House Bill 1163 amends several provisions of Florida Statutes concerning certified recovery residences, focusing on the licensing process and operational requirements. The bill introduces interim licenses that the Department of Children and Families can issue to new owners, establishes specific timeframes for application review and license conversion, and revises the definition of "transfer" related to ownership changes. It also allows for probationary licenses under certain conditions and mandates that Level IV certified recovery residence providers undergo recertification audits every three years. Additionally, the bill clarifies the circumstances under which the department may deny, suspend, or revoke licenses, while emphasizing the confidentiality of patient records and compliance with background screening standards.

Furthermore, the bill designates certified recovery residences as nontransient residential uses of land, preventing local laws from regulating their operation in multifamily structures and requiring municipalities to permit them in specific zoned districts without zoning changes. It also stipulates that properties adjacent to single-family residential zones must be part of a development with at least 25 contiguous single-family homes and mandates a 50% reduction in local parking requirements for certified recovery residences near transit stops. The legislation establishes the Substance Abuse and Recovery Residence Efficiency Committee to analyze the regulatory framework and recommend improvements, with a report due by October 1, 2025. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1163 Filed: 397.403, 397.415, 397.4871