Bill > SB872

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Medication-Assisted Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Program by transitioning it from a temporary pilot program to a permanent initiative aimed at helping county correctional institutions support offenders with substance use disorders. The bill shifts administrative oversight from the department to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, broadens the definition of medication-assisted treatment to include FDA-approved medications for treating substance use disorders, and establishes more comprehensive guidelines for county participation. Counties can now apply for grants to provide medication-assisted treatment to eligible offenders both during incarceration and upon release, with a focus on creating individualized treatment plans, assessing offender needs, administering appropriate medications, and supporting transition back into the community. The commission is required to issue biennial reports to the General Assembly evaluating the program's effectiveness, including metrics like the number of offenders treated, program completion rates, and recidivism rates. Importantly, the bill emphasizes that receiving medication-assisted treatment is not an entitlement, and grants are subject to annual appropriations and discretionary award processes, with a priority given to nonnarcotic treatment approaches.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=872