An Act To Ensure the Quality of and Increase Access to Recovery Residences
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1682
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: BELLOWS, VACHON, CYRWAY, MAKER, MILLETT, BICKFORD, FARNSWORTH, FAY, GATTINE, HILLIARD
Amends: 5 MRSA §20005, 34-B MRSA §3011

Legislative Document
No. 1682
S.P. 618
In Senate, December 22, 2017
An Act To Ensure the Quality of and Increase Access to Recovery 
Residences
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 19, 2017.  Referred to the Committee 
on Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BELLOWS of Kennebec.
Cosponsored by Representative VACHON of Scarborough and
Senators: CYRWAY of Kennebec, MAKER of Washington, MILLETT of Cumberland, 
Representatives: BICKFORD of Auburn, FARNSWORTH of Portland, FAY of Raymond, 
GATTINE of Westbrook, HILLIARD of Belgrade.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §20005, sub-§20, as amended by PL 2005, c. 674, §1, is further 
amended to read:
20.  Review policies.  Review the full range of public policies and strategies existing 
in State Government to identify changes that would strengthen its response, identify 
policies that might discourage excessive consumption of alcohol and other drugs and 
generate new funding for alcohol and other drug services; and
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §20005, sub-§21, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 674, §2, is amended 
to read:
21.  List of banned performance-enhancing substances.  Develop and maintain a 
list of banned performance-enhancing substances in accordance with Title 20-A, section 
6621.; and
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §20005, sub-§22 is enacted to read:
22.  Recovery residence standards.  Establish by rule standards for recovery 
residences based on standards established by a national alliance for recovery residences.  
For the purposes of this subsection, "recovery residence" means a group residence 
providing an alcohol-free and drug-free environment for persons recovering from 
substance use disorders.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical 
rules as defined in chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 4.  34-B MRSA §3011, as corrected by RR 2017, c. 1, §31, is amended to 
read:
§3011.  Bridging Rental Assistance Program
The Bridging Rental Assistance Program is established within the department as a 
transitional housing voucher program.  The purpose of the program is to assist persons 
with mental illness with housing assistance for up to 24 months or until they receive 
assistance from a housing voucher program administered by the United States 
Department of Housing and Urban Development under the United States Housing Act of 
1937, Public Law 75-412, 50 Stat. 888, Section 8 or receive an alternative housing 
placement.  The program may also assist persons with substance use disorders involving 
opioids with housing placement in recovery residences the department has determined 
meet the standards established pursuant to Title 5, section 20005, subsection 22.  For the 
purposes of this section, "recovery residence" means a group residence providing an 
alcohol-free and drug-free environment for persons recovering from substance use 
disorders.  The department shall adopt rules to carry out the purpose of the program.   
Rules relating to recovery residences must allow for the sharing of rooms by residents.  
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 5.  Rulemaking; recovery residence standards.  The Department of 
Health and Human Services shall base the recovery residence standards established 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 20005, subsection 22 on the 
national standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish standards 
for recovery residences based on standards established by the National Alliance for 
Recovery Residences.  It also authorizes the Bridging Rental Assistance Program to assist 
persons with substance use disorders involving opioids with housing placement in 
recovery residences, including residences in which residents share rooms.