Alcoholism and drug abuse treatment facilities.

Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to license adult alcoholism and drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities, as defined. This bill would include in the definition of alcoholism and drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities a premises, place, or building that provides 24-hour residential services to adults who are recovering from problems related to alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug misuse or abuse and who need alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug recovery treatment or detoxification services and medical care under specified circumstances. The bill would authorize a facility to provide medical services exclusively to residents of the facility and in specified limited circumstances. The bill, until January 1, 2018, would also require the department to conduct an evaluation of the program licensing alcoholism and drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities that provides 24-hour residential services to adults who need alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug recovery treatment or detoxification services and medical care and would require the department, on or before January 1, 2016, to report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature. Existing law provides that the State Department of Health Care Services has the sole authority in state government to license adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities. Existing law authorizes the director of the department to suspend or revoke any license issued, or deny an application for licensure, for extension of the licensing period, or to modify the terms and conditions of a license under specified circumstances, including conduct in the operation of an alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility that is inimical to the health, morals, welfare, or safety of either an individual in, or receiving services from, the facility or to the people of the State of California. This bill would revise that circumstance to instead apply to conduct in the operation of an alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility that endangers the health or safety of an individual receiving services. The bill would also revise the list of circumstances described above to include the failure to report to the department, within 24 hours, the death of a resident for any cause, even if the death did not occur at the facility.