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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR s.b. 1814
substance use disorder treatment; committee
Purpose
Establishes the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Standards and Oversight Study Committee (Study Committee) to assess substance use disorder specialty care programs and governance, identify gaps in access and implementation, establish standards and investigate funding needs to implement recommended reforms. Outlines Study Committee membership, duties and reporting requirements.
Background
Drug addiction, or substance use disorder, is a chronic disease in which a person compulsively seeks and uses drugs despite harmful consequences. Repeated drug use changes the brain, making it more difficult to resist cravings. Like other chronic illnesses, addiction treatment must be ongoing and adapted to fit the person's needs. Combining medications with behavioral therapy is the most effective approach to addiction treatment (SAMHSA).
The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG) is allocated to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for the purpose of planning, implementing and evaluating substance use disorder services throughout Arizona. The SUBG provides for prevention, treatment and recovery services and may be used to provide early intervention services for diseases in high-risk individuals who use substances. SUBG funds are used to ensure access to treatment and support services for uninsured and underinsured individuals and prescribes priority populations to be served. SUBG funds for treatment and recovery services are primarily allocated from ACCCHS to regional behavioral health authorities for the implementation of services (AHCCCS).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Study Committee consisting of:
a) two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate from different political parties, including the Chairperson of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee or its successor committee, with one chosen to serve as Cochairperson;
b) two members of the House of Representatives (House) appointed by the Speaker of the House from different political parties, including the Chairperson of the House Health and Human Services Committee or its successor committee, with one chosen to serve as Cochairperson;
c) the Governor or the Governor's designee;
d) the Director of AHCCCS or the Director's designee;
e) the Director of the Department of Health Services or the Director's designee;
f) the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee;
g) two licensed clinical behavioral health specialists appointed by the President of the Senate, including one who practices in a county with a population of fewer than 500,000 persons;
h) two physicians appointed by the Speaker of the House who are board-certified in either addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry and provide medical care to individuals with substance use disorders, including one who practices in a county with a population of fewer than 500,000 persons;
i) one representative of a medical society or physician organization that specializes in treating substance use disorders, appointed by the President of the Senate;
j) one member with a substance use disorder who has direct experience with navigating treatment in Arizona, appointed by the Speaker of the House and lives in a county with a population of fewer than 500,000 persons;
k) one member of a membership-based advocacy organization that represents health care providers who specialize in substance use disorder treatment, appointed by the President of the Senate;
l) one representative of a behavioral health accrediting organization, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
m) one peer recovery support specialist, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
n) one representative of a county law enforcement agency, appointed by the President of the Senate.
2. Requires the Study Committee to meet at the call of the Cochairpersons.
3. Specifies that members of the Study Committee are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses.
4. Requires the Study Committee to:
a) conduct a comprehensive survey and research study to assess the availability, capacity and geographic distribution of licensed and unlicensed programs that offer substance use disorder specialty care in Arizona and evaluate the economic impact, effectiveness and value of implementing statewide minimum standards for evidence-based care;
b) identify gaps in access to and implementation of evidence-based biopsychosocial treatments, workforce capacity needs and resources necessary to support high-quality care delivery across urban and rural settings, including medically supported withdrawal services, medications for opioid use disorder, licensed clinical providers, care coordination and recovery supports;
c) review state laws, rules and oversight structures governing substance use disorder treatment programs, identify regulatory loopholes that allow unlicensed or nonstandard programs to operate without sufficient clinical oversight and processes that enable fraud, waste and abuse, and recommend statutory and administrative changes to close the gaps and align oversight systems;
d) establish minimum clinical quality standards, staff scope of practice expectations, safety and outcome reporting requirements and public transparency mechanisms to ensure accountability, protect patients and provide families and referring providers with clear information to support treatment decision-making; and
e) investigate funding needs, reimbursement structures and licensed workforce models required to implement the reforms, including strategies to build and sustain a professional clinical workforce capable of meeting statewide treatment demand and ensuring timely access to evidence-based care.
5. Requires the Study Committee, by December 31, 2027, to submit a report regarding its activities, findings and recommendations, including proposed statutory and regulatory changes, funding considerations and implementation timelines, to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, and provide a copy to the Secretary of State.
6. Repeals the Study Committee on July 1, 2028.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
Senate Action House Action
HHS 2/18/26 DP 7-0-0 HHS 3/23/26 DPA 9-1-1-1
3rd Read 2/26/26 25-2-3 3rd
Read 4/28/26 42-15-2-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
April 28, 2026
MM/SDR/hk