HB 277

Abstract

Recovery residences. Requires that all recovery residences be certified by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department) and that recovery residences, as a condition of such certification, comply with any minimum square footage requirements related to beds and sleeping rooms established by the credentialing entity, which shall be no less than the square footage requirements set forth in the Uniform Statewide Building Code. The bill requires every person who operates a recovery residence to disclose to potential residents its credentialing entity. If the credentialing entity is the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, the bill requires the recovery residence to disclose the level of support provided by the recovery residence and, if the credentialing entity is Oxford House, Inc., the bill requires the recovery residence to disclose that the recovery residence is self-governed and unstaffed. The bill also requires the Department to include such information on the list of all recovery residences maintained by the Department on its website. The bill exempts recovery residences from the provisions of the Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act. This bill is identical to SB 622.

Certified recovery residences. Requires every person who operates a recovery residence to disclose to potential residents whether the recovery residence is a certified recovery residence and, if so, the credentialing entity. If the credentialing entity is the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, the bill requires the recovery residence to disclose the level of support provided by the recovery residence and, if the credentialing entity is Oxford House, Inc., the bill requires the recovery residence to disclose that the recovery residence is self-governed and unstaffed. The bill also requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department) to include such information on the list of all certified recovery residences maintained by the Department on its website. The bill further provides that all recovery residences housing individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder shall be certified by the Department in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.The bill exempts certified recovery residences from the provisions of the Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act and also provides that certified recovery residences in which a certifying entity verifies 50 square feet per bed per sleeping room shall constitute residential occupancy by a single family for zoning purposes.

Recovery residences. Requires that all recovery residences be certified by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department) and that recovery residences, as a condition of such certification, comply with minimum square footage requirements related to beds and sleeping rooms established by the credentialing entity or the Uniform Statewide Building Code, whichever is greater. The bill requires every person who operates a recovery residence to disclose to potential residents its credentialing entity. If the credentialing entity is the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, the bill requires the recovery residence to disclose the level of support provided by the recovery residence and, if the credentialing entity is Oxford House, Inc., the bill requires the recovery residence to disclose that the recovery residence is self-governed and unstaffed. The bill also requires the Department to include such information on the list of all recovery residences maintained by the Department on its website. The bill exempts recovery residences from the provisions of the Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act. This bill is identical to SB 622.

Certified recovery residences. Requires every person who operates a recovery residence to disclose to potential residents whether the recovery residence is a certified recovery residence and that no health care provider or behavioral health service provider who receives public funds or state agency shall refer a person with substance abuse disorder to a recovery residence unless the recovery residence has been certified by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department) in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Board). The bill also provides that credentialing agencies by which the Board may require accreditation or in which the Board may require membership shall administer credentialing and certification programs in accordance with standards of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences; requires the Board to adopt regulations requiring each certified recovery residence include one or more resident or nonresident staff persons who is employed by the provider for compensation and who is responsible for oversight or management of the recovery residence; and requires the Department to provide, for each certified recovery residence included on the list maintained on the Department’s website the level of support provided by the certified recovery residence. The bill also provides that certified recovery residences shall constitute residential occupancy by a single family for zoning purposes, regardless of the number of persons residing in the certified recovery residence, and exempts certified recovery residences from the provisions of the Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act.