Substance abuse: residential treatment facilities.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities serving adults by the State Department of Health Care Services, as prescribed. Existing regulations authorize a person to request the department to inspect a facility. Existing law requires the department to investigate complaints, such as an allegation that a facility is operating without a license. This bill would require the department, no later than January 1, 2020, to develop specified guidelines on the manner in which to report to the Legislature about unlicensed residential alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities. The bill would require the guidelines to address certain topics, including, among others, methods for determining whether complaints received by the department regarding unlicensed facilities in communities are substantiated or unsubstantiated. The bill would require the department, no later than January 1, 2021, to complete and submit a report, using those guidelines, to the Legislature.