Recovery House seeks $220,000 in capital bill for inebriate beds and virtual screening

A lawmaker introduced a $220,000 capital request from Recovery House and described the nonprofit’s role providing substance‑use treatment and a public‑inebriate bed program, including a remote (virtual) screening tool that helps law enforcement and rural officers triage individuals and avoid emergency‑room visits.

The committee heard that Recovery House is a nonprofit that receives about 99% of its revenues through Medicaid and that Valley Vista is a private provider offering similar services. A committee member said the virtual screening and public‑inebriate beds are particularly valuable in rural areas.

"They're keeping people out of emergency rooms, and they also provide public inebriated beds," the introducing lawmaker said when describing the program. Members responded that testimony from other regions and providers is needed before singling out a single request; one committee member suggested taking testimony on similar needs across the state.

Grama noted the request is capital in nature and that committee members can include it in further drafting if they so choose. The committee did not take a vote and asked staff to gather broader testimony to compare this request with other statewide needs.

Next steps: staff will collect additional testimony and the committee will revisit the request during continued capital‑bill discussions.