Currently, the city council must hold public hearings and provide approval for all treatment centers, including moves to new locations. The new proposal allows treatment centers to open in any nonresidential area without council approval.

After hours of testimony from about 30 people, including people in recovery, the city's planning commission endorsed O'Malley's legislation.

Some, including Beth Pepper, a lawyer, and Ellen M. Weber, a University of Maryland law professor, activist, and expert in disability laws, strongly supported the proposal.

"Seize this wonderful opportunity," said Pepper, calling the bills a move "into the 21st century." Weber agreed, saying, "Standards that may have made sense 40 years ago just don't make sense any more."

Bonnie L. Cypull, president of Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, called the proposal an effort to remove stigma from treatment. After telling the commission that facilities tend to cluster on one side of the city, she reminded members that the chances of success in treatment are greater when people can be near their families.

The city of Baltimore has approximately 60,000 people in need of treatment, and waiting lists of over three months in length.