance use disorder treatment; in other criminal provisions, further providing for supervisory relationship to offenders; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for supervisory relationship to offenders.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 700
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 691
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, STEFANO AND BARTOLOTTA, APRIL 28, 2025
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, APRIL 28, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Titles 35 (Health and Safety), 42 (Judiciary and
Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the
Nonnarcotic Medication Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Program; in organization and jurisdiction of courts of common
pleas, providing for court assessments for substance use
disorder treatment; in other criminal provisions, further
providing for supervisory relationship to offenders; and, in
Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing
for supervisory relationship to offenders.
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
NONNARCOTIC MEDICATION
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAM
Sec.
52C01. Definitions.
52C02. Program established.
52C03. Single county authority requirements.
52C04. Use of grant funding.
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52C05. Powers and duties of department.
§ 52C01. 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:
"Court." A court of common pleas of a judicial district, a
problem-solving court or the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
"Department." The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs of
the Commonwealth.
"Eligible provider." An organization or entity licensed by
the Commonwealth capable of:
(1) assessing an offender to determine if the offender
is a candidate to whom medication that prevents a relapse to
drug and alcohol dependence should be administered;
(2) providing an individualized treatment plan; and
(3) administering a Federal Drug Administration-approved
nonnarcotic medication indicated for use in treating a
substance use disorder.
"Nonnarcotic medication-assisted substance use disorder
treatment." A substance use disorder treatment that includes
the use of a Federal Drug Administration-approved nonnarcotic
medication indicated for use in treating a substance use
disorder as well as counseling and other substance use disorder
treatment measures as deemed clinically appropriate by an
eligible provider.
"Program." The Nonnarcotic Medication Substance Use Disorder
Treatment Program established under section 52C02 (relating to
program established).
"Single county authority." An agency designated by the
Department of Health under the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.221,
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No.63), known as the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control
Act, to plan and coordinate drug and alcohol prevention,
intervention and treatment services for a geographic area that
may consist of one or more counties.
§ 52C02. Program established.
The Nonnarcotic Medication Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Program is established within the department to increase
opportunities for single county authorities to provide
comprehensive substance use disorder treatment to offenders as
may be clinically appropriate through the awarding of grants. To
the extent that grant money is available, a single county
authority may contract with an eligible provider to make
available nonnarcotic medication-assisted substance use disorder
treatment to an offender upon whom a court imposes a sentence of
confinement, intermediate punishment, an alternative sentence,
probation, Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or a fine.
§ 52C03. Single county authority requirements.
In order to be eligible for grant funding under the program,
a single county authority shall:
(1) Make an application on a form and in a manner
determined by the department.
(2) Enter into a contract with one or more eligible
providers as required under section 52C04 (relating to use of
grant funding).
(3) Meet any other requirement established by the
department.
§ 52C04. Use of grant funding.
(a) General rule.--Except as provided for in subsection (b),
a single county authority awarded a grant under the program
shall contract with an eligible provider that shall:
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(1) Assess each offender to determine if the offender is
a candidate to be administered medication that prevents
relapse to substance use dependence.
(2) Create an individualized program for each offender
identified under paragraph (1).
(3) Provide access to and administer nonnarcotic
medication-assisted substance use disorder treatment when
clinically appropriate.
(4) If determined to not be a candidate for nonnarcotic
medication-assisted substance use disorder treatment, provide
recommendations to the single county authority