The bill amends Florida Statutes to establish new requirements for certified recovery residences, mandating that by January 1, 2026, each county or municipality must adopt an ordinance that outlines procedures for the review and approval of these residences. The ordinance must include a process for requesting reasonable accommodations from local land use regulations that may hinder the establishment of a certified recovery residence. It specifies criteria for the ordinance, including consistency with federal laws such as the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requires local governments to respond to accommodation requests within set timeframes. Additionally, the ordinance may not impose public hearing requirements beyond what is legally mandated and can include provisions for revoking accommodations if certain conditions are not met.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the personnel-to-resident ratio requirements for Level IV certified recovery residences, allowing administrators to manage more residents under specific conditions related to personnel-to-patient ratios and onsite supervision. The new language clarifies that the personnel-to-resident ratio must only be met when residents are present at the residence, and it increases the maximum number of residents that can be managed based on the service provider's staffing levels. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 954 Filed: 397.403, 397.415, 397.4871
S 954 c1: 397.4871
S 954 c2: 397.4871
S 954 c3: 397.4871
S 954 er: 397.4871