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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-22 - AGENDA REPORTS - ASSEMBLY BILL 2214 (2)Agenda Item: 6 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ' AGENDA REPORT CONSENT CALENDAR t, CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: �1 DATE: May 22, 2018 SUBJECT: STATE LEGISLATION: ASSEMBLY BILL 2214 DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office PRESENTER: Masis Hagobian RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council adopt the Legislative Committee's recommendation to support Assembly Bill 2214 and transmit position statements to Assembly Member Freddie Rodriguez, Assembly Member Melissa Mendez, Santa Clarita's state legislative delegation, appropriate legislative committees, Governor Brown, and the League of California Cities. BACKGROUND Authored by Assembly Member Freddie Rodriguez (D -52 -Pomona), Assembly Bill 2214 establishes a voluntary certification program for drug and alcohol residential recovery facilities. This bill is sponsored by the California Consortium of Addition Programs and Professionals, an organization that certifies sober living homes. Existing State law allows the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to oversee the licensure and regulation of adult alcoholism and drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities. Assembly Bill 2214 establishes a voluntary certification program in DHCS to allow for drug and alcohol residential recovery facilities to apply and become certified by an approved certifying organization. The certifications would be made by industry and nonprofit organizations. This bill would also require that drug and alcohol residential recovery facilities, certified through the proposed process in this bill, be prioritized above noncertified facilities in the case of referrals as a condition of an individual's parole or release from custody. Specifically, this bill: 1. Authorizes DHCS to oversee a statewide voluntary certification program for drug and alcohol residential recovery facilities. 2. Requires a certified drug and alcohol residential recovery facility to meet specific O Page 1 Packet Pg. 77 O requirements including: a. Adopting a policy for informing local government officials and neighbors the contact information of the operator of the recovery residence and the organization's complaint procedures; b. Submitting to DHCS, a written code of conduct for a recovery residence that incorporates national standards for legal and ethical conduct for recovery residences; c. Submitting to DHCS, disciplinary guidelines that include sanctions for violations of the residential recovery facility's code of conduct and allows for DHCS to revoke the certification of the residential recovery facility if the required correction action is not completed within the specified time period; d. Submitting to a city and county information related to the address and contact information of a certified recovery residence within 30 days of certification of that recovery facility; and e. Requiring certified recovery residence to respond to complaints within one business day. 3. Requires that when a person is ordered to reside in a sober living environment for purposes of terms and conditions of release, parole, or discharge of a person from custody, a judge first refer that person to a recovery facility that is certified by DHCS. 4. Authorizes DHCS to conduct periodic reviews and inspections of certified drug and alcohol residential recovery facilities. 5. Authorizes a city, county, or local law enforcement agency to request DHCS revoke the certification of a recovery facility, if the local agency suspects that a recovery facility is not operating in compliance. 6. Requires DHCS to report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2021, regarding the efficacy of the certification program on complaint resolutions, including the geographic concentration of reported complaints. The City of Santa Clarita 2018 Legislative Platform includes components related to State requirements on alcohol and drug recovery facilities. Specifically, component 21 under the "State" section of the Legislative Platform advises that the City Council, "Support legislation requiring transparency in the state licensing requirements for alcohol and drug residential rehabilitation or recovery facilities on par with public noticing requirements for group home facilities." Assembly Bill 2214 is coauthored by Assembly Member Dante Acosta and Assembly Member Tom Lackey. The bill was introduced on February 12, 2018, and was passed by the Assembly Committee on Health (13-0-2) on March 20, 2018. Assembly Bill 2214 was referred to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations and is currently placed on the suspense file. Page 2 Packet Pg. 78 The City Council Legislative Committee met on May 8, 2018, and recommends that the City Council adopt a "support" position for Assembly Bill 2214. ALTERNATIVE ACTION 1. Adopt a "neutral" position on Assembly Bill 2214 2. Adopt an "oppose" position on Assembly Bill 2214 3. Take no action on Assembly Bill 2214 4. Refer Assembly Bill 2214 back to the Legislative Committee 5. Other action, as determined by the City Council FISCAL IMPACT The resources required to implement the recommended action are contained within the City of Santa Clarita's adopted FY 2017-18 budget. ATTACHMENTS AB 2214 - Bill Text O Page 3 Packet Pg. 79 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 11, 2018 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 2, 2018 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 12, 2018 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE -2017-18 REGULAR SESSION ASSEMBLY BILL No. 2214 Introduced by Assembly Members Rodriguez and Melendez (Coauthors: Assembly Members Acosta, Cervantes, Gallagher, Gray, Lackey, and Nazarian) (Coauthor: Senator Bates) February 12, 2018 An act to add and repeal Section 11834.19 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to residential facilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2214, as amended, Rodriguez. Recovery residences. