HARRISBURG – Individuals in recovery for substance use disorders could stand a better chance of breaking the cycle of addiction by maintaining meaningful employment under a bill approved by the Senate today, according to Senator Chris Dush (R-25), who supported the bill.
Senate Bill 69 would create a Recovery to Work pilot program to connect individuals suffering from substance use disorders with high-priority occupations through local workforce development boards.
“COVID-19 has presented us with many challenges this year, but we also need to do what we can to address our continuing heroin and opioid crisis,” Dush said. “This bill will ensure that those who are working toward recovery have the resources they need to be successful.
The pilot program would be led by the Department of Labor and Industry with the assistance of the departments of Health, Community and Economic Development, and Drug and Alcohol Programs, as well as the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
As part of the program, local workforce development boards will work with the treatment and recovery community as well as local employers and training providers to find job training and employment opportunities.
The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
CONTACT: Zach Ankeny – zankeny@pasen.gov