BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 972
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 11, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 972 (Butler and Beall) - As Amended: April 13, 2011
Policy Committee: HealthVote:17 - 1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill adds facilities that provide limited medical services
to adults recovering from alcohol and drug abuse to the
definition of treatment facilities licensed by the Department of
Alcohol and Drug Programs (DADP). Specifically, this bill:
1)Adds 24-hour residential facilities that have a
multidisciplinary team that provides medical treatment to the
list of facilities licensed by DADP.
2)Limits the medical treatment to such things as detoxification,
psychiatric evaluation, prescribing and monitoring
medications, routine, noninvasive testing.
3)Sunsets these provisions January 1, 2017.
FISCAL EFFECT
On previous similar legislation DADP estimated GF costs of
$125,000 in the first year and $250,000 ongoing. Specifically,
DADP would require 2.5 permanent positions to conduct facility
site reviews, establish regulations and fees, review
applications, monitor compliance, investigate complaints, and
conduct accounting and collections activities.
DADP estimates up to 248 licensed alcohol and other drug
treatment facilities throughout California may elect to offer
medical services if this bill were to be enacted. Although DADP
currently monitors these facilities, the department contends
there would be a higher level of monitoring necessary if these
facilities were to provide medical services.
AB 972
Page 2
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . DADP discovered that it lacked the statutory
authority to license residential facilities where a physician
was available to provide care. Because of this lack of
authority, the author notes, DADP began informing these
facilities they would lose their licenses if they continued to
provide any medical services. This bill is intended to
provide DADP with the necessary expanded licensing authority.
2)DADP licensure authority . DADP licenses residential treatment
facilities to provide nonmedical services to individuals who
are working to overcome their addiction to alcohol or other
drugs. According to DADP, these services include education,
group, or individual sessions, recovery or treatment planning,
and, detoxification services. In addition, a licensed
treatment facility may offer individualized services, such as
vocational and employment search training, community volunteer
opportunities, new skills training, peer support, social and
recreational activities, and information about and referral to
appropriate community services.
3)Related Legislation . AB 2221 (Beall) in 2010 which was
substantively similar to this bill, was held on the Senate
Appropriations Committee Suspense File.
AB 1055 (Chesbro), 2009, proposed expanding DADP licensure
authority for alcohol and drug treatment facilities to include
24-hour facilities that do not require a health facility
license. That bill was held on this committee's Suspense File.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081