Rehab homes senate bill fails in health committee

A state senate bill meant to crack down on the spread of drug and alcohol rehabilitation homes died in the Senate Health Committee earlier this week. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harman, was prompted in part by the problems with crime and noise some Newport Beach residents claim are caused by an over-concentration of rehabilitation homes in parts of the city.

“We’re going to have to solve our own problems — we’re not going to get any help from the state of California,� said Newport Beach Councilman Michael Henn, who traveled to Sacramento on Wednesday to testify to the committee on the effect of rehabilitation homes on some of Newport Beach’s neighborhoods.

In its original form, Senate Bill 1000 would have required some rehabilitation facilities to get state licenses, for which they don’t need to apply. Licensed recovery homes would have had to be at least 300 feet apart under the bill. The committee voted the bill down last April. Critics said parts of the bill were discriminatory to recovering alcohol and drug addicts, and violated federal and state fair housing laws.

The revised version of the bill would have required rehabilitation homes that apply for a license to the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs sign a statement confirming the home is in compliance with local zoning laws. The bill also would have required the state agency to verify compliance with the proper local authorities.

The revised version of the bill received two votes in the committee.

— Brianna Bailey