Illinois Valley Times

Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) wants to see recovering addicts in Illinois stay clean and proposed new legislation to help that happen.

SB3117, sponsored by Bivins, is an agency initiative that requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to maintain an online registry that is available to the public to obtain information about recovery residences, also known as halfway houses, that operate in Illinois, which can serve as a referral resource for individuals seeking continued recovery assistance.

“It encourages non-licensed recovery residents to register with DHS, and it is a voluntary program,” Bivins said at a March 13 Senate Human Services Committee hearing.

DHS representative JB Meir thanked Bivins for bringing forth SB3117 before further detailing the initiative.

“These are non-funded, non-licensed recovery residences that offer an extra step in the path to long-term recovery that we hope to be able to guide people to either through licensed treatment services or by just being able to go on our website and find them on their own,” Meir said.

Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) wanted to know exactly how many recovery residences Bivins was referring to that would be listed on the registry.

“Since they are not licensed or funded by DHS or any state agency, we don’t really know how many are out there," Meir said. "This will provide a better glimpse of where they are, how many there are, and allow us and our treatment providers to direct people to their services."

“What kind of services are these,” Hunter asked.

“It’s just a healthy living environment,” Meir said. “It’s a residential arrangement where you go through the in-patient recovery, and maybe you are not ready to go back home yet because of the temptation or environment, so it’s just kind of an intermediary step to live with people that are also going through recovery until you are ready to fully transition."

SB3117 passed 6-0 and will presented on the Senate floor.