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. Last Wednesday it was laid on the table with 26 of 27 committee members voting in favor. The bill was not scheduled for a vote in today’s house session. It will be automatically moved off the table if no vote is taken after 15 legislative days.

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.

He noted that Pennsylvania lost more than 3,500 people to drug overdose deaths in 2015 and the number is expected to spike again, unless action is taken.

Similar measures have been used successfully in other states, he said. One example is Casey’s Law in Kentucky, passed in 2004. The law allows friends or family members to petition the court to have a drug-user evaluated and treated, according to caseyslaw.org.

Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-10th, who is on the health committee and voted in favor of the bill, said Monday that the bill won’t help all addicts, but it can make a difference.

“There is without a doubt no silver bullet in this equation, but providing as many tools as possible in order to fight this issue is critical,” he said.

Bernstine said that drug abuse in many cases is a symptom of other treatable problems.

“This is talked about as a drug bill, but this is really about mental health. The underlying issues are leading to the drug problem,” he said.

Studies have shown that getting professional help in the days following an overdose is important, he said.

Georgette Fleeger, owner of Second Chance Sober Living House in Butler, supports the new law. Fleeger said the enforced detainment would help addicts.

“It may give them the moment of clarity they need,” she said. Fleeger said the most frequent use of naloxone for an addict of which she is aware, is three times in two months.

However, she has one concern — where are these people placed for that treatment period.

“We don’t have the treatment centers,” Fleeger said. “We don’t have the detox facilities.”

She said that step should have been the first one. “We have to have all our ducks in a row to help the sick and suffering addict,” Fleeger said.

Joyce Ainsworth, director of Butler County Human Services, said the problem is not easily solved.

“This is incredibly complicated,” Ainsworth said. “Recovery is not a point in time. It’s a lifelong process. Commitment for a short time is not the answer.”

If passed, the bill would need to be passed by the state senate. The House was scheduled for sessions today and Wednesday.

Eagle Staff Writer Tom Victoria contributed to this report.