California Sober Living and Recovery Task Force
Our communities are collaborating to find effective solutions for Sober Living and Recovery Homes across California.
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Mission
Originally established in 2022 by the City of Mission Viejo, the California Sober Living and Recovery Task Force is a bi-partisan coalition of local and state elected officials, law enforcement, administrative staff, subject matter experts, and residents who are working collaboratively to address issues related to the proliferation of sober living and recovery homes.
Sober living and recovery homes are a vital step in the recovery process. The facilities allow patients to live in an environment that fosters healing and recovery. However, many of the facilities are in locations, particularly in residential neighborhoods, where they were never intended, planned, or agreed to by the community.
The Sober Living and Recovery Task Force’s mission is to combine expert education and research, public input, and bi-partisan regional ideas and initiatives to determine critical pathways forward for possible short and long-term policy solutions that help those in recovery, as well as community members and neighborhoods that have been impacted.
The Task Force is currently chaired by Mission Viejo Councilmember Wendy Bucknum and State Assemblymember Laurie Davies (AD-74).
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California Sober Living and Recovery Task Force Co-Chairs:
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Mission Viejo Councilmember,
CASLAR Co-ChairCouncil Member Wendy Bucknum was elected to serve as a member of the Mission Viejo City Council in 2014. Council Member Bucknum has a long history of community service. She served as Mayor for calendar year 2017 and 2022, prior to serving on the council, she served four years on the Mission Viejo Community Services Commission and was chair of that commission in 2012. She served as 2022 Vice Chair on the Orange Council of Governments General Assembly (OCCOG), and served as representative for District 13 of Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Governing Board since 2018, and Community, Economic and Human Development Committee since 2015. She served on the Association of California Cities, Orange County Board since 2014. Wendy has also served on the Orange County’s Local Agency Formation Commission (Orange LAFCO) since 2015. In addition, Wendy served member of the Standing CUSD/Mission Viejo Ad Hoc Committee, The Olympic Ad Hoc Committee, and the Housing Ad Hoc Committee. She has established the Drug Abuse Prevention Coalition as well as the new formed South Orange County Sober Living and Recovery (SOCSLAR) Task Force.
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State Assemblymember (AD-74),
CASLAR Co-ChairAssemblywoman Laurie Davies represents California’s 74th Assembly District, which includes the communities of southern Orange County, including Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano plus the communities of northern San Diego County, including Camp Pendleton, Oceanside and Vista. Laurie Davies is a small business owner and former Mayor who was elected to the State Assembly in 2020, and re-elected in 2022. Laurie serves on the Assembly’s committees for: Military (Vice Chair), Accountability, Transportation, Communications and Conveyance, Governmental Organization and Water, Parks & Wildlife. Laurie was first elected in 2012 to the Laguna Niguel City Council in 2012. She was appointed Mayor in 2015 and re-elected in 2016. During her time on the Council, Laurie served as a Board Member on the Transportation Corridor Agency, Chaired the League of Cities Committee on Transportation, Communication and Public Works, and was elected to the OCTA. Laurie served the Board of the Association of California Cities Orange County as President.
