BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3171 By: Luna (Sponsor) Health and Human Services 5-11-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Section 464, Health and Safety Code, requires programs conducting chemical dependency treatment to be licensed. Certain 12-step programs that do not provide treatment but offer self-help and support services have not had licensure requirements imposed on them because of broad interpretation of the statutes. An exemption from the licensure requirements would ensure that the principles of the 12-step programs are kept intact. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 3171 exempts certain 12-step self-help chemical dependency recovery programs from licensure requirements. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 464.003, Health and Safety Code, to exempt from the licensure requirements a 12-step or similar self-help chemical dependency recovery program that does not offer or purport to offer a chemical dependency treatment program, that does not charge program participants, and in which program participants may maintain anonymity. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.