The proposed bill SB1361 seeks to enhance the regulatory framework for sober living homes in Arizona by increasing the authority of the Department of Health Services (DHS) over licensing, compliance, and oversight. Key changes include the establishment of specific policies for suspending or revoking licenses, mandatory inspections before licensing and annually thereafter, and the requirement for sober living homes to maintain a safe, drug-free environment. The bill also raises the maximum civil penalty for violations from $500 to $1,000 and allows penalties to be assessed per affected resident, while introducing a structured process for handling violations, including immediate sanctions for threats to resident safety.

Additionally, the bill mandates that sober living homes document compliance with local zoning and safety ordinances, prohibits municipalities from reclassifying single-family homes based solely on their status as sober living homes, and enhances fingerprinting requirements for staff. It also clarifies that homes must be licensed and certified to operate and receive referrals, and it expands reporting requirements to include data on unlicensed homes. Overall, these amendments aim to improve accountability, safety standards, and communication between DHS and local jurisdictions, ultimately protecting residents and the surrounding community.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-2061, 36-2062, 36-2062.01, 36-2063, 36-2064, 36-2065, 36-2066, 36-2067, 35-146, 35-147, 36-414
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-3730, 36-2061, 36-2062, 36-2062.01, 36-2063, 36-2064, 36-2065, 36-2066, 36-2067, 35-146, 35-147, 36-414, 36-601
House Engrossed Version: 9-462.14, 13-3730, 36-431.01, 36-2061, 36-2062, 36-2062.01, 36-2063, 36-2064, 36-2065, 36-2066, 36-2067, 36-2068, 36-2069, 41-619.51, 41-1758, 41-1758.01, 90-284, 36-409, 35-146, 35-147, 36-431.02, 36-414, 41-1758.07, 41-619.55, 41-619.57, 8-804, 3-314, 8-105, 8-322, 8-463, 8-509, 8-802, 15-183, 15-503, 15-512, 15-534, 15-763.01, 15-782.02, 15-1330, 15-1881, 17-215, 28-3228, 28-3413, 32-122.02, 32-122.05, 32-122.06, 32-823, 32-1232, 32-1276.01, 32-1284, 32-1297.01, 32-1904, 32-1941, 32-1982, 32-2022, 32-2063, 32-2108.01, 32-2123, 32-2371, 32-3430, 32-3620, 32-3668, 32-3669, 32-3922, 32-3924, 32-4222, 32-4128, 36-113, 36-207, 36-411, 36-425.03, 36-446.04, 36-594.01, 36-594.02, 36-766.01, 36-882, 36-883.02, 36-897.01, 36-897.03, 36-3008, 41-619.53, 41-1964, 41-1967.01, 41-1968, 41-1969, 41-2814, 41-4025, 46-141, 46-321, 41-619.52, 13-3623