SB 1630: home; community-based services; mental illness - Arizona

Senate Engrossed Version (03/04/2026) → Chaptered Version · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill transitions Arizona's serious mental illness program from a home and community-based service model to a new 'enhanced residential treatment' pilot program. It establishes a three-year pilot to provide intensive residential care for up to 60 individuals, replacing the previous 250-member cap and shifting the focus from community living to structured residential facilities.

Scope change

The bill's scope changes from a broad home and community-based service program to a specific, limited pilot program for enhanced residential treatment facilities, reducing the maximum enrollment from 250 to 60 participants.

SCOPE

The program title and focus changed from 'Home and Community-Based Services' to 'Seriously Mentally Ill Enhanced Residential Treatment Pilot Program'.

ELIGIBILITY

The enrollment cap was significantly reduced from 250 members to a maximum of 60 members statewide.

TIMELINE

The program duration is now explicitly set for three years from federal approval, with a delayed repeal mechanism.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'Adult behavioral health therapeutic home' and 'Enhanced residential treatment facility' to clarify service types.

REQUIREMENT

Eligibility criteria were updated to require applicants to meet specific 'SMI enhanced level of care' standards rather than the previous 'long-term level of care'.

Administrative authority was shifted to allow contractors to determine clinical eligibility and manage waitlists, subject to administrative oversight.

Service plans must now be developed by contractors and include specific goals for recovery and transition to less restrictive settings.

Discharge protocols were updated to require contractor approval before issuing non-emergency notices to vacate residential facilities.

House Engrossed Version (06/11/2026) → Senate Engrossed Version (03/04/2026) · 6 edits · Jun 12, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was fundamentally rewritten to shift from a temporary 'pilot program' for enhanced residential treatment to a permanent 'home and community-based services' program. This change expands the scope from a limited cap of 60 participants to a potential cap of 1,000, broadens eligibility criteria, and redefines the service model to prioritize community-based care over institutional placement.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a limited pilot program for enhanced residential treatment facilities to a permanent home and community-based services program for adults with serious mental illness.

SCOPE

The program type changed from a temporary 'pilot program' for 'enhanced residential treatment' to a permanent 'home and community-based service program'.

TIMELINE

The enrollment cap increased significantly from a maximum of 60 members to a maximum of 250 members, with a potential future increase to 1,000 members if authorized by the legislature.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility criteria were updated to explicitly require that individuals need home and community-based services to avoid placement in a behavioral health residential facility or psychiatric institution.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added for providers to implement eviction-prevention protocols and obtain regional behavioral health authority approval before issuing nonemergency notices to vacate.

The program now explicitly includes assisted living-type supports and supervised community living services as covered options.

DEFINITION

Key definitions were updated, replacing 'enhanced residential treatment facility' with 'behavioral health residential facility' and introducing new terms like 'high-acuity seriously mentally ill individual'.

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version (06/11/2026) · 6 edits · Jun 12, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift from a broad, permanent home and community-based services program to a limited, three-year pilot program specifically for 'enhanced residential treatment' for seriously mentally ill adults. The new version introduces strict eligibility criteria, caps enrollment at 60 participants, and establishes a specific pilot structure with semiannual reporting instead of quarterly updates.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed significantly from a general community-based services initiative to a specific pilot program for 'enhanced residential treatment facilities' serving only 60 individuals statewide.

SCOPE

The program title and focus changed from general 'Home and Community-Based Services' to a specific 'Seriously Mentally Ill Enhanced Residential Treatment Pilot Program'.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility requirements were added, including a mandatory age limit of 18 or older and a specific enrollment cap of 60 members statewide.

TIMELINE

Reporting frequency changed from quarterly updates to semiannual updates, and the program is now explicitly limited to a three-year duration pending federal approval.

REQUIREMENT

New sections were added to define 'enhanced residential treatment facilities' and establish specific rules for service plans, discharge protocols, and grievance processes.

DEFINITION

Definitions were updated to include new terms like 'enhanced residential treatment facility' and 'SMI enhanced level of care', while removing the previous definition for 'Home and Community-Based Services'.

ADDED

New priority factors were established to determine which eligible individuals receive slots when the program is full, prioritizing those under court orders, with guardianship, or recently discharged from jail/prison.

home; community-based services; mental illness

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