HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 646        FILED ON: 1/15/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2004

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Tram T. Nguyen

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to establish a special task force on best practices for sober homes.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Tram T. Nguyen

18th Essex

1/14/2023

Steven George Xiarhos

5th Barnstable

7/9/2023

Adam J. Scanlon

14th Bristol

12/4/2023

Kate Donaghue

19th Worcester

12/4/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 646        FILED ON: 1/15/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2004

By Representative Nguyen of Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2004) of Tram T. Nguyen that the Department of Public Health establish a special task force on alcohol and drug free housing to investigate best practices for alcohol and drug free sober homes.  Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act to establish a special task force on best practices for sober homes.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 18A of Chapter 17 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “best practices”, in line 28, the following words:-

", comply with standards of best practice as established by rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this section,"

SECTION 2. Said section 18A of said Chapter 17 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by adding the following subsection:-

(i) The department of public health shall establish a special task force on alcohol and drug free housing to investigate best practices for alcohol and drug free housing in the commonwealth, including but not limited to; (i) the presence of on-site supervisors; (ii) access to treatment; (iii) proper medication dispensing practices; (iv) local zoning control over such housing; and (v) persons released on probation for drug-related offenses and ordered to reside in such housing, including the recidivism rate of such persons and the role of the probation officers and the sheriff’s department in the process of monitoring such persons after their release to such housing. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing standards of best practice for alcohol and drug free housing based on the results of the investigation conducted by the task force. Only those facilities that meet these standards shall be authorized to be known as "sober homes."