Bill Text: PA HB2222 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Imposing a moratorium on the establishment of new or expanded methadone clinics and requiring the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study to determine the impact of these clinics on the communities in which they are located.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-5)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-25 - Referred to HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [HB2222 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB2222-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 3123
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2222 Session of2010
INTRODUCED BY K. SMITH, SCAVELLO, CARROLL, PASHINSKI, HALUSKA, HUTCHINSON, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MILNE, O'NEILL, GIBBONS, SABATINA AND VULAKOVICH, JANUARY 25, 2010
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, JANUARY 25, 2010
AN ACT
Imposing a moratorium on the establishment of new or expanded
methadone clinics and requiring the Legislative Budget and
Finance Committee to conduct a study to determine the impact
of these clinics on the communities in which they are
located.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Methadone
Clinic Moratorium Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Committee." The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee.
"Department." The Department Health of the Commonwealth.
Section 3. Methadone clinic moratorium.
(a) Declaration.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law
to the contrary, a moratorium is established during which the
department shall not approve applications for licenses of any
new methadone clinics or the expansion of methadone clinics
currently in existence. The moratorium shall extend from the
effective date of this section to the earlier of:
(1) One hundred eighty days after publication of the
notice under section 4(b)(2); or
(2) May 30, 2011.
(b) Construction.--Nothing in this act shall be construed as
to prohibit patients from obtaining treatment at an existing
methadone clinic licensed by the department.
Section 4. Committee.
(a) Study.--The committee shall study methadone clinics in
this Commonwealth and their impact on the communities in which
they are located. In conducting this study, the committee shall
inquire into the following:
(1) The number and location, by municipality of each
methadone clinic.
(2) The number of patients served by each clinic.
(3) The type of community in which each clinic is
located.
(4) The impact on the area surrounding the clinic with
regard to traffic, local economy and crime statistics.
(5) Initiatives other states have pursued to address
problems which may have arisen with the establishment of
methadone clinics.
(b) Report.--By November 30, 2010, the committee shall:
(1) submit a report on its study, including
recommendations, to the General Assembly; and
(2) transmit a copy of the report to the Legislative
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Reference Bureau for publication as a notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Section 10. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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