SB329 - Alcohol and drug recovery: licensed treatment facilities and certified programs: investigations.

Amended IN Assembly August 13, 2026 Amended IN Senate March 28, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 329 Introduced by Senators Blakespear and Umberg (Coauthors: Assembly Members Davies and Dixon) February 11, 2025 An act to add Section Sections 11832.121 and 11834.11 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to alcohol and drug programs. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 329, as amended, Blakespear. Alcohol and drug recovery or treatment facilities: recovery: licensed treatment facilities and certified programs: investigations. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facilities by the State Department of Health Care Services. Existing law prohibits operating an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility to provide recovery, treatment, or detoxification services within this state without first obtaining a current valid license. If a facility is alleged to be providing those services without a license, existing law requires the department to conduct a site visit to investigate the allegation. Existing law also authorizes the department to conduct announced or unannounced site visits to licensed facilities for the purpose of reviewing them for compliance, as specified. Existing law requires alcohol or other drug programs to be certified by the department, except as specified. Existing law prohibits those programs from operating without a certification. If a program is alleged to be providing services without a certification, existing law requires the department to conduct a site visit to investigate the allegation. Existing law also authorizes the department to conduct announced or unannounced site visits to certified programs for the purpose of reviewing them for compliance, as specified. This bill would require the department to assign a complaint under its jurisdiction regarding an a licensed alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility or a certified alcohol or other drug program to an analyst for investigation within 10 days of receiving the complaint. If the department receives a complaint that does not fall under its jurisdiction, the bill would require the department department, to the extent feasible, to notify the complainant, in writing, that it does not investigate that type of complaint. The bill would require the department to complete an investigation into a complaint regarding a facility within 60 120 days of assigning the complaint unless the department requires additional resources, as specified, to complete the investigation. If the department is not able to complete an investigation within 60 days, the bill would require the department to notify the complainant, in writing, of the reason for the delay. Commencing July 1, 2027, and each July 1 thereafter, the bill would require the department to post on its internet website an annual report of the investigations conducted by the department, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to impose a single fee increase for the licensure of facilities and certification of programs, as described above, commensurate with the reasonable cost of preparing and maintaining the report. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 11832.121 is added to the Health and Safety Code, immediately following Section 11832.12, to read: 11832.121. (a) The department shall conduct an investigation into a complaint regarding an alcohol or other drug program certified under this chapter in accordance with both of the following: (1) If the department determines that it has jurisdiction over a complaint, the department shall assign a complaint to an analyst for investigation within 10 days of receiving the complaint. (2) If the department receives a complaint that does not fall under its jurisdiction, the department, to the extent feasible, shall notify the complainant in writing, including through electronic means, that it does not investigate that type of complaint. (b) The department shall complete an investigation within 120 days of assigning the complaint unless the department requires either of the following: (1) Assistance from other state agencies to complete the investigation, as determined by the department. (2) Additional resources to complete the investigation, as determined by the department. (c) The department shall maintain a record of investigations, including those that are not complete within 120 days. (d) Commencing July 1, 2027, and each July 1 thereafter, the department shall post on its internet website an annual report of the investigations conducted by the department in the previous year pursuant to subdivision (a). The report shall include all of the following information: (1) The total number of investigations conducted by the department. (2) The type of investigations conducted by the department. (3) The number of investigations that were not complete within 120 days of assignment. (e) Notwithstanding subdivision (e) of Section 11833.02, the department may impose a single fee increase for the certification of alcohol or other drug programs commensurate with the reasonable cost of preparing and maintaining the report required under subdivision (d). SECTION 1. SEC. 2. Section 11834.11 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 11834.11. The department shall conduct an investigation into a complaint regarding an a licensed alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility in accordance with both of the following: (a) (1) If the department determines that it has jurisdiction over a complaint, the department shall assign a complaint to an analyst for investigation within 10 days of receiving the complaint. (2) If the department receives a complaint that does not fall under its jurisdiction, the department department, to the extent feasible, shall notify the complainant in writing, including through electronic means, that it does not investigate that type of complaint. (b) (1) The department shall complete an investigation within 60 120 days of assigning the complaint unless the department requires either of the following: (A) (1) Assistance from local or other state agencies to complete the investigation. investigation, as determined by the department. (B) Significant additional (2) Additional resources to complete the investigation, as determined by the department. (2) If the department is not able to complete an investigation within 60 days, the department shall notify the complainant in writing, including through electronic means, of the reason for the delay. (c) The department shall maintain a record of investigations, including those that are not complete within 120 days. (d) Commencing on July 1, 2027, and each July 1 thereafter, the department shall post on its internet website an annual report of the investigations conducted by the department in the previous year pursuant to subdivision (a). The report shall include all of the following information: (1) The total number of investigations conducted by the department. (2) The type of investigations conducted by the department. (3) The number of investigations that were not complete within 120 days of assignment. (e) Notwithstanding subdivision (e) of Section 11833.02, the department may impose a single fee increase for licensure of alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facilities commensurate with the reasonable cost of preparing and maintaining the report required under subdivision (d).