2014 -- H 7346

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LC004054

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND

HOSPITALS - DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OMBUDSPERSON ACT OF 2014

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Canario, O'Brien, Martin, and Slater

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 40.1 of the General Laws entitled "BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE,

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DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS" is hereby amended by adding thereto

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the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 22.2

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DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OMBUDSPERSON ACT OF 2014

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     40.1-22.2-1. Short title. – This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the

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"Developmental Disabilities Ombudsperson Act of 2014".

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     40.1-22.2-2. Program established. – There is established the developmental disabilities

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ombudsperson program to be administered by the department of administration.

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     40.1-22.2-3. Definitions. – As used in this chapter:

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     (1) An "act" of any facility or government agency includes any failure or refusal to act by

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any facility or government agency.

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     (2) "Administrator" means any person who is charged with the general administration or

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supervision of a facility whether or not that person has an ownership interest and whether or not

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that person's functions and duties are shared with one or more other persons.

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     (3) "Adult with a developmental disability" means a person, eighteen (18) years of age or

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older and not under the jurisdiction of the department of children, youth, and families, who is

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either an adult with a developmental disability or is a person with a severe, chronic disability

 

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which:

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     (i) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of mental and

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physical impairments;

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     (ii) Is manifested before the person attains age twenty-two (22);

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     (iii) Is likely to continue indefinitely;

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     (iv) Results in substantial functional limitations in three (3) or more of the following

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areas of major life activity:

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     (A) Self-care;

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     (B) Receptive and expressive language;

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     (C) Learning;

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     (D) Mobility;

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     (E) Self-direction;

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     (F) Capacity for independent living;

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     (G) Economic self-sufficiency; and

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     (v) Reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary

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or generic care, treatment, or other services, which are of lifelong or extended duration and are

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individually planned and coordinated. For the purposes of funding, it is understood that students

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enrolled in school will continue to receive education from their local education authority in

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accordance with the provisions of chapter 16-24.

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      (4) "Community residence" means any home or other living arrangement which is

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established, offered, maintained, conducted, managed, or operated by any person for a period of

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at least twenty-four (24) hours; where, on a twenty-four (24) hour basis, direct supervision is

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provided for the purpose of providing rehabilitative treatment, habilitation, psychological support

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and/or social guidance for adults with developmental disabilities. The facilities shall include, but

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not be limited to, group homes, shared living arrangements and fully supervised apartment

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programs. Semi-independent living programs shall not be considered community residences for

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the purposes of this chapter and the rules and regulations herein.

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     (5) "Developmental disabilities ombudsperson nominating committee" means a

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committee comprised of:

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     (i) The director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

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hospitals;

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     (ii) The chairperson of the Rhode Island developmental disabilities council;

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     (iii) The chairperson of the governor 's commission on disabilities;

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     (iv) The executive director of the Rhode Island Disabilities Law Center:

 

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     (v) The director of the Paul V. Sherlock center on disabilities;

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     (vi) The chairperson of advocates in action; and

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     (vii) The chairperson of the Rhode Island providers network or their respective designees.

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     The developmental disabilities ombudsperson nominating committee shall meet when

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needed to solicit, accept and review applications for the position of developmental disabilities

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ombudsperson and provide the governor with a list of three (3) to five (5) qualified candidates.

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     (6) "Developmental disability organizations (DDOs)" means an organization licensed by

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behavioral healthcare developmental disabilities and hospitals (BHDDH) to provide services to

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adults with disabilities, as provided herein. As used herein, developmental disability

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organizations (DDOs) shall have the same meaning as "providers" or "agencies".

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     (7) "Director" means the director of the department of behavioral healthcare,

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developmental disabilities and hospitals.

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     (8) " Government agency" means any department, division, office, bureau, board,

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commission, authority, nonprofit community organization, or any other agency or instrumentality

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created by any municipality or by the state or to which the state is a party which is responsible for

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the regulation, inspection, visitation, or supervision of facilities or which provides services to

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residents of facilities.

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      (9) "Health oversight agency" means, for the purposes of this chapter, the department of

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behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals or the person or entity designated

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as the state's developmental disabilities ombudsperson by the governor, including the employees

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or agents of such person or entity, when they are acting to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of

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the state's developmental disabilities ombudsperson program in which information is necessary to

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oversee the care system and in accordance with the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and

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Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.

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     (10) "Interfere" means willing and continuous conduct which prevents the ombudsperson

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from performing his or her official duties.

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     (11) "Ombudsