Pennsylvania Statutes Title 71 P.S. State Government § 1690.109. Welfare

(a) Drug and alcohol abuse and dependence shall, for the purpose of all State welfare programs be regarded as a major health and economic problem.

(b) State agencies charged with administering such welfare programs shall take action to reduce the incidence of financial indigency and family disintegration caused by drug and alcohol abuse and dependence, and treatment and rehabilitation services shall be provided for those persons enrolled in welfare programs whose financial eligibility for such assistance results, in part or in whole, from drug and alcohol dependence.

(c) Persons otherwise eligible for such welfare assistance shall not be ineligible for such assistance because of drug and alcohol abuse and dependence unless they refuse to accept available treatment and rehabilitation services. Any person whose financial eligibility for such assistance results in whole or in part, from drug and alcohol abuse or dependence shall be provided appropriate treatment and rehabilitation services. Upon receipt of substantial evidence of such alcohol or drug dependency or abuse, the Department of Public Welfare shall refer said welfare recipient to the mental health-mental retardation program of the recipient's catchment area or to any other approved treatment program, which shall provide an appropriate examination. Treatment and rehabilitation services will be deemed to be necessary and will be considered to be available upon a certification by the administrator of the community mental health-mental retardation program for the catchment area in which the recipient resides that: (i) the recipient's financial eligibility for such assistance results in whole or in part from drug or alcohol abuse or dependence, (ii) the services will more likely than not be appropriate for the recipient, and (iii) the services can accommodate the recipient. After such certification, participation by the recipient in the available program shall be a requirement for continuing eligibility for such assistance, in the absence of good cause for nonparticipation.

(d) Any recipient of welfare assistance whose inability to work or to participate in a work training program is the result of drug and alcohol abuse or dependence shall be excused from such participation only on condition that he accept appropriate treatment and rehabilitation services made available to him and continue to participate until discharged by the director in charge of his program. Withdrawal from such program prior to proper discharge shall constitute reason to discontinue welfare assistance.