CA AB2491

Amends Health and Safety Code to establish licensure and regulation of adult recovery maintenance facilities by the State Department of Health Care Services, alongside existing alcoholism and drug abuse recovery treatment facilities.

Requires the department to adopt emergency regulations by July 1, 2016 governing licensing, operation, fees, license extensions, compliance visits, and civil penalties for adult recovery maintenance facilities.

Defines adult recovery maintenance facilities as alcohol- or drug-free housing providing peer-led structured operations to support sobriety maintenance for individuals in early recovery, without providing professional treatment services.

Prohibits state and local agencies from referring individuals to unlicensed alcoholism, drug abuse recovery, treatment, or adult recovery maintenance facilities.

Extends existing protections and exemptions for six-or-fewer-person facilities (including zoning exemptions, business tax exemptions, and residential use classifications) to adult recovery maintenance facilities.