SECTION 1. Chapter 111E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 19. Notwithstanding subsection (h) of section 18A of chapter 17, a person convicted of a drug offense and released from a prison or house of correction, after serving the term for such offense and found by the court to be an alcohol or drug dependent person shall be assigned to certified alcohol and drug free housing, as defined by said section 18A, and shall be placed on probation for the length of such housing to continue thereafter for a total of not less than 6 months but not more than 1 year.

SECTION 2. Chapter 121B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 61. The department shall establish and administer a voucher assistance program in the form of vouchers for eligible and qualified drug dependent persons who are released from incarceration and assigned to certified alcohol and drug free housing pursuant to section 19 of chapter 111E, as determined eligible pursuant to department regulations. Such voucher shall be paid to the provider of certified alcohol and drug free housing as payment in full for residency in such housing; provided, however that such voucher shall be for month to month payment for a minimum term of 6 months and shall expire after 12 full and continuous months. The department shall set the rate for such payment.