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of community care facilities by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law also 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. This bill would, among other things, define a "recovery residence" as a residential property that is operated as a cooperative living arrangement to provide an alcohol and drug free environment for persons recovering from alcoholism or drug abuse, or both, who seek a living environment that supports personal recovery. The bill would authorize a recovery residence to demonstrate its commitment to providing a supportive recovery environment by applying and becoming certified by a certifying organization that is approved by the State Department 96 6.a Packet Pg. 80 AB 2214 —2— of 2— of Health Care Services. The bill would require an approved certifying organization to, among other things, maintain an affiliation with a national organization recognized by the department, establish and use procedures to administer the application, certification, renewal, and disciplinary processes for a recovery residence, and investigate and enforce violations by a residence of the organization's code of conduct, as provided. The bill would specify the information and documentation that an operator who seeks to have a residence certified is required to submit to an approved certifying organization. This bill would require an approved certifying organization to maintain and post on its Internet Web site a registry containing specified information of a residence that has been certified pursuant to these provisions, and would require the department to maintain and post on its Internet Web site a registry that contains specified information regarding each residence and operator that has had its certification revoked. This bill would require, on and after January 1, 2020, specified entities, including a state agency, state -contracted vendor, county agency, or county -contracted vendor, certified alcohol drug counselor, and person or entity licensed in the healing arts that directs substance use treatment, or a judge or parole board that sets terms and conditions for the release, parole, or discharge of a person from custody, if it requires that person to reside in a sober living environment, to first refer that person to a residence listed as a certified recovery residence on a registry posted by an approved certifying organization, if available. The bill would authorize those entities to refer persons to noncertified recovery residences, if they determine it is in the best interests of those persons, and, i `'tal ease, and would authorize those entities to notify the State Depaftment of Heafth Gare Serviees department of their decision. The bill would require the department to report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2021, regarding the efficacy of its regulation of certifying organizations' impact on complaint resolution, as specified. By imposing additional duties on local governments, this bill would create a state -mandated local program. The bill would provide for the repeal of all of these provisions on January 1, 2026. 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, 96 6.a Packet Pg. 81 —3— AB 2214 reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State -mandated local program: yes. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: 1 SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the 2 following: 3 (a) (1) Substance use disorder is ranked in the top five clinically 4 preventable burdens on health care spending. 5 (2) The level of health care services used by substance use 6 disorder patients before receiving treatment is more than double 7 that of nonaddicts. It has been shown that after 12 months of 8 treatment of substance use disorders, the levels of health care 9 services used return to almost average. 10 (3) An estimated four to five years is necessary for persons 11 experiencing the chronic disease of addiction to reach a full, 12 sustained recovery and the first 30 to 90 days after initial treatment 13 are the most critical for preventing relapse, making it imperative 14 that recovery residences be expanded as a means of reducing costs 15 associated with multiple treatment episodes. 16 (4) There are an estimated 3.5 million persons with diagnosable 17 substance use disorders in California and a limited number of 18 available recovery residences to effectively provide healthy living 19 environments for long-term recovery. 20 (5) The need for quality recovery residence housing will 21 continue to rise throughout the next decade. 