An 18-member state study committee is created to study substance use disorder treatment programs in Arizona, recommend oversight changes and report by December 31, 2027, before the committee ends in mid-2028.
Official title: substance use disorder treatment; committee
- September 12, 2026: Creation of the study committee
- December 31, 2027: Deadline for the committee's report
- June 30, 2028: Committee is repealed after this date
What changes
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NowAn 18-member substance use disorder treatment standards and oversight study committee is created. Members include 4 legislators, the governor, state health and Medicaid (AHCCCS) leaders, the attorney general, treatment clinicians, addiction physicians, a person with lived experience of treatment, a peer recovery support specialist and a county law enforcement representative.
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NowThe committee must survey licensed and unlicensed substance use disorder programs statewide, looking at availability, capacity and location. It must also evaluate the economic impact, effectiveness and value of statewide minimum standards for evidence-based care.
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NowThe committee must review state laws and oversight. It must identify loopholes that let unlicensed or nonstandard programs operate without enough clinical oversight, and processes that enable fraud, waste and abuse. It must recommend changes to close these gaps.
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NowThe committee must establish minimum clinical quality standards, staff scope of practice expectations, safety and outcome reporting requirements and public transparency mechanisms. It must also look into funding, payment structures and workforce needs.
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NowBy December 31, 2027, the committee must send a report with its findings and recommendations to the governor, the senate president and the house speaker, and give a copy to the secretary of state. The committee is repealed after June 30, 2028.
Who it affects
- People with substance use disorder and their families
- Substance use disorder treatment providers and programs
- State legislators, the governor, AHCCCS, the Department of Health Services and the attorney general
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- Whether the standards the committee establishes will be binding on treatment programs or are only recommendations
- Who provides staff or funding for the committee
- Deadlines for appointing members or holding a first meeting
- Whether committee meetings or the report will be made available to the public
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.