Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to establish and regulate recovery residences in Minnesota, supporting individuals recovering from substance use disorders. It creates a certification system for these residences, outlines their operation standards, sets penalties for violations, and modifies housing support eligibility to include certified recovery residences.

Main Provisions

• Certification System: The bill introduces the Minnesota Recovery Residence Certification Act, establishing certification requirements for recovery residences, which must meet certain health, safety, and operational standards.
• Application Process: Recovery residences must apply for certification, provide specific documentation, and pay a fee. Certified residences must undergo regular inspections to maintain certification.
• Standards and Levels of Support: Recovery residences are categorized into three levels—peer-run, monitored, and supervised—each offering varying degrees of support and oversight.
• Resident Rights: The bill mandates the creation of rules to ensure the rights of residents are protected, with mechanisms to file complaints about violations.
• Access to Medication: Certified recovery residences must allow residents who are prescribed medications to have access without denial of residency.
• Funding and Referrals: Only certified recovery residences are eligible for state and federal funding. Referrals to and from these residences by treatment providers require certification.
• Consequences for Violations: The bill outlines penalties for illegal activities such as patient brokering and provides for suspensions or revocations of certification for non-compliance.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Housing Support Modifications: The bill amends housing support regulations to include certified recovery residences, ensuring they qualify under specific eligibility criteria.
• Legal Protections: Certified recovery residences are recognized as a single-family residential use in terms of zoning, overriding certain local zoning restrictions.
• Criminal Penalties: Establishes penalties for illegal activities concerning recovery residences, such as patient brokering and misleading representation of certification.

Relevant Terms

• Recovery residences
• Certification
• Substance use disorder
• Housing support
• Patient brokering
• Peer recovery support
• Zoning regulations