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Previous Events:
Friday, June 14, 2024,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
County of Orange | 400 W Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Thursday, April 18, 2024,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
County of Orange | 400 W Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Friday, February 23, 2024,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
County of Orange | 400 W Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana, CA 92701
December 14, 2023,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
County of Orange | 400 W Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Friday, September 8, 2023,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Newport Beach City Hall,
100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA
Friday, July 14, 2023,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Laguna Niguel City Hall,
30111 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel,
CA 92677
Friday, May 12, 2023,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Santa Ana Zoo, Barn Classroom
1801 E. Chestnut Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Thursday, August 15, 2024,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
County of Orange | 400 W Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Friday, March 10, 2023,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Norman P. Murray Community Center
24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Friday, January 27, 2023,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Mission Viejo City Hall
200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Upcoming Events:
Tentative Dates
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Friday, November 15, 2024,
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Mission Viejo City Hall
200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
News
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![Man killed by roommate at Irvine sober-living house]()
Man killed by roommate at Irvine sober-living house
(KTLA, 07/08/24)
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![OC’s rehab industry continues to be targeted by feds for alleged fraud]()
OC’s rehab industry continues to be targeted by feds for alleged fraud
(OC Register, 05/24/24)
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![Bill to let cities help state with rogue rehabs dies despite wide support and making sense]()
Bill to let cities help state with rogue rehabs dies despite wide support and making sense
(OC Register, 05/22/24)
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![Sober Living Task Force wants to keep issues in Sacramento’s face as billions are spent]()
Sober Living Task Force wants to keep issues in Sacramento’s face as billions are spent
(OC Register, 04/24/24)
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![Cities would share power to probe addiction treatment complaints under Umberg bill]()
Cities would share power to probe addiction treatment complaints under Umberg bill
(OC Register, 04/14/24)
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![Addiction treatment and sober homes, with their spasms of chaos, prompt new bills]()
Addiction treatment and sober homes, with their spasms of chaos, prompt new bills
(OC Register, 03/17/24)
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![Addiction treatment violations finally would be public under Assembly bill]()
Addiction treatment violations finally would be public under Assembly bill
(OC Register, 2/16,24)
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![Sober Living Task Force - OC Register News]()
‘Sober living homes were little more than drug dens,’ lawsuit says
(OC Register, 12/17/23)
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![Sober home rules headed to another courtroom showdown - CASLAR]()
Sober home rules headed to another courtroom showdown
(OC Register, 11/26/23)
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![Orange County cities strive for hard numbers on sober living facilities]()
Orange County cities strive for hard numbers on sober living facilities
(OC Register, 7/18/23)
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![California to audit its regulation of addiction treatment facilities]()
California to audit its regulation of addiction treatment facilities
(OC Register, 7/6/23)
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![OC cities continue to wrestle with irresponsible addiction recovery homes, grand jury finds]()
OC cities continue to wrestle with irresponsible addiction recovery homes, grand jury finds
(OC Register, 6/13/23)
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![Will U.S. Supreme Court engage on Costa Mesa’s sober living rules?]()
Will U.S. Supreme Court engage on Costa Mesa’s sober living rules?
(OC Register, 3/15/23)
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![Addiction centers flee Costa Mesa, move to less regulated OC cities]()
Addiction centers flee Costa Mesa, move to less regulated OC cities
(OC Register, 2/19/23)
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![Beverly Hills surgeon pleads guilty in sober living fraud case]()
Beverly Hills surgeon pleads guilty in sober living fraud case
(KTLA, 8/15/22)
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![Rehab Riviera: Clever attempt to professionalize addiction industry meets tragic end]()
Rehab Riviera: Clever attempt to professionalize addiction industry meets tragic end
(OC Register, 6/22/22)
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![O.C. man accused of ‘body brokering’ – receiving illegal kickbacks from sober living homes]()
O.C. man accused of ‘body brokering’ – receiving illegal kickbacks from sober living homes
(OC Register, 3/30/21)
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![Five defendants charged with multiple felonies for preying on vulnerable substance abuse patients to bilk insurance company out of millions]()
Five defendants charged with multiple felonies for preying on vulnerable substance abuse patients to bilk insurance company out of millions
(Orange County District Attorney, 6/18/20)
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'Serious problems' with addiction treatment in California flagged in new state audit
(OC Register, 10/25/24)
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![]()
OK, California: We're tired of waiting and will post your addiction center reports ourselves
(OC Register, 7/12/24)
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Participate in the Task Force
If your city or organization is interested in participating in the California Sober Living and Recovery Task Force, please fill in the form below. Members of the public can sign up for updates on Task Force initiatives using the email sign-up below this form.