Recovery residences.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation by the State Department of Health Care Services of adult alcoholism and drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities for adults. Existing law defines a facility for those purposes to mean a premise, place, or building that provides residential nonmedical services to adults who are recovering from drug or alcohol abuse or who need drug or alcohol recovery treatment or detoxification services. This bill would establish, and require the department to adopt and implement, minimum standards for counties receiving public funding for recovery residences, as defined. This bill would require the department, prior to finalizing minimum standards, to conduct a review with stakeholders, as specified. The bill would also require a state affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) to deny an application for, or deny or revoke the recognition, registration, or certification of, and require a county behavioral health department to terminate a contract with, a recovery residence under certain circumstances, including if the recovery residence fails to meet the minimum standards. The bill would authorize a county to require a recovery residence to provide proof of certification by a state affiliate of NARR, in lieu of otherwise demonstrating eligibility to enter into a contract. The bill would also require a county behavioral health administrator that has documented evidence that a recovery residence under contract is not operating in compliance with NARR standards or a specified federal standard, as described, to report these findings to the department and to the NARR affiliate. The bill would further require that a county behavioral health department report to the department and NARR affiliate when it has documentary evidence suggesting fraud. By increasing the duties of county behavioral health administrators, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the department to report to the Legislature, on or before January 1, 2025, the number and types of complaints received by the county behavioral health department and the department, the status of complaints received, and the geographic concentration of reported complaints. The bill would also include legislative findings and declarations. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.