22 (b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this 23 act, to establish a voluntary recovery residence certification 24 program so that all of the following may occur: 25 (1) Access to recovery residence housing can be expanded. 26 (2) Those seeking recovery housing for substance use disorders 27 in California will find a coordinated system of care in which "no 28 wrong door" is found in response to accessing healthy 29 environments to reside in where long-term recovery can be 30 supported. 31 (3) Quality recovery residences can be recognized for their 32 valuable contributions to the continuum of care in addiction 33 treatment and recovery. 96 6.a Packet Pg. 82 AB 2214 —4- 1 SEC. 2. Section 11834.19 is added to the Health and Safety 2 Code, to read: 3 11834.19. (a) (1) For purposes of this section, "recovery 4 residence" means a residential property that is operated as a 5 cooperative living arrangement to provide an alcohol and drug 6 free environment for persons recovering from alcoholism or drug 7 abuse, or both, who seek a living environment that supports 8 personal recovery. 9 (2) A recovery residence may demonstrate its commitment to 10 providing a supportive recovery environment by applying and 11 becoming certified by an approved certifying organization pursuant 12 to subdivision (c). 13 (3) To use the designation "certified recovery residence" the 14 cooperative living arrangement shall satisfy all of the following 15 requirements: 16 (A) Owners, managers, operators, and residents observe and 17 promote a zero tolerance policy regarding the consumption or 18 possession of alcohol or controlled substances or marijuana being 19 used in any manner not consistent with a documented prescription. 20 (B) Residents actively participate in community or individual 21 programs of recovery from substance use disorder, including, but 22 not limited to, Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous 23 programs. 24 (C) Within the recovery residence, a resident who has been 25 referred to, and has access to, ongoing outpatient treatment, 26 aftercare, or other recovery maintenance services commits to 27 continue to use these services in accordance with a clinically 28 managed system of care, if one exists for the resident. 29 (4) A residence that houses persons who are committed to 30 recovering from drug and alcohol addiction shall be presumed to 31 be a recovery residence if the residence has been certified by an 32 approved certifying organization. 33 , 35 , pursttant to 36 37 (b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: 38 (1) "Approved certifying organization" means an organization 39 approved by the department to certify a residence as a recovery 40 residence pursuant to this section. 96 6.a Packet Pg. 83 — 5 — AB 2214 1 (2) "Approved national organization" means a national 2 organization, recognized by the department, the primary function 3 of which is to improve access to, and the quality of, recovery 4 residences through standards, education, research, and advocacy. 5 (3) "Recovery specialist training" means training in recognizing 6 addiction, dependence, abuse of alcohol or other drugs, and other 7 symptoms that relate to substance use, and supporting recovery to 8 address that addiction, dependence, or use. 9 (c) An approved certifying organization shall do all of the 10 following: 11 (1) Maintain an office in the state. 12 (2) Maintain nonprofit status in the state. 13 (3) Be an affiliate of, and continuously maintain affiliation with, 14 the approved national organization recognized by the department. 15 (4) Maintain the most current standards published by the 16 approved national organization. 17 (5) Document that the organization actively develops and confers 18 professional, residential, or organizational quality designations 19 according to applicable nationally recognized standards. 20 (6) Demonstrate that it has and uses established recovery 21 residence certification requirements. 22 (7) Demonstrate that it has and uses procedures to administer 23 the application, certification, renewal, and disciplinary processes 24 for a recovery residence. 25 (8) (A) Inspect, at least annually, a recovery residence to ensure 26 compliance with certification requirements. 27 (B) Conduct, at the discretion of the approved certifying 28 organization, periodic reviews of a residence to determine whether 29 the residence is in compliance with all applicable laws. 30 (C) Revoke the certification of a residence if the residence is 31 not operating in compliance with certification requirements or 32 applicable laws, and notify the department of the revocation. 33 (9) Submit to the department and the operator of a residence 34 that the organization certifies a written code of conduct for a 35 recovery residence that incorporates national standards for legal 36 and ethical conduct for recovery residences. 37 (10) Submit to the department and the operator of a recovery 38 residence disciplinary guidelines that include sanctions for first 39 and subsequent violations of the organization's code of conduct, 40 that allow the recovery residence notice and opportunity to correct 96 6.a Packet Pg. 84 AB 2214 —6- 1 a violation, and that require the approved certifying organization 2 to revoke the certification of the residence if the required corrective 3 action is not completed within the specified time period and to 4 notify the department of the revocation. 5 (11) Respond to and investigate suspected violations of the 6 organization's code of conduct. 7 (12) Require an operator who seeks to have a residence certified 8 to submit all of the following documents with the operator's 9 completed application and fee: 10 (A) Procedures and requirements for verifying that a resident 11 is not using alcohol or drugs in a manner not consistent with a 12 prescription or product labeling. 13 (B) A prohibition on the premises against alcohol, illegal drugs, 14 or the use of prescribed medications by an individual except as 15 prescribed by a physician and used in accordance with the 16 prescription. 17 (C) Policies to support a resident's recovery efforts. 18 (D) A good neighbor policy to address neighborhood concerns 19 and complaints. 20 (E) A policy for informing local government officials and 21 neighbors about the approved certification organization's complaint 22 procedures, the contact number of the operator of the residence, 23 and a contact number of at least one resident assigned with the 24 responsibility of mitigating a complaint. 25 (F) Rules for residents, copies of forms provided to residents, 26 relapse policy, fee and refund policies, and eviction procedures 27 and policies. 28 (G) Proof that the owner or operator of the residence has 29 completed a minimum of 10 hours of alcohol and drug free 30 program management education accepted by the approved 31 certifying organization. 32 (H) Proof that at least one resident or an onsite staff member 33 has completed or will complete a minimum of 10 hours of recovery 34 specialist training accepted by the approved certifying organization. 35 At least one resident or onsite staff member shall complete a 36 minimum of 10 hours of this training each year. Training shall 37 include, at a minimum, the subjects of ethics, health and safety 38 topics related to addiction recovery and maintenance, and 39 emergency planning procedures. 96 6.a Packet Pg. 85 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 — 7 — AB 2214 (13) Maintain and post on its Internet Web site a registry containing the street address and the name and contact telephone number of the operator of each residence that chooses to be listed as a certified recovery residence pursuant to this section. (14) Make available to the department a nonpublic, confidential Internet Web site registry containing the street address and the name and contact telephone number of the operator of each residence it has certified as a recovery residence pursuant to this section. (15) (A) Review the registry posted on the department's Internet Web site pursuant to subdivision (i) to determine whether the residence that the operator has applied to have certified has had a previous certification revoked or the operator submitting the application for certification has operated a residence for which a previous certification has been revoked. (B) Deny an application for certification if the residence address or operator name in the application is listed on the registry and satisfies the conditions described in subparagraph (A), and send the applicant a written notice of denial of certification. (C) Deny an application for certification if the residence owner or operator name in the application is listed on the Office of the Inspector General exclusions list under the authority of Sections 1128 and 1156 of the Social Security Act. (16) Provide a public telephone number and email contact specifically dedicated to certified recovery residence complaint resolution whereby complaints shall be responded to within 24 hours, or the next business day for weekend complaints. Certifying organization complaint telephone and email contact information shall be provided to all cities, counties, or cities and counties in which a certified recovery residence is located within 30 days of approval of that residence. (17) Publish certification fees and keep fees consistent with national standards for certification. (d) The department shall adopt application procedures and standards of approval for an organization that seeks to become an approved certifying organization. (e) The department shall adopt application procedures and standards of approval for an organization that seeks to become an approved national organization. 96 6.a Packet Pg. 86 AB 2214 —8- 1 (f) (1) The department may conduct periodic reviews and 2 inspect the records of an approved certifying organization, as 3 necessary, to determine whether the organization is in compliance 4 with all applicable laws. 5 (2) The department may revoke approval of an approved 6 certifying organization if the organization does any of the 7 following: 8 (A) Ceases to be affiliated with the approved national 9 organization. 10 (B) Fails to perform any of the duties imposed by subdivision 11 (c). 12 (C) Refuses to comply with sanctions imposed by the 13 department. 14 (D) Discontinues certifying recovery residences. 15 (g) (1) The department may investigate complaints it receives 16 regarding a recovery residence independently or in conjunction 17 with the approved certifying organization. 18 (2) The department may require certifying organizations to 19 impose sanctions and commence disciplinary actions, including 20 revoking the certification of a residence as a recovery residence. 