H.B. No. 299

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a voluntary accreditation for recovery housing; authorizing fees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 6, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 469 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 469. VOLUNTARY ACCREDITATION OF RECOVERY HOUSING

Sec. 469.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Accrediting organization" means a nonprofit organization the commission approves under Section 469.002 that develops and administers recovery housing accreditation programs.

(2) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission.

(3) "Recovery house" means a shared living environment that:

(A) promotes sustained recovery from substance use disorders by integrating residents into the surrounding community and providing a setting that connects residents to supports and services promoting sustained recovery from substance use disorders;

(B) is centered on peer support; and

(C) is free from alcohol and drug use.

(4) "State health care regulatory agency" has the meaning assigned by Section 161.131.

Sec. 469.002. VOLUNTARY ACCREDITATION OF RECOVERY HOUSING. (a) The commission shall adopt minimum standards for accreditation as a recovery house that are consistent with the quality standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences and the Oxford House Incorporated. The standards must prohibit an accredited recovery house from providing personal care services, as defined by Section 247.002.

(b) The commission may approve only the National Alliance for Recovery Residences or the Oxford House Incorporated to serve as an accrediting organization in the development and administration of a voluntary accreditation program for recovery housing in accordance with this chapter.

(c) An accrediting organization the commission approves under this section must:

(1) establish recovery house accreditation requirements that at a minimum include the accreditation standards the commission adopts;

(2) establish procedures to:

(A) administer the issuance of recovery house accreditation under this chapter, including application, accreditation, reaccreditation, and disciplinary procedures; and

(B) assess application accreditation and reaccreditation fees;

(3) provide training to recovery house responsible parties designated under Section 469.004 and staff concerning the accreditation standards the commission adopts;

(4) develop a code of ethics; and

(5) provide information to the commission for the commission to compile the annual report required under Section 469.005.

Sec. 469.003. PLACES INELIGIBLE FOR ACCREDITATION AS RECOVERY HOUSE. The following places are ineligible for accreditation as a recovery house:

(1) a home and community support services agency licensed under Chapter 142;

(2) a nursing facility licensed under Chapter 242;

(3) a continuing care facility regulated under Chapter 246;

(4) an assisted living facility licensed under Chapter 247;

(5) an intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability licensed under Chapter 252;

(6) a boarding home facility as defined by Section 260.001;

(7) a chemical dependency treatment facility licensed under Subchapter A, Chapter 464;

(8) a child-care facility licensed under Chapter 42, Human Resources Code;

(9) a family violence shelter center as defined by Section 51.002, Human Resources Code;

(10) an entity qualified as a community home under Chapter 123, Human Resources Code; and

(11) a hotel, as defined by Section 156.001, Tax Code.

Sec. 469.004. REQUIRED DESIGNATION OF RECOVERY HOUSE RESPONSIBLE PARTY BY CERTAIN RECOVERY HOUSES. (a) This section does not apply to a recovery house accredited by Oxford House Incorporated.

(b) The standards the commission adopts must require at least one individual to be designated to serve as the responsible party of an accredited recovery house.

(c) A designated individual:

(1) must satisfactorily complete training the accrediting organization provides concerning the commission's accreditation standards and the organization's accreditation requirements; and

(2) is responsible for administering the recovery house in accordance with the accreditation standards and requirements.

(d) An accredited recovery house required to designate a responsible party under this section must notify the accrediting organization that issued the recovery house's accreditation before the 30th business day after the date of any change to the designated responsible party.

Sec. 469.005. ANNUAL REPORT. The commission shall prepare an annual report that includes information on:

(1) the total number of accredited recovery houses;

(2) the number of recovery houses accredited during the preceding year;

(3) any issues concerning the accreditation or reaccreditation process;

(4) the number of accredited recovery houses that had an accreditation revoked during the preceding year; and

(5) the reasons for the revocation.

Sec. 469.006. SOLICITING. A recovery house responsible party designated under Section 469.004 or a recovery house's employee or agent may not offer to pay or agree to accept, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, remuneration in cash or in kind to or from another for securing or soliciting a patient or patronage for or from a person licensed, certified, or registered by a state health care regulatory agency.

Sec. 469.007. CERTAIN ADVERTISING PROHIBITED. (a) A recovery house may not advertise or otherwise communicate that the recovery house is accredited by an accrediting organization unless the recovery house is accredited by an accrediting organization in accordance with this chapter.

(b) A recovery house may not advertise or cause to be advertised in any manner any false, misleading, or deceptive information about the recovery house.

Sec. 469.008. ENFORCEMENT. If an accredited recovery house violates this chapter, the accrediting organization that issued the accreditation to the recovery house may suspend the accreditation for a period not to exceed six months while the accrediting organization conducts an audit of the recovery house. After the audit is complete, the accrediting organization may implement a corrective action plan or revoke the accreditation.

Sec. 469.009. FUNDING. A recovery house that is not accredited by an accrediting organization in accordance with this chapter is ineligible for and may not receive state money.

SECTION 2. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

(b) Section 469.009, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 299 was passed by the House on April 26, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 7, 1 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 299 was passed by the Senate on May 23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

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Governor