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An Act To Classify Recovery Residences as One-family Dwellings for the Purposes of the Fire Code
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2452, sub-§4  is enacted to read:
 
4.  Exception.     Notwithstanding chapter 314 and Title 10, chapter 1103, a recovery residence must be defined as a one-family dwelling under rules concerning safety to life from fire if:
 
A.  The recovery residence is located in a house;
 
B.  The recovery residence has no more than 6 occupants; and
 
C.  Each room of the recovery residence contains a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector under section 2464.
 
For purposes of this section, "recovery residence" means a shared living residence for persons recovering from substance use disorder that provides peer support in an environment free from alcohol and illegal substances and assists residents in connecting with support services or resources in the community that are available to persons recovering from substance use disorder.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires a recovery residence located in a house to be considered a one-family dwelling under rules concerning safety to life from fire if the recovery residence has no more than 6 occupants and contains a fire extinguisher and smoke detector in each room.
This bill also defines "recovery residence" as an alcohol-free and illegal substance-free shared living residence for persons recovering from substance use disorder that provides peer support and connects residents to support services and community resources.