State oversight of recovery housing is ‘broken,’ say lawmakers and city leaders
By Cal Cities Staff
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, city officials, and a patient advocate gathered at Santa Ana City Hall last Friday to call for greater oversight and transparency over alcohol and drug treatment facilities.
“Here in California, immeasurable exploitation is going on in the places people go to seek help at the most vulnerable time in their lives,” said patient advocate Sequoyah Thiessen.
The news conference centered around four bills sponsored by Cal Cities: SB 329 (Blakespear), AB 424 (Davies), SB 35 (Umberg), and AB 492 (Valencia).
“I want to be clear about one thing: We need the state to do something now,” said Cal Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “The situation has been going on for years. Cal Cities and many of you in the plaza today have been advocating for change for a number of years. If we're going to see real progress, we need to see action today."
The legislative package would enact proposals from a recent state audit that found DHCS has failed to investigate complaints consistently and thoroughly, jeopardizing patient and community safety. It takes DHCS analysts nearly one year on average to submit investigative reports. Common complaints include sexual misconduct, poor medication management, and the use of unlicensed counselors.
“It’s alarming to hear that serious complaints about alcohol and drug treatment facilities can take more than a year to follow up on,” said Sen. Catherine Blakespear. “SB 329 ensures the state will investigate complaints about state-licensed facilities methodically and expeditiously to safeguard the health and safety of patients and surrounding communities.”
The lack of communication makes it hard for cities to address community concerns, maintain public safety, and support recovery and treatment programs coming into communities.
“AB 424 is a critical step towards fixing California’s substance use disorder treatment system,” said Asm. Laurie Davies. “Bad treatment experiences should be investigated and corrected quickly. The public shouldn’t be kept in the dark as to whether or not corrective actions are being taken or if the complaint was received.”
Cities in Orange County are disproportionately impacted by the presence of drug and alcohol treatment facilities, with over 300 licensed facilities located across the county — second only to the much larger Los Angeles County.
“This concentration raises concerns about oversight, accountability, and the impact on both residents and the surrounding community,” Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua said. “These homes must be held to the regulatory standards that the state expects of such facilities to ensure proper care and support, especially when complaints are submitted.”
AB 492 has passed out of the Assembly, and AB 424 is currently on consent in the appropriations committee. Both SB 329 and SB 35 are on the Senate Appropriation Committee’s suspense file.
“We’re advocating not only for residents whose neighborhoods have been disrupted but also for patients who have been mistreated and abused by a broken system,” said Mission Viejo Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Bucknum, who co-chairs the California Sober Living and Recovery Task Force.