Two Chester County–area state senators proposed a "Recovery Works" specialty license plate that would fund addiction recovery services across Pennsylvania.

State Sens. Carolyn Comitta and John Kane, both Democrats, announced the legislation Tuesday, Sept. 1. Proceeds from plate sales would go to the Pennsylvania Recovery Organizations Alliance (PRO-A). The statewide nonprofit supports people in recovery from substance use disorder, according to a news release from Comitta's office.

The senators said they developed the idea through conversations with recovery advocates, including PRO-A and the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services. Jamie Johnson, executive director of the county agency, endorsed the effort in the announcement.

Kane, who represents parts of Chester and Delaware counties in the 9th Senate District, drew on his own experience. According to his official legislative biography, Kane sought treatment for alcohol addiction at age 22 and has 37 years of sobriety. He sits on the board of the Livengrin Foundation, which provides addiction treatment across southeastern Pennsylvania.

"Throughout my own recovery journey, it was the connections and relationships that gave me the hope to make it through one more day," Kane said in the announcement.

Comitta, who represents the 19th Senate District based in West Chester, said the plates would send a message to families dealing with addiction that "you are not alone."

The announcement landed during National Recovery Month, observed each September. About 16 percent of Pennsylvanians aged 12 and older struggled with a substance use disorder over the past year, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) cited in the release. More than one million Pennsylvanians are living in long-term recovery.

Overdose fatalities in Chester County fell to 55 in 2025, a 20 percent drop from 69 in 2024, the Daily Local News reported. Deaths peaked at 144 in 2017 and have declined steadily since, according to WHYY.

A co-sponsorship memo circulated to all Senate members on Aug. 21 had not yet been submitted for formal introduction as of that date. No bill number has been assigned, and no committee hearing has been scheduled.

Bill Stauffer, executive director of PRO-A, said the plate initiative is "important for making recovery visible and accessible in our communities."

Residents seeking help with addiction can call the PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), available 24 hours a day, or text 717-216-0905.