CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [11750. - 11756.5.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 1.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11750. Section 11750.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the administrative and programmatic functions of the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs be transferred to the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Public Health effective July 1, 2013. It is further the intent of the Legislature that this transfer happen efficiently and effectively, with no interruptions in service delivery. This transfer is designed to: (1) Consolidate within a single state department, the State Department of Health Care Services, all substance use disorder functions and programs from the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. (2) Align with federal and county partners by consolidating substance use disorder and community mental health functions and programs within one department. (3) Promote opportunities for the improvement of health care delivery by integrating the state-level administration of substance use disorders, community mental health, and physical health to the benefit of communities and consumers with substance use disorders and cooccurring disorders. (4) Ensure appropriate state oversight by consolidating the two key public funding sources, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and the Drug Medi-Cal Treatment Program, for the substance use disorder system in one state department. (5) Provide effective state leadership on substance use disorder issues by positioning the State Department of Health Care Services to serve as a unified, strong voice to advocate, at both the state and federal levels, on behalf of the needs of communities, county partners, and consumers with substance use disorders. (b) Effective July 1, 2013, the administrative and programmatic functions that were previously performed by the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs are transferred to the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Public Health in accordance with the act that added this section. Further, except as provided in Section 131055.2, any reference in state statute or regulation to the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs or the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse shall refer to the State Department of Health Care Services.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11751. Section 11751.

(a) Except as provided in Section 131055.2, the State Department of Health Care Services shall succeed to and be vested with all the duties, powers, purposes, functions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the former State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. (b) Any reference in statute, regulation, or contract to the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs or the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse shall refer to the State Department of Health Care Services to the extent that they relate to the transfer of duties, powers, purposes, functions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction made pursuant to this section. (c) A contract, lease, license, or any other agreement to which the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs is a party shall not be made void or voidable by reason of the act that enacted this section, but shall continue in full force and effect with the State Department of Health Care Services assuming all of the rights, obligations, and duties of the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs with respect to the transfer of duties, powers, purposes, functions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction made pursuant to this section. (d) (1) All unexpended balances of appropriations and other funds available for use by the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs in connection with any function or the administration of any law transferred to the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to the act that enacted this section shall be available for use by the State Department of Health Care Services for the purpose for which the appropriation was originally made or the funds were originally available. (2) The State Department of Health Care Services may, until July 1, 2017, liquidate the prior years’ encumbrances previously obligated by the former State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. The Controller shall transfer the following Budget Act appropriations from the former State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs to the State Department of Health Care Services for use by the State Department of Health Care Services to liquidate the prior years’ encumbrances previously obligated by the former State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs: (A) Items 4200-001-0001, 4200-001-0139, 4200-001-0243, 4200-001-0816, 4200-001-0890, 4200-001-3113, 4200-101-0001, 4200-101-0890, 4200-102-0001, 4200-103-0001, 4200-104-0001, and 4200-104-0890 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2011 (Chapter 33 of the Statutes of 2011). (B) Items 4200-001-0001, 4200-001-0139, 4200-001-0243, 4200-001-0816, 4200-001-0890, 4200-001-3113, 4200-101-0001, 4200-101-0890, 4200-104-0001, and 4200-104-0890 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2012 (Chapter 21 of the Statutes of 2012). (e) All books, documents, forms, records, data systems, and property of the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs with respect to the transfer of duties, powers, purposes, functions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction made pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the State Department of Health Care Services. (f) Positions filled by appointment by the Governor in the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs whose principal assignment was to perform functions transferred pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the State Department of Health Care Services. (g) All employees serving in state civil service, other than temporary employees, who are engaged in the performance of functions transferred pursuant to this section, are transferred to the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to the provisions of Section 19050.9 of the Government Code. The status, position, and rights of those persons shall not be affected by their transfer and shall continue to be retained by them pursuant to the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code), except as to positions the duties of which are vested in a position exempt from civil service. The personnel records of all employees transferred pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the State Department of Health Care Services. (h) Any regulation or other action adopted, prescribed, taken, or performed by an agency or officer in the administration of a program or the performance of a duty, power, purpose, function, or responsibility pursuant to this division or Division 10.6 (commencing with Section 11998) in effect prior to July 1, 2013, shall remain in effect unless or until amended, and shall be deemed to be a regulation or action of the agency to which or officer to whom the program, duty, power, purpose, function, responsibility, or jurisdiction is assigned pursuant to this section. (i) A suit, action, or other proceeding lawfully commenced by or against any agency or other officer of the state, in relation to the administration of any program or the discharge of any duty, power, purpose, function, or responsibility transferred pursuant to this section, shall not abate by reason of the transfer of the program, duty, power, purpose, function, or responsibility under that section.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11751.4. Section 11751.4.

