Senate committee hears sponsor testimony on bill to shorten ADAMH contract notices, require recovery housing certification

At the first meeting of the Senate Addiction and Community Revitalization Committee of the 130th General Assembly in Columbus, Senator Terry Johnson presented sponsor testimony for Senate Bill 138, which he said would shorten notice requirements for Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) board contracts, require a state-local data-sharing plan and criminalize uncertified recovery residences.

Johnson, the bill sponsor and vice chair of the committee, said, “This bill is the culmination of several years of work, research, and compromise.” He described the measure as a compromise developed with ADAMH boards and health-care providers after a statewide review of addiction services.

The bill would reduce a current 120-day notice requirement for contract nonrenewal to at least 60 days, Johnson said, enabling local boards and providers to respond more quickly while preserving continuity of care. It would also create a six-month runway after the bill’s effective date to give boards and providers time to adjust to contracting changes, he said.

Johnson told the committee the bill directs the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) to collaborate with ADAMH boards to develop a data-sharing and integration plan. “Data is the lifeblood of the ADAMH boards, and to everyone involved in recovery planning,” he said, adding that better data would help boards identify community needs and coordinate services.

The bill would make it a first-degree misdemeanor for recovery residences that operate or advertise without required certification or accreditation, Johnson said, saying uncertified operators have preyed on people seeking treatment in some counties. He cited Scioto County as an example of local areas where, he said, exploitative groups have operated “going unchecked and unmonitored.”

Chairman Landis and other senators thanked Johnson for the bipartisan work that produced the bill. Chairman Landis said, “I wanna thank you personally ... for taking the time to really work with both groups, to come up with meaningful legislation that will move this bill forward.” Ranking member Senator Willis Blackshear Jr. also praised the collaboration.

Committee members did not take a vote. Chairman Landis closed the hearing after questions and comments, and the committee recorded the first hearing on Senate Bill 138 with no formal action taken.

Votes at a glance: No votes were taken on SB 138 during this hearing.