PRINTER'S NO. 1527
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1420
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY THOMAS, FARRY, MIHALEK, SCHLOSSBERG, R. BROWN,
DRISCOLL, FREEMAN, HILL-EVANS, LABS, McNEILL, N. NELSON,
POLINCHOCK, SAMUELSON, SAPPEY, SCHROEDER, STEPHENS AND
TOMLINSON, MAY 14, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MAY 14, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in general powers and
duties of the Department of Public Welfare, providing for
COVID-19 mental health public awareness campaign.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
read:
Section 217. COVID-19 Mental Health Public Awareness
Campaign .-- The secretary shall establish a public awareness
campaign to provide information to the general public concerning
the programs and services available for first responders, health
care workers, other frontline workers and their families
experiencing mental health issues related to the COVID-19
pandemic, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress
disorder, anxiety, depression and substance use disorder.
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(b) The secretary, in establishing the public awareness
campaign, shall develop outreach efforts and provide information
to the general public on:
(1) the link between mental health issues and the COVID-19
pandemic, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress
disorder, anxiety, depression and substance use disorder;
(2) resources for first responders, health care workers,
other frontline workers and their families experiencing mental
health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but
not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety,
depression and substance use disorder, including the programs
provided by the department and other Federal, State and local
social services and mental health agencies during the COVID-19
pandemic;
(3) any telephone helpline established by the department for
first responders and health care workers experiencing mental
health issues due to their work during the COVID-19 pandemic,
including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder,
anxiety, depression and substance use disorder; and
(4) anxiety-reducing strategies and other methods to manage
stress, depression and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress
disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(c) The following shall apply:
(1) The public awareness campaign shall target the general
public and first responders, health care workers, other
frontline workers and their families through a variety of media,
including television, radio, print and on the department's
publicly accessible Internet website.
(2) The secretary shall provide for the development of
advertisements by signs, billboards, placards, posters and
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displays, in English and Spanish, on the public awareness
campaign.
(d) As used in this section, the term "COVID-19 pandemic"
shall mean the novel coronavirus as identified in the
proclamation of disaster emergency issued by the Governor on
March 6, 2020, published at 50 Pa.B. 1644 (March 21, 2020), and
any renewal of the state of disaster emergency.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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