(a) Certification shall be granted by the department pursuant to this section to any qualified alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment program, regardless of the source of the program’s funding, upon approval of a completed application and payment of the required fee. The certification shall be valid for a period of not more than two years. The department may extend the certification period upon receipt of an application for renewal and payment of the required certification fee prior to the expiration date of the certification.

(b) The purposes of certification under this section shall be all of the following:

(1) To identify programs that exceed minimal levels of service quality, are in substantial compliance with the department’s standards, and merit the confidence of the public, third-party payers, and county alcohol and drug programs.

(2) To encourage programs to meet their stated goals and objectives.

(3) To encourage programs to strive for increased quality of service through recognition by the state and by peer programs in the alcoholism and drug field.

(4) To assist programs to identify their needs for technical assistance, training, and program improvements.

(c) Certification may be granted under this section on the basis of evidence satisfactory to the department that the requesting alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment program has an accreditation by a statewide or national alcohol or drug program accrediting body. The accrediting body shall provide accreditation that meets or exceeds the department’s standards and is recognized by the department.

(d) Certification, or the lack thereof, shall not convey any approval or disapproval by the department, but shall be for information purposes only.

(e) The standards developed pursuant to Section 11830 and the certification under this section shall satisfy the requirements of Section 1463.16 of the Penal Code.

(f) The department and the State Department of Social Services shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to establish a process by which the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs can certify residential facilities or programs serving primarily adolescents, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502, that have programs that primarily serve adolescents and provide alcohol and other drug recovery or treatment services.

(g) Regulations adopted by the department pursuant to this section shall be adopted as emergency regulations in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and for the purposes of that chapter, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of these regulations is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, including subdivision (e) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code, any emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be filed with, but not be repealed by, the Office of Administrative Law and shall remain in effect until revised by the department. Nothing in this subdivision shall be interpreted to 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.

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 177, Sec. 8. Effective August 24, 2007.)