S. 144 would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to purchase, pave, and maintain a road to facilitate access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center (DSYWC) in Hemet, California. The DSYWC is one of 12 residential treatment centers for adolescents with substance abuse disorders that is funded by the Indian Health Service (IHS). The access road to the facility is a half-mile long, privately owned road that is currently unpaved. Based on information from IHS, CBO estimates that purchasing and paving the road would cost about $1 million over the 2021-2026 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. In addition, the bill would authorize the Secretary to either maintain the road on an ongoing basis or come to an agreement with the local county to maintain the road. Based on information about the cost of road maintenance, a newly paved road of this length would require less than $500,000 for maintenance costs over the 2021-2026 period.
