HR 253 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish a task force and advisory committee on increasing access to drug and alcohol treatment for substance use disorders; and directing the task force to make recommendations to the General Assembly.

PRINTER'S NO.   1853

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 253
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY PUGH, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, WAXMAN, BURGOS, HEFFLEY,
        OLSOMMER, RIVERA, HOHENSTEIN AND JAMES, JUNE 6, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, JUNE 6, 2025


                                  A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish a
 2      task force and advisory committee on increasing access to
 3      drug and alcohol treatment for substance use disorders; and
 4      directing the task force to make recommendations to the
 5      General Assembly.
 6         WHEREAS, More than 40 million people nationwide are impacted
 7   by substance use disorders according to the United States
 8   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and
 9         WHEREAS, Preliminary data from the CDC indicates an estimated
10   87,000 overdose deaths from October 2023 through September 2024;
11   and
12         WHEREAS, Overdose deaths occurred nearly every two hours in
13   this Commonwealth in 2023 according to the Department of Health;
14   and
15         WHEREAS, That year, 4,719 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania
16   were reported; and
17         WHEREAS, Access to timely, evidence-based treatment options
18   for substance use disorder are crucial to recovery; therefore be
19   it
 1      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
 2   State Government Commission to establish a task force and
 3   advisory committee on increasing access to drug and alcohol
 4   treatment for substance use disorders; and be it further
 5      RESOLVED, That the task force consist of four legislative
 6   members, one appointed by the Majority Leader of the House of
 7   Representatives, one appointed by the Minority Leader of the
 8   House of Representatives, one appointed by the chair of the
 9   Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives and one
10   appointed by the minority chair of the Human Services Committee
11   of the House of Representatives; and be it further
12      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission
13   establish an advisory committee to support the task force, which
14   shall include, but not be limited to, the following individuals:
15          (1)    A representative recommended by the Department of
16      Drug and Alcohol Programs.
17          (2)    A representative recommended by the Department of
18      Human Services.
19          (3)    A representative recommended by the Insurance
20      Department.
21          (4)    A physician recommended by the Department of Health.
22          (5)    A representative recommended by the Attorney
23      General.
24          (6)    A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
25      Fraternal Order of Police.
26          (7)    Two physicians with expertise in addiction medicine
27      recommended by the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
28          (8)    A physician who is a member of the Pennsylvania
29      Psychiatric Society specializing in addiction psychiatry.
30          (9)    An emergency room physician.

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 1        (10)    An emergency medical technician.
 2        (11)    A representative recommended by the Drug and
 3    Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania.
 4        (12)    A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
 5    Recovery Organizations Alliance.
 6        (13)    A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
 7    District Attorneys Association.
 8        (14)    A representative recommended by the Public Defender
 9    Association of Pennsylvania.
10        (15)    A representative for Single County Authorities as
11    recommended by the County Commissioners Association of
12    Pennsylvania.
13        (16)    The Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police or a
14    designee.
15        (17)    A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
16    Coroners Association.
17        (18)    A representative of pharmacists recommended by the
18    Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.
19        (19)    A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
20    State Nurses Association.
21        (20)    A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
22    Osteopathic Medical Association.
23        (21)    A representative recommended by the Hospital and
24    Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
25        (21)    A representative who operates a licensed recovery
26    house.
27        (22)    A judge who oversees a Pennsylvania Treatment
28    Court.
29        (23)    Two individuals in recovery from substance use
30    disorder for a minimum of one year.

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 1             (24)   A representative recommended by the Rehabilitation
 2      and Community Providers Association;
 3   and be it further
 4      RESOLVED, That the advisory committee examine existing laws,
 5   regulations and policies governing access to quality drug and
 6   alcohol treatment; and be it further
 7      RESOLVED, That the advisory committee gather facts from prior
 8   legislative public hearings on related topics; and be it further
 9      RESOLVED, That the advisory committee solicit and consider
10   briefs, comments and recommendations from stakeholders,
11   specifically regarding perceived or experienced barriers to
12   accessing treatment and the factors that define or contribute to
13   quality care; and be it further
14      RESOLVED, That the advisory committee examine the continuum
15   of prevention and early intervention services that support
16   individuals with substance use disorder before their condition
17   escalates to require more intensive interventions, including,
18   but not limited to, peer support, community-based treatment,
19   recovery housing and transportation assistance; and be it
20   further
21      RESOLVED, That the advisory committee examine policies
22   designed to enhance access to treatment for individuals with
23   substance use disorder, especially those who have not engaged in
24   treatment or those who have faced obstacles that deterred them
25   from seeking help; and be it further
26      RESOLVED, That family members who have a loved one with a
27   substance use disorder be welcome to submit testimony on their
28   experiences accessing treatment, barriers encountered and
29   suggested solutions; and be it further
30      RESOLVED, That the advisory committee use this testimony to

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 1   examine how supportive services for families can be enhanced;
 2   and be it further
 3      RESOLVED, That the task force and advisory committee consider
 4   recommended changes to State laws and regulations that would
 5   improve access to treatment for substance use disorders, support
 6   long-term recovery planning and reduce barriers and stigma for
 7   individuals seeking care; and be it further
 8      RESOLVED, That the task force report its findings to the
 9   Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the House of
10   Representatives and the chair and minority chair of the Human
11   Services Committee of the House of Representatives within one
12   year of the adoption of this resolution.




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