SB 704 — Substance Abuse Service Providers
by Senator Harrell
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee (CF)
The bill makes several changes to provisions governing the licensure and regulation of substance abuse treatment programs and providers, including recovery residences and recovery residence administrators.
The bill requires applicants for substance abuse service provider licensure to include the names and locations of recovery residences the applicant plans to refer patients to or accept patients from in their licensure application.
By July 1, 2022, the bill requires licensed substance abuse service providers to record the names and locations of recovery residences to which the applicant has referred patients, or from which the applicant has accepted patients, in the Provider Licensure and Designations System (PLADS) maintained by the Department of Children and Families (the DCF). Providers must update PLADS with the names and locations of any new recovery residences to which patients have been referred, or from which patients have been received, within 30 business days of referring or receiving patients. The bill subjects providers to a $1,000 administrative fine for non-compliance beginning on July 1, 2022.
The bill prohibits certified recovery residence administrators from managing more than 50 patients at once without written justification and approval from a certification credentialing entity and prohibits management of more than 100 patients without exception. The bill also removes a cap on the number of recovery residences a certified recovery residence administrator can manage at any given time. The bill requires substance abuse service providers to return an individual’s personal effects upon the individual’s discharge from treatment.
The bill also requires the DCF to include approval for contingency management programs in the triennial plan’s regional funding priorities component. Contingency management is a type of behavioral therapy used as part of substance abuse treatment in which individuals are rewarded for evidence of positive behavioral change. Every three years, the DCF must create a state master plan for the delivery and financing of substance abuse and mental health services throughout Florida, including funding priorities developed by regions of the state. Currently, the master plan does not include a requirement for such regional funding priorities to include contingency management programs.
The bill is expected to have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the DCF.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 113-0