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Committee reviews recovery-residence certification report and limited exit data from Act 163
Summary
The House Human Services Committee reviewed a Department report prepared under Act 163 that outlines recommended certification for recovery residences and a companion four‑month exit dataset; members said more testimony and clearer data are needed before taking legislative steps.
The House Committee on Human Services on Friday reviewed two reports prepared under Act 163: a draft certification framework for recovery residences and an accompanying exit-data summary covering July 1–Dec. 31, 2024.
The reports, the committee heard, respond to a 2024 law directing the Department of Health to develop certification standards for recovery residences and to report on resident exits. Committee member Eric, who presented the documents, said the draft legislation in the report and stakeholder feedback recommend eligibility requirements, data-collection standards and grievance/discharge policies.
Committee members emphasized the need for more testimony from community providers and the Department of Health before deciding whether to pursue further legislation. “The Department also provided draft legislation suggestions within the report,” Eric said, and the committee should “take testimony from the community partners as well as the Department of Health.”
Members noted limits in the exit data. The dataset covered a four-month window and included only residents removed by providers, not residents who left voluntarily. Eric said the small sample size limits strong conclusions about outcomes and recommended asking providers for clarifying detail in future collections.
Committee members also discussed why residents were removed. One member noted the exit reason column listed substance use, violent or threatening behavior, or successful transition to independent living and recommended distinguishing removals initiated by providers from voluntary departures. The committee heard that, in the submitted data, “nobody was exited to homelessness,” and providers reported temporary shelter and safety plans were used when exits occurred.
The committee agreed to invite Department of Health staff and recovery-housing providers to testify at a future meeting to review recommendations, clarify definitions and discuss whether statutory changes are required. The committee flagged landlord-tenant law interplay with certification and discharge and said data quality would help decide whether temporary landlord-tenant suspensions should remain permanent.
Next steps: staff will arrange testimony from the Department of Health and providers to clarify certification expectations and to refine data collection requirements for future reports.
