Committee approves SB 739 committee substitute reorganizing recovery-residence code and removing registration requirement; witnesses describe certification, un/

A Senate committee approved a committee substitute for Senate Bill 739 and voted to report the measure to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. The substitute reorganizes statutory sections governing recovery residences, adds legislative findings supporting certification to nationally recognized standards, and removes a statutory requirement that recovery residences collect registration-related data, the committee was told.

Counsel summarized the committee substitute and its effect: the substitute moves legislative findings and definitions, removes the recovery-residence requirement to collect data tied to registration, and repeals the section requiring residences to register with the state; counsel also reported there is no fiscal note, named government agencies affected (Department of Health Facilities/Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification; Department of Human Services; Office of the Inspector General), and said the bill’s effective date would be 90 days if enacted.

Emily Birkin, introduced as executive director of the West Virginia Alliance of Recovery Residences, testified about…