May. 08, 2017
HARRISBURG – On Monday, the House Human Services Committee unanimously approved
House Bills 119 and
122, both sponsored by Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne), which are part of a 10-bill-package he has introduced this session to combat Pennsylvania’s ongoing opioid crisis.
House Bill 119 would require the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to certify drug and alcohol recovery houses in order to receive public funding.
“This bill follows up on the great work the Certification of Drug and Alcohol Recovery Houses Task Force did in identifying minimum safety standards for all recovery houses,” Kaufer explained. “It would establish a certification process for drug and alcohol recovery houses that receive taxpayer dollars to ensure that those individuals residing here are in the safest place they can be.”
House Bill 122 would establish the Project Lazarus Commission, which would consist of legislators and administrators who are tasked with developing a best-practice models to help counties build comprehensive programs to address the opioid crisis.
“Nearly a decade ago, community leaders in Wilkes County, North Carolina, implemented the Project Lazarus Model, where they saw a 69 percent drop in fatal overdoses over a three-year period, and by the fourth year no overdose deaths were reported,” Kaufer detailed. “This bill would establish a commission here to develop a best practices model for a comprehensive, community-based effort to consolidate prevention efforts.”
Both bills have been sent to the House for their consideration.
For more information about this legislation, or any other state-related issue, contact Kaufer’s district office in Luzerne located at 161 Main St., by calling 570-283-1001. Information can also be found online at
RepKaufer.com or
Facebook.com/RepKaufer.
Representative Aaron Kaufer
120th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
717.705.2032
KCorbin@pahousegop.com
RepKaufer.com /
Facebook.com/RepKaufer