The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Legislators join sober home roundtable
Proposed bills designed to improve safety, regulate facilities
HARTFORD >> State Representatives Jay Case (R-Winsted) and Brian Ohler (R-Canaan) participated in a round table discussion on strengthening the framework and operating protocols of “sober homes” at the State Capitol on Friday, March 17.
Case and Ohler have offered joint testimony before the Public Health Committee previously in support of their proposed legislation to improve the operations of sober homes.
The legislators were joined at the round table by sober home residents, community leaders, and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon.
“Having heard from residents in sober homes at today’s round table really brought to light how important it is that the legislature creates a positive environment to facilitate the road to recovery. Currently, there are several issues, like overcrowding, that are impeding on that process for residents,” Case said, in a written statement. “We must utilize resources, like non-profit organizations, that are available to our communities that will help monitor the environment residents are living in to support the process of rehabilitation.”
“This round table discussion provided all participants an opportunity to consider a variety of struggles and road blocks regarding the existence and rapid expansion of sober homes,” Ohler said. “The Northwest Corner is no exception to this reality. We must ensure that the necessary safeguards are in place in order to protect tenants who may be transitioning from the recovery process. As a first responder I’ve seen firsthand the dangers that overcrowding can have on them. We must identify these homes and see that they are properly vetted and registered.” A public hearing on HB 5741 — known as “An Act Concerning Sober Living Homes” — which has been put forward by Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington) was held in February.
This legislation would require sober homes to register as businesses with both the Department of Public Health and the city or town in which they are located, as well as have naloxone on site if appropriate. Department of Public Health Commissioner Raul Pino said recently that DPH does not at this time have regulatory oversight of sober homes. Thus, requiring them to register with the body would not achieve a clear purpose, he said, especially as the “Department cannot take on any new licensure or certification responsibilities within available resources.”
A third bill, HB 6255, put forward by state Rep. Chris Soto (D-39th), would also require sober homes to register as businesses, and to have new and existing sober homes become “certified by their municipal health authority or district department of health in order to be eligible to receive state funding.”