Section 11831.5 Of Chapter 7. Quality Assurance From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 10.5. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 7.
11831.5
. (a) Certification shall be granted by the department
pursuant to this section to any qualified alcoholism or drug abuse
recovery or treatment program, regardless of the source of the
program's funding, upon approval of a completed application and
payment of the required fee. The certification shall be valid for a
period of not more than two years. The department may extend the
certification period upon receipt of an application for renewal and
payment of the required certification fee prior to the expiration
date of the certification.
(b) The purposes of certification under this section shall be all
of the following:
(1) To identify programs that exceed minimal levels of service
quality, are in substantial compliance with the department's
standards, and merit the confidence of the public, third-party
payers, and county alcohol and drug programs.
(2) To encourage programs to meet their stated goals and
objectives.
(3) To encourage programs to strive for increased quality of
service through recognition by the state and by peer programs in the
alcoholism and drug field.
(4) To assist programs to identify their needs for technical
assistance, training, and program improvements.
(c) Certification may be granted under this section on the basis
of evidence satisfactory to the department that the requesting
alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment program has an
accreditation by a statewide or national alcohol or drug program
accrediting body. The accrediting body shall provide accreditation
that meets or exceeds the department's standards and is recognized by
the department.
(d) Certification, or the lack thereof, shall not convey any
approval or disapproval by the department, but shall be for
information purposes only.
(e) The standards developed pursuant to Section 11830 and the
certification under this section shall satisfy the requirements of
Section 1463.16 of the Penal Code.
(f) The department and the State Department of Social Services
shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to establish a process
by which the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs can certify
residential facilities or programs serving primarily adolescents, as
defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502, that
have programs that primarily serve adolescents and provide alcohol
and other drug recovery or treatment services.
(g) Regulations adopted by the department pursuant to this section
shall be adopted as emergency regulations in accordance with Chapter
3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title
2 of the Government Code, and for the purposes of that chapter,
including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of
these regulations is an emergency and shall be considered by the
Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general
welfare. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340)
of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, including
subdivision (e) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code, any
emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be filed
with, but not be repealed by, the Office of Administrative Law and
shall remain in effect until revised by the department. Nothing in
this subdivision shall be interpreted to prohibit the department from
adopting subsequent amendments on a nonemergency basis or as
emergency regulations in accordance with the standards set forth in
Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.