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."