It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure the integrity of state alcohol and drug programs.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11752. Section 11752.

As used in this division, “department” means the State Department of Health Care Services and “director” means the Director of Health Care Services.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11752.1. Section 11752.1.

(a) “County board of supervisors” includes county boards of supervisors in the case of counties acting jointly. (b) “Agency” means the California Health and Human Services Agency. (c) “Secretary” means the Secretary of California Health and Human Services. (d) “Advisory board” means the county advisory board on alcohol and other drug problems established at the sole discretion of the county board of supervisors pursuant to Section 11805. If a county does not establish an advisory board, any provision of this chapter relative to the activities, duties, and functions of the advisory board shall be inapplicable to that county. (e) “Alcohol and drug program administrator” means the county program administrator designated pursuant to Section 11800. (f) “State alcohol and other drug program” includes all state alcohol and other drug projects administered by the department and all county alcohol and other drug programs funded under this division. (g) “Health systems agency” means the health planning agency established pursuant to Public Law 93-641. (h) “Alcohol and other drug problems” means problems of individuals, families, and the community that are related to the misuse or inappropriate use of alcohol and other drugs. (i) “Individual with an alcohol disorder” means anyone who has a problem related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages whether or not it is of a periodic or continuing nature. These problems may be evidenced by substantial impairment to the person’s physical, mental, or social well-being in a manner that adversely affects their ability to function in the community. (j) “Individual with a substance use disorder” means anyone who has a problem related to the consumption of illegal, legal, or prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications in a manner other than prescribed, whether or not it is of a periodic or continuing nature. The drug-consumption-related problems of these persons may be evidenced by substantial impairment to the person’s physical, mental, or social well-being in a manner that adversely affects their ability to function in the community. (k) “Alcohol and other drug service” or “substance use disorder service” means a service that is designed to encourage recovery from the misuse of, or addiction to, alcohol and other drugs with a goal to alleviate or preclude problems in the individual, their family, and the community. ( l ) “Alcohol and other drug program” or “substance use disorder program” means a collection of alcohol and other drug services that are coordinated to achieve the specified objectives of this part. (m) “Driving-under-the-influence program,” “DUI program,” or “licensed program” means an alcohol and other drug service that has been issued a valid license by the department to provide services pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 11836) of Part 2. (n) “Clients-participants” means recipients of alcohol and other drug prevention, treatment, and recovery program services. (o) “Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration” means that agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11754. Section 11754.

(a) The department shall be the single state agency authorized to receive any federal funds payable directly to the state by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to implement programs that provide services to alleviate the problems related to alcohol and other drug use. (b) The department may receive other federal funds and expend them pursuant to this division, the Budget Act, or other statutes.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11755. Section 11755.

The department shall do all of the following: (a) Adopt regulations pursuant to Section 11152 of the Government Code. (b) Employ administrative, technical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the performance of its powers and duties. (c) Do or perform any of the acts that may be necessary, desirable, or proper to carry out the purpose of this division. (d) Provide funds to counties for the planning and implementation of local programs to alleviate problems related to alcohol and other drug use. (e) Review and execute contracts for drug and alcohol services submitted for funds allocated or administered by the department. (f) Provide for technical assistance and training to local alcohol and other drug programs to assist in the planning and implementation of quality services. (g) Review research in, and serve as a resource to provide information relating to, alcohol and other drug programs. (h) In cooperation with the Department of Human Resources, encourage training in other state agencies to assist the agencies to recognize employee problems relating to alcohol and other drug use that affects job performance and encourage the employees to seek appropriate services. (i) Assist and cooperate with the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in the drafting and adoption of the state health plan to ensure inclusion of appropriate provisions relating to alcohol and other drug problems. (j) In the same manner and subject to the same conditions as other state agencies, develop and submit annually to the Department of Finance a program budget for the alcohol and other drug programs, which budget shall include expenditures proposed to be made under this division, and may include expenditures proposed to be made by any other state agency relating to alcohol and other drug problems, pursuant to an interagency agreement with the department. (k) Review and certify alcohol and other drug programs meeting state standards pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 11830) and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 11847) of Part 2. (l) Develop standards for ensuring minimal statewide levels of service quality provided by alcohol and other drug programs. (m) Review and license narcotic treatment programs. (n) Develop and implement, in partnership with the counties, alcohol and other drug prevention strategies especially designed for youth. (o) Develop and maintain a centralized indicator data collection system that shall gather and obtain information on the status of the alcohol and other drug problems in the state. This information shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) The number and characteristics of persons receiving recovery or treatment services from alcohol and other drug programs providing publicly funded services or services licensed by the state. (2) The location and types of services offered by these programs. (3) The number of admissions to hospitals on both an emergency room and inpatient basis for treatment related to alcohol and other drugs. (4) The number of arrests for alcohol and other drug violations. (5) The number of Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities, commitments for drug violations. (6) The number of Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation commitments for drug violations. (7) The number or percentage of persons having alcohol or other drug problems as determined by survey information. (8) The amounts of illicit drugs confiscated by law enforcement in the state. (9) The statewide alcohol and other drug program distribution and the fiscal impact of alcohol and other drug problems upon the state. Providers of publicly funded services or services licensed by the department to clients-participants shall report data in a manner, in a format, and under a schedule prescribed by the department. (p) Issue an annual report that portrays the drugs used inappropriately, populations affected, user characteristics, crime-related costs, socioeconomic costs, and other related information deemed necessary in providing a problem profile of alcohol and other drug use in the state. (q) (1) Require any individual, public or private organization, or government agency, receiving federal grant funds, to comply with all federal statutes, regulations, guidelines, and terms and conditions of the grants. The failure of the individual, public or private organization, or government agency, to comply with the statutes, regulations, guidelines, and terms and conditions of grants received may result in the department’s disallowing noncompliant costs, or the suspension or termination of the contract or grant award allocating the grant funds. (2) Adopt regulations implementing this subdivision in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. For the purposes of the Administrative Procedure Act, the adoption of the regulations shall be deemed necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare. Subsequent amendments to the adoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency only if those amendments are adopted in direct response to a change in federal statutes, regulations, guidelines, or the terms and conditions of federal grants. This paragraph does not 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.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11755.2. Section 11755.2.