21 (3) The department may require revocation of certification if 22 an applicant has previously applied for a license to operate a 23 residential alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility, 24 or certified alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment 25 program, or previously held a license to operate a residential 26 alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility, and that 27 application was denied or the previous license was revoked, 28 suspended, terminated, surrendered, forfeited, or otherwise had 29 disciplinary or administrative action taken against it by the 30 department, including imposition of civil penalties, that the 31 department determines would make its certification inconsistent 32 with ethical and safety standards required for certification. 33 (h) A city, county, city and county, or local law enforcement 34 agency that suspects that a recovery residence is not operating in 35 compliance with the residence's code of conduct may request the 36 department to revoke the certification of that residence. 37 (i) The department shall maintain and post on its Internet Web 38 site a registry containing the following information: 39 (1) The street address of each residence that has had its 40 certification revoked. 96 6.a Packet Pg. 87 —9— AB 2214 1 (2) The name of each operator of a residence that has had its 2 certification revoked. 3 0) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, on and after January 1, 4 2020, a state agency, state contracted vendor, county agency, 5 county contracted vendor, licensed or certified alcohol drug 6 treatment program, certified alcohol drug counselor, or a person 7 or entity licensed in the healing arts pursuant to Division 2 8 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions 9 Code that directs substance use treatment, shall first, when referring 10 a person to a recovery residence as part of its duties with regard 11 to substance use treatment, refer that person to a residence listed 12 as a certified recovery residence on a registry posted by an 13 approved certifying organization, if available. 14 (2) A judge or parole board that sets terms and conditions for 15 the release, parole, or discharge of a person from custody, if it 16 requires a person to reside in a sober living environment, shall 17 first, when referring a person to a recovery residence as part of its 18 duties with regard to substance use treatment, refer that person to 19 a residence listed as a certified recovery residence on a registry 20 posted by an approved certifying organization, if available, to 21 guarantee proper rehabilitation in accordance with the terms and 22 conditions of the court's orders or terms of release as applicable, 23 pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code. 24 This section does not prohibit a judge or parole board that sets 25 terms and conditions for the release, parole, or discharge of a 26 person from custody from referring a person to a noncertified 27 recovery residence. 28 (k) An entity or person specified in subdivision 0) may refer 29 an individual to a noncertified recovery residence, if the entity or 30 person determines it is in the individual's best interest, and, upon 31 making that referral,shall may notify the State Department 0 32 Heafth !-'are Serv:ees department of that-deei4orr. decision without 33 divulging the name of the person being referred, or the residence 34 to which the referral is made. 35 (l) This section does not prohibit any county contracting 36 authority from requiring similar or additional quality and 37 performance standards when contracting for recovery residence 38 or sober living services and does not require any county to become 39 a certifying organization in order to certify recovery residences 40 for the purpose of meeting contractual obligations within a county. 96 6.a Packet Pg. 88 AB 2214 —10 — 1 (m) A recognized certifying organization may enter into a 2 memorandum of understanding with a county for the purposes of 3 determining if the county's requirements meet or exceed the 4 minimum requirements of the certifying organization. A 5 memorandum of understanding may include the granting of 6 reciprocal certifications based upon the requirements of the county 7 contract, listing county certified recovery residences on the 8 certifying organization's Internet Web site, and coordination 9 regarding complaint resolution. 10 (n) (1) The department shall report to the Legislature on or 11 before January 1, 2021, regarding the efficacy of its regulation of 12 certifying organizations' impact on complaint resolution. The 13 report shall include, but not be limited to, the number and types 14 of complaints received by certifying organizations and the 15 department, the status of complaints received, and the geographic 16 concentration of reported complaints. 17 (2) The report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be 18 submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government 19 Code. 20 (o) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, 21 and as of that date is repealed. 22 SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that 23 this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to 24 local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made 25 pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 26 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code. X 96 6.a Packet Pg. 89