Alcoholism or drug abuse treatment facilities: County of Orange pilot program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Laurie Davies

A pilot allows a state investigator to be colocated in Orange County to handle complaints against licensed adult addiction treatment facilities.

Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

#alcoholismordrugabusetreatmentfacilities #countyoforangepilotprogram

Purpose / Intent

AB 1090 requires the State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to establish a limited pilot program that places a Substance Use Disorder Compliance Division investigator physically within a participating county to investigate complaints against licensed adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities. The pilot is designed to test colocated, local investigative capacity to oversee licensed substance use disorder treatment facilities.

Key provisions

Authorizes DHCS to create a pilot program to locate a Substance Use Disorder Compliance Division investigator within a participating county to investigate complaints against licensed adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities (Health & Safety Code §11834.19).

Participating county: the County of Orange, but only if the Orange County Board of Supervisors adopts an ordinance or resolution electing to participate.

Implementation and contract terms:

DHCS will execute a contract with the County of Orange to implement the pilot.
DHCS will assign the investigator to investigate complaints in Orange County.
The County of Orange must reimburse DHCS for pilot costs, including administrative costs and the investigator’s compensation and benefits.
The County must provide office space and amenities for the investigator.

Pilot timeline and reporting:

Pilot must be completed no later than December 31, 2029.
If Orange County participates, the county must submit a report to the Legislature by December 31, 2030 (per Government Code §9795) including an evaluation of effectiveness and recommendations for next steps.

Sunset: The statutory provisions authorizing the pilot are repealed on December 31, 2034.

Minor technical change: The bill makes a technical, nonsubstantive amendment to Health & Safety Code §1368.017 (Knox-Keene notice requirement about behavioral health and wellness screenings for children/adolescents ages 8–18).

Who would be affected

State Department of Health Care Services — required to enter contract and assign an investigator.

County of Orange — must opt in via local ordinance/resolution and reimburse DHCS, provide office space.

Licensed adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities in Orange County — complaints against these facilities could be investigated by a colocated state investigator.

Residents/clients and facility staff in Orange County — may see potentially faster or more locally accessible complaint investigation and oversight.

Legislature — will receive a pilot evaluation and recommendations.

Procedural status & timeline

Introduced: February 20, 2025 (Read first time; to print).

March 24–25, 2025: Amended and re-referred to the Assembly Committee on Health (current status: Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH).

Pilot operational deadline: must be completed by December 31, 2029.

County report due to Legislature: by December 31, 2030.

Statutory sunset / repeal: December 31, 2034.

Potential implications / considerations

Oversight: May increase local investigatory presence and responsiveness for complaints in Orange County.

Costs: Pilot costs are borne by the participating county (reimbursement required to DHCS).

Scalability: The report requirement is intended to inform whether colocated investigators should be expanded or modified elsewhere.

Limited scope: Pilot applies only if Orange County opts in; statutory authority expires in 2034 unless extended.

Bill