SB 954: Certified Recovery Residences - Florida

S 954 c3 → S 954 er · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was finalized as an enrolled version (er) from a committee version (c3), adding new legal protections for recovery residences. The most significant change is the addition of a new subsection (f) clarifying that local governments cannot use the new accommodation process to evade Fair Housing obligations, and a new subsection (16) protecting homeowners associations from being superseded by the new rules. The revocation timeline for accommodations was also extended from unspecified to 180 days.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded by adding explicit protections for homeowners associations and clarifying that local governments must still comply with federal fair housing laws when processing recovery residence applications.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection (f) to Section 1 requiring that the ordinance and accommodation process does not relieve local governments from Fair Housing Act obligations and that regulations must not discriminate against applicants.

Extended the timeframe for revoking a granted accommodation from unspecified to 180 days if not reinstated, in subsection (e) of Section 1.

Amended Section 397.4871 to clarify that Level IV recovery residence administrators can manage up to 150 or 300 residents under specific personnel-to-patient ratios and onsite supervision requirements.

SCOPE

Added new subsection (16) to Section 1 stating the act does not supersede existing declarations of condominium, cooperatives, or covenants adopted under chapters 718, 719, or 720.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill status from committee version (c3) to enrolled version (er), indicating final legislative approval and readiness for signing into law.

S 954 c2 → S 954 c3 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill version adds a requirement for local governments to adopt ordinances establishing review procedures for certified recovery residences by January 1, 2026, and creates a formal reasonable accommodation request process. It also clarifies that these requirements do not supersede existing condominium or cooperative declarations.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly requires local governments to adopt review procedures by a specific date and adds a formal process for requesting reasonable accommodations from local land use regulations that would otherwise prohibit recovery residences.

REQUIREMENT

Requires local governments to adopt ordinances establishing review and approval procedures for certified recovery residences by January 1, 2026.

Mandates a formal reasonable accommodation request process that must include written applications, date-stamping, 30-day response timelines, and 60-day final determination deadlines.

Requires denial decisions to include specific, evidence-based reasons and identifies deficiencies for reconsideration.

Establishes that requests are deemed approved if no final determination is issued within 60 days unless parties agree to an extension.

Allows ordinances to include provisions for revoking granted accommodations for cause if certification lapses or conditions are violated within 180 days.

Added explicit requirement that local ordinances must be consistent with federal Fair Housing and Americans with Disabilities Act laws.

DEFINITION

Clarifies that the new requirements do not supersede existing condominium, cooperative, or covenant declarations under Florida chapters 718, 719, and 720.

S 954 c1 → S 954 c2 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill version updates committee amendments to SB 954, changing the committee from Community Affairs to Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and adding Senator Rouson as a sponsor. The substantive policy changes include increasing the maximum number of residents a Level IV certified recovery residence administrator can manage from 500 to 300 under specific staffing conditions, while maintaining the same personnel-to-resident ratios.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on certified recovery residences and zoning regulations, but the management capacity for administrators was expanded to allow larger facilities under the same staffing requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the maximum number of residents a certified recovery residence administrator can manage from 500 to 300 when maintaining a 1-to-6 personnel-to-resident ratio and 1-to-8 service provider personnel-to-patient ratio.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed bill sponsors from Senator Gruters alone to Senators Gruters and Rouson, and moved the originating committee from Community Affairs to Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services.

TECHNICAL

Updated document metadata including version number from c1 to c2, committee designation, and sponsor information to reflect the latest committee substitute version.

S 954 Filed → S 954 c1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Florida statutes to clarify zoning rules for certified recovery residences, adjust personnel-to-resident ratios for Level IV facilities, and establish a new committee to improve recovery residence efficiency. The changes aim to standardize how recovery residences are treated under local zoning laws and improve oversight of these facilities.

Scope change

The bill expands applicability to certified recovery residences voluntarily certified on or before July 1, 2025, and clarifies that these facilities are deemed nontransient residential use for zoning purposes.

REQUIREMENT

Revised personnel-to-resident ratio requirements for Level IV certified recovery residences, allowing up to 150 residents with a 1:8 patient ratio and 1:10 resident ratio, or up to 500 residents with a 1:8 patient ratio and 1:6 resident ratio.

Clarified that Level IV administrators removed from one facility cannot manage more than 50 residents for another provider without re-approval.

Established new zoning requirements allowing certified recovery residences in multifamily districts without zoning changes, with specific limits on residents per bedroom.

Created new criteria allowing municipalities to deny Level IV recovery residences if located adjacent to or on two or more sides of single-family residential developments with at least 25 homes.

DEFINITION

Added definition that certified recovery residences are deemed nontransient residential use for zoning purposes, preventing local laws from prohibiting them in multifamily structures.

TIMELINE

Set effective date of July 1, 2025, and established that the new zoning provisions apply to facilities voluntarily certified on or before that date.

TECHNICAL

Created the Substance Abuse and Recovery Residence Efficiency Committee within the Department of Children and Families to oversee recovery residence operations.

Certified Recovery Residences

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