An Act amending the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.817, No.143), known as the Mental Health Procedures Act, in general provisions, further providing for statement of policy and for definitions.
Senate Bill 716 amends Pennsylvania's Mental Health Procedures Act, primarily to update terminology and expand the scope of mental health services. The bill explicitly includes "substance use disorder" as a mental illness, making it eligible for treatment under the act. It also clarifies that assisted outpatient treatment services can encompass substance use disorder treatments, especially when co-occurring with a primary mental illness diagnosis. Additionally, the bill updates outdated language for conditions such as intellectual disability, alcohol use disorder, and age-related cognitive decline.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 2, 2025
Last action May 2, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 2, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Dan Laughlin
RRepublican
Co
Gene Yaw
RRepublican
Co
Tony Williams
DDemocratic
Co
Tracy Pennycuick
RRepublican
Co
Wayne Fontana
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 716
Scope: PA
Hi! I can help you understand SB 716. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline