South Ohio News

State Representative Justin Pizzulli from Scioto County has introduced a bill aimed at regulating Ohio's recovery housing industry. The legislation seeks to address the lack of oversight in this sector by empowering the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to implement a certificate of need program. This initiative will help assess and set appropriate levels of recovery housing across various regions in Ohio, ensuring fair service distribution statewide.

The proposed legislation also grants local Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services boards the authority to inspect recovery housing facilities. These boards will be able to investigate complaints and impose penalties on facilities that do not comply with statewide standards.

Pizzulli highlighted the current issues within the industry, stating, “Unfortunately, Ohio’s recovery housing industry is currently operating without adequate oversight, creating a ‘Wild West’ environment, and allowing bad actors to exploit the system.” He emphasized that strong local oversight would help eliminate these negative elements, protect vulnerable residents, and ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

A report titled "Mapping the Gap: An Assessment of Capacity, Cost-Benefits, and Disparities in Utilization in Ohio Recovery Housing" revealed significant disparities in service availability. According to this assessment, 21 counties in Ohio lack any recovery housing options while 22 counties are operating at over 100% capacity—some even exceeding 500% capacity.

Representative Pizzulli invites those interested in providing testimony on this bill during the committee process to reach out via email at Rep90@ohiohouse.gov for further details. Additionally, individuals with concerns about recovery homes in their area are encouraged to complete a form available through his office.