Recognize and Regulate Distributed Institutions
A fundamental problem with commercial recovery housing is that a single business often operates multiple houses. The business is actually a large commercial operation, or even technically a hotel, posing as several small family units and residential uses of property. An employee of an entity outside the house, usually the Treatment Center, services multiple houses. Sometimes, one house will be used for food preparation, while another might be used for therapy. The state, instead of treating the business as a large business, treats each property as if it were separate. An investigation for a violation of rights never extends beyond the property where the rights were violated. If a death occurs on one property, only that property will be investigated, and none of the others.
The state has previously given to smaller jurisdictions the right to regulate and restrict commercial uses in residential neighborhoods. To the extent that it turns a blind eye to commercial uses, it undermines the authority of local jurisdictions.
Since 2017, only two bills have addressed the distributed nature of larger businesses engaged in Addiction Treatment.
2019 - Petrie-Norris - AB 920
“Sober living homes” engaged in an economic relationship with a treatment provider that owns or operates 2 or more such houses shall not be considered a residential use of property.
2017 - AB 1095 Harper
Businesses that collectively serve seven or more recovering addicts are considered to comprise a single enterprise, whether or not multiple locations are involved.
The state has previously given to smaller jurisdictions the right to regulate and restrict commercial uses in residential neighborhoods. To the extent that it turns a blind eye to commercial uses, it undermines the authority of local jurisdictions.
Since 2017, only two bills have addressed the distributed nature of larger businesses engaged in Addiction Treatment.
2019 - Petrie-Norris - AB 920
“Sober living homes” engaged in an economic relationship with a treatment provider that owns or operates 2 or more such houses shall not be considered a residential use of property.
2017 - AB 1095 Harper
Businesses that collectively serve seven or more recovering addicts are considered to comprise a single enterprise, whether or not multiple locations are involved.