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Bill

S 5497

Establishes certified recovery residences for individuals recovering from substance use disorder

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Harckham

Establishes a state certification program for recovery residences to set safety, staffing, and resident-rights standards with oversight and accountability.

REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
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Bill Summary · S 5497

Summary of S 5497 — Establishes certified recovery residences for individuals recovering from substance use disorder

Quick snapshot

  • Bill number: S 5497
  • Title: Establishes certified recovery residences for individuals recovering from substance use disorder
  • Sponsor: Pete Harckham (primary)
  • Status: Referred to the Senate Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders
  • Introduced: February 21, 2025
  • Related bill: S 6094 (prior-session)
  • Legislative actions: Referred to Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders on February 21, 2025 (listed twice)

Purpose and intent

Based on the title, the bill aims to create a formal system for certifying recovery residences (commonly known as sober living homes) to serve individuals recovering from substance use disorder. The core aim is to establish standards and oversight to improve the quality, safety, and accountability of facilities that provide housing and support to people in early recovery.

Key provisions (high-level expectations)

The full text of the bill would be required to confirm precise provisions, but likely elements in a bill of this type typically include:
- Creation of a certification program for recovery residences
- Criteria or standards facilities must meet to obtain, renew, or maintain certification (e.g., safety, staffing, resident rights, resident services, incident reporting)
- Mechanisms for applying for and issuing certifications, including renewal timelines
- Oversight and enforcement provisions (inspections, compliance monitoring, penalties for noncompliance)
- Roles for state or specified agencies in administering the certification program
- Reporting requirements and potential public disclosure of certified facilities
- Any funding or fee structures to administer the program
- Definitions of key terms (e.g., “recovery residence,” “certification,” “facility”)

Note: The exact standards, processes, and enforcement details would be specified in the bill’s text; the summary above reflects common components of certification schemes and may not represent the final language.

Who would be affected

  • Operators and owners of recovery residences seeking or maintaining certification
  • Individuals residing in recovery residences
  • Families and advocates connected to residents
  • State or departmental agencies responsible for health, addiction services, housing, or consumer protection
  • Local jurisdictions implementing or coordinating with certified facilities

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and initial referral occurred on February 21, 2025
  • The bill has been referred to the Senate committee with jurisdiction over alcoholism and substance use disorders
  • No further actions or dates are provided in the information available; committee consideration, potential amendments, and floor action would follow if the bill advances

Relationship to related legislation

  • S 6094 is listed as a related bill from a prior session, suggesting similar or predecessor concepts about certified recovery residences. This indicates ongoing legislative interest in establishing certification and standards for recovery housing.

Next steps and considerations

  • Obtain the full bill text to review specific standards, enforcement mechanisms, funding, and timelines
  • Assess potential fiscal impact, regulatory burden on providers, and anticipated benefits to residents
  • Monitor committee action and any amendments that may affect scope or implementation

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary once the bill text is available or compare it with S 6094 to highlight similarities and differences.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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