Bill > S349

Introduced Session

This bill revises licensure and regulatory requirements for residential substance use disorders treatment facilities or programs. Under the bill, the Department of Health (department) is to require an applicant for licensure to operate as a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program to submit to the department a financial audit of business and personal finances that is conducted by an independent, certified public accountant, who is chosen by the department. The applicant is to bear the cost of the audit. The department is to deny an application for licensure if the financial audit reveals business practices or financial activities that are deemed improper or questionable by the department. The bill provides that the department is to require an applicant for licensure to operate as a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program to complete a criminal history record background check and submit to being fingerprinted. The department is to deny an application for licensure if the results of the criminal background check reveal a conviction involving dishonesty or fraud. The bill requires the department to periodically conduct unannounced inspections of residential substance use disorders treatment facilities or programs, with each facility or program receiving at least one unannounced inspection annually. Under the bill, the operator of a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program is to file an annual report with the department detailing all events that jeopardized the health, safety, or welfare of residents or staff. The department is to require a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program to disclose certain financial and administrative information to an entity that is reviewing the facility's or program's application for State or local funding, as provided in the bill. Finally, the department is to establish guidelines and standards to ensure best practices for peer recovery counselors who operate within a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Brian Stack (D)*,  Douglas Steinhardt (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document