(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the authority shall establish the expanded recovery support services program to increase access to recovery services for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.

(2) In establishing the program, the authority shall consult with the substance use recovery services advisory committee established in RCW 71.24.546, behavioral health administrative services organizations, regional behavioral health providers, and regional community organizations that support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders, including individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health conditions, to adopt regional expanded recovery plans that are consistent with the substance use recovery services plan developed under RCW 71.24.546 to provide sufficient access for youth and adults to meet each region's needs for:

(a) Recovery housing;

(b) Employment pathways, support, training, and job placement, including evidence-based supported employment program services;

(c) Education pathways, including recovery high schools and collegiate recovery programs;

(d) Recovery coaching and substance use disorder peer support;

(e) Social connectedness initiatives, including the recovery café model;

(f) Family support services, including family reconciliation services;

(g) Technology-based recovery support services;

(h) Transportation assistance; and

(i) Legal support services.

(3) Funds in the expanded recovery support services program must be used to reimburse providers for the provision of services to individuals in recovery from substance use disorders, including individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health conditions. In addition, the funds may be used to provide assistance to organizations to establish or expand recovery support services as reasonably necessary and feasible to increase the availability of services to achieve the regional expanded recovery plans developed under subsection (2) of this section, including such items as training and recruitment of personnel, reasonable modifications to existing facilities to accommodate additional clients, and similar forms of assistance.

(4) The authority must establish regional expanded recovery plans under subsection (2) of this section, subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, by January 1, 2023, and begin distributing grant funds by March 1, 2023.

Effective date—2021 c 311 ss 1-11 and 13-21: See note following RCW 71.24.115.