This bill amends Arizona Revised Statutes to establish new regulations for behavioral health residential facilities and sober living homes. It prohibits the Department from processing licensure applications or renewals for these facilities while any enforcement or court actions are pending against the current licensee. Additionally, the bill allows the Department to continue pursuing legal actions against a licensee even if the facility is being sold or transferred. It also requires that ownership changes can only be approved if there is a complete transfer of control and authority to new parties.

Furthermore, the bill introduces civil penalties for facilities that operate without proper licensure, imposing a minimum fine of $5,000 for each violation, with each day of non-compliance counting as a separate violation. The director is empowered to issue notices of assessment, and individuals have the right to appeal these assessments through a specified hearing process. Overall, the bill strengthens oversight and accountability for both behavioral health residential facilities and sober living homes in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-420.05, 36-2068