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Senate moves licensing of recovery residences to state Behavioral Health Administration
Summary
Senate Bill 113 passed after committee amendments to bring recovery residence licensing under the Behavioral Health Administration, sponsors said the change will improve oversight of bad actors and protect residents receiving medication-assisted treatment.
Senators adopted Senate Bill 113 on March 24, a bill to require recovery residences to obtain licensing from the state Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). The sponsors and committee reported amendments clarifying facility types and protections for residents receiving medication-assisted treatment.
Sponsor Senator Mav described concerns about inconsistent third‑party certification and reported instances where residents and neighborhoods raised complaints about facilities that were not providing promised services. "We're going to bring that licensing under the BHA and... that will give us more flexibility in making sure that these recovery homes are doing what they say they're doing and we will have some oversight over them and some ability to shut them down if they're not doing the right thing," the sponsor said on the floor.
Senator Ball, a co-sponsor, urged an I vote, saying the change will improve accountability of organizations that certify and operate recovery residences. The Senate adopted an amendment (L007) clarifying facility types and safeguards and then passed the bill.
What’s next: following passage the bill will be enrolled and transmitted for final steps as required by the legislative process.
