South Carolina § 44-49-330 - Approval of credentialing entity; protocols and guidance; standards for recovery housing.

§ 44-49-330. Approval of credentialing entity; protocols and guidance; standards for recovery housing.

(A) The Office of Substance Use Services shall approve one credentialing entity within six months of the effective date of this article, for the purpose of developing and administering a voluntary certification program for organizations operating recovery housing and administrators of recovery housing. The office is authorized to suspend or revoke the approval of a credentialing entity if the office determines, in its sole discretion, that the credentialing entity has not followed the requirements of this article or protocols and guidance established by the office. In such circumstances, the office shall approve a successor credentialing entity on either an interim or permanent basis.

(B) The Office of Substance Use Services shall establish protocols and guidance requiring that the credentialing entity establish recovery housing certification requirements consistent with nationally recognized quality standards, such as the standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) or Oxford House. The office is authorized to amend such protocols and guidance from time to time as the office deems necessary.

(C) The credentialing entity shall determine standards for recovery housing in consultation with the Office of Substance Use Services. Different standards for different classifications or categories of recovery housing are permissible; however, at a minimum, standards for all classifications or categories must require recovery housing to:

(1) have a clear mission and vision, with forthright legal and ethical codes, including the requirement to be financially honest with prospective residents;

(2) be recovery-oriented and prohibit the use of alcohol or illicit drugs;

(3) have a role for peers to staff and govern the housing;

(4) permit and provide for access to all evidence-based recovery treatments including, but not limited to, medication assisted treatment;

(5) have safeguards in place to uphold residents' rights;

(6) assist residents in finding suitable employment; and

(7) assist residents who desire to relocate upon completion of the recovery program with relocation assistance services.

(D) The Office of Substance Use Services shall publish a registry of the names of all certified recovery housing on its website. The registry must be updated at least every sixty days.

HISTORY: 2024 Act No. 160 (S.445), SECTION 1, eff May 20, 2024.

Code Commissioner's Note

At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.