PRINTER'S NO. 1289
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
975
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, FONTANA, ARGALL, KANE, KEARNEY AND
CAPPELLETTI, DECEMBER 17, 2021
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DECEMBER 17, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
Executive Department thereof and the administrative
departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
officers, and of the several administrative departments,
boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
determined," in powers and duties of the Department of Public
Welfare and its departmental administrative and advisory
boards and commissions, further providing for admissions to
drug and alcohol facilities.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2335 of the act of April 9, 1929
(P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, is
amended to read:
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Section 2335. Admissions to Drug and Alcohol Facilities.--
(a) Drug or alcohol abusers and drug or alcohol dependent
persons shall be admitted to and treated in all facilities
licensed by the Department of [Health and Office of] Drug and
Alcohol Programs, at [reasonable rates on the basis of medical
or psychotherapeutic need,] no cost, regardless of whether the
drug or alcohol abusers and drug or alcohol dependent persons
are under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of
admission, and shall not be discriminated against on the basis
of medical assistance eligibility.
(b) As part of its licensure process, the [Office]
Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs shall review each
facility's admission policies for compliance and shall
investigate complaints.
(c) The [Office] Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs may
suspend or revoke the license of any facility which fails to
maintain an admission policy consistent with the requirements of
this section and may impose a fine not to exceed one thousand
dollars ($1,000) for each violation.
(d) Nothing in this section shall require any facility to
accept medical assistance eligible patients for whom payment is
not available pursuant to regulations adopted under section
2334(b)(3).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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