Beth Lerner (850) 717-5089
Office of Representative Hager
Chauncey Graham (850) 487-5027
Office of Senator Clemens
FLORIDA LAWMAKERS PASS LEGISLATION TO REGULATE SOBER HOMES
TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Florida Senate joined the House of Representatives today and passed HB 21, filed by Representative Bill Hager (R-Boca Raton) and Senator Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth). They have been working for several years to put the brakes on the unchecked proliferation of sober homes. The new law will take effect on July 1, 2015.
Many communities have been virtually overrun by the number of sober homes that have emerged in the middle of neighborhoods. While some city officials claim that thousands of these homes have opened across the state, the data is unreliable because the state has no means of tracking sober homes. The new law will allow the state to monitor sober transitional living homes by creating a voluntary certification program for these types of residences. The bill will provide state oversight to ensure that some of the most vulnerable Florida residents are protected and have a safe environment while in recovery.
“Sober homes provide assistance for recovering alcohol and drug addicts. This legislation puts in place a standard of care which will benefit the residents of these homes and their neighbors while the patients continue on the road to recovery,” Hager said. “This bill puts in place new regulations across the state for the benefit of Floridians.”
“This is the first step in an ongoing process to improve the lives of those going through treatment as well as those they live near,” Clemens said. “We’re providing a safer, cleaner, more neighborly environment for everyone.”
The bill will now be sent to the Governor.
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