Gov. Wolf Signs 3 New Laws, Including Expansion Of Opioid Prescription Monitoring

PENNSYLVANIA — Gov. Tom Wolf signed three new bills into law on Thursday, including a bill which aims to prevent overdoses by facilitating wider sharing of prescription information.

The Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program allows state agencies to smoothly share information on what has been prescribed to certain individuals.

Introduced as House Bill 1774, officials say the legislation became vital after the state's opioid disaster declaration expired in August, leaving the state without certain mechanisms to organize their response to the epidemic.

The General Assembly declined Wolf's request to maintain the disaster order, which he first declared in 2018 and unilaterally extended 15 times. Wolf is unable to do so again because voters in May approved a referendum limiting a governor's emergency powers.

"It is an important step in our efforts to reduce the prevalence of substance use disorder, increase treatment opportunities and help Pennsylvanians get the resources they need for recovery," the governor's office said in a statement announcing the new law.

The bill had strong bipartisan support and was praised by Republican House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin).

“Cooperative government means that when a disaster declaration is extended 15 times, maybe it is time for permanent solutions, instead of a permanent emergency," he said. "That is the essence of what we are doing today: we are providing a permanent fix to help combat the opioid addiction epidemic in Pennsylvania."

Two other bills were signed into law Thursday:

Click on the bill number to learn more

House Bill 1861

On the COVID-19 front, this new law extends the suspension of certain regulations and statutes that went into effect when the pandemic's disaster declaration began. The suspension will continue through March 31, 2022 and is will allow the state to "use all necessary resources" to fight the virus, the governor's office said.

House Bill 184

Also known as Shawn's Law, this legislation strengthens sentencing for those who cause or aid the suicide of a individual under the age of 18. It also provides more severe penalties for those involved in suicides among individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder.