Florida House Bill H1303

Florida 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/1/23
• Refer: 3/6/23
• Failed: 5/5/23

Caption

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Impact

The legislation establishes a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment and Housing Task Force within the Department of Children and Families. This task force is intended to study the regulation of licensed private sector treatment service providers and provide recommendations for best practices. The task force will meet regularly, conduct studies on treatment service impacts, and develop a report detailing their findings and any proposed changes to relevant statutes. The outcomes of these studies are expected to influence future legislation and practices regarding mental health services in the state.

Summary

House Bill 1303 is focused on enhancing the quality and regulation of substance abuse and mental health services within Florida. The bill amends existing statutes related to the certification and management of recovery residences, which are facilities providing housing to individuals in recovery from substance abuse. Key changes include updates to the credentialing process for recovery residence administrators, specifically increasing the number of residents they can manage based on certain criteria. Furthermore, the bill mandates that changes to certification requirements must be adopted through departmental rule, ensuring that new regulations are properly vetted before taking effect.

Contention

One notable aspect of HB 1303 is its temporary exemption of certain recovery residences from local zoning laws and ordinances for a specified period. This provision aims to facilitate the establishment of more recovery housing options but raises concerns about potential conflicts with local regulations intended to ensure community standards. Critics argue this could lead to unregulated growth of such facilities in residential areas, while supporters believe that it is a necessary step to expand recovery resources amidst a growing need for effective substance abuse treatment options.