HARRISBURG — A House bill that would require some drug overdose patients to have an involuntary mental health examination may come to a vote soon.

The bill aims to address a situation that emergency responders in Butler County and around the state have been seeing on a regular basis in recent years.

An ambulance is dispatched to a report of an unresponsive person who may have overdosed on heroin or another opioid. A paramedic or police officer administers the opioid antidote naloxone, which revives the patient. The patient, now conscious and alert, signs a form refusing further treatment or transport and is free to go.

House bill 713, would amend the state’s Mental Health Procedures Act to state that a person who suffers a drug overdose event may be mentally disabled and may pose a “clear and present danger of harm to others or to himself.”

Under the amendment, the patient could be ordered for examination and treatment within 30 days of their drug-overdose event and upon the certification of a physician or upon a warrant issued by a county administrator.

The initial treatment would be not to exceed 120 hours, though the bill also allows for an informal conference at which a judge or mental health review officer could extend the involuntary treatment to up to 20 days. The court also can hold an additional hearing and order the person to be treated for a period of up to 90 days.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Matthew Baker, R-68th, and referred to the health committee on March 6.

Baker said in an email that the state law, which was passed in 1976, made no mention of substance abuse disorders or drug overdoses.

“Many families have contacted me indicating that intervention is needed in order to help save the lives of their loved ones,” he said.