PRINTER'S NO. 78
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
89
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY MARCELL, SCHLOSSBERG, MIHALEK, STRUZZI, HOGAN,
CIRESI, FLEMING, FREEMAN, HANBIDGE, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN,
KIM, KINSEY, R. MACKENZIE, MADDEN, NEILSON, PROBST, SANCHEZ,
TOMLINSON AND ZIMMERMAN, MARCH 7, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 7, 2023
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 .--(a) 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 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 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 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 post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression
and substance use disorder.
(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
displays, in English and Spanish, on the public awareness
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campaign.
(3) The secretary shall use money available for the COVID -
Mental Health Services Block Grant or other available Federal
money for the costs associated with the 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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