(a) The department may implement a program for the establishment of group homes for alcohol and other drug abusers as provided for in Section 300x-4a of Title 42 of the United States Code. (b) The department may establish the Resident-Run Housing Revolving Fund for the purpose of making loans to group resident-run homes in conformance with federal statutes and regulations. Any program for the purpose of making loans to group resident-run homes shall be a part of the Resident-Run Housing Revolving Fund. Any unexpended balances in a current program shall be transferred to the Resident-Run Housing Revolving Fund and be available for expenditure during the following fiscal year. Appropriations for subsequent fiscal years shall be provided in the annual Budget Act. All loan payments received from previous loans shall be deposited in the Resident-Run Housing Revolving Fund, as well as all future collections. The Resident-Run Housing Revolving Fund shall be invested in the Pooled Money Investment Fund. Interest earned shall accrue to the Resident-Run Housing Revolving Fund and may be made available for future group resident-run home loans. (c) The department may adopt regulations as are necessary to implement this section. (d) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2013.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11756. Section 11756.

The department relative to the statewide alcohol and other drug program, in addition to the duties provided for in Section 11755, shall do all of the following: (a) Cooperate with other governmental agencies and the private sector in establishing, conducting, and coordinating alcohol and other drug programs and projects pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11775) of Part 2. (b) Cooperate with other state agencies to encourage appropriate health facilities to recognize, without discrimination, persons with alcohol and other drug problems who also require medical care and to provide them with adequate and appropriate services. (c) Encourage counties to coordinate alcohol and other drug services, where appropriate, with county health and social service programs, or with regional health programs pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 11820) of Chapter 5 of Part 2. (d) Encourage the utilization, support, assistance, and dedication of interested persons in the community in order to increase the number of persons with alcohol and other drug problems who voluntarily seek appropriate services to alleviate those problems. (e) Evaluate or require the evaluation, including the collection of appropriate and necessary information, of alcohol and other drug programs pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 11825) of Part 2. (f) Review and license driving-under-the-influence programs. (g) Perform all other duties specifically required pursuant to this part.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11756.5. Section 11756.5.

(a) An alcoholism or substance use disorder recovery or treatment facility licensed under this division or an alcohol or other drug program certified by the department in accordance with the alcohol or other drug certification standards established pursuant to Section 11830.1 shall assess each patient or client for use of all tobacco products at the time of the initial intake. This assessment shall include questions recommended in the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders under tobacco use disorder, or similar evidence-based guidance, for determining that an individual has a tobacco use disorder. (b) For a patient or client with tobacco use disorder, a licensed facility or certified program, as described in subdivision (a), shall do all of the following: (1) Provide information to the patient or client on how continued use of tobacco products could affect their long-term success in recovery from substance use disorder. (2) Recommend treatment for tobacco use disorder in the treatment plan. (3) Offer either treatment, subject to the limitation of the license or certification issued by the department, or a referral for treatment for tobacco use disorder. (c) For purposes of this section, “tobacco products” has the same meaning as in Section 22950.5 of the Business and Professions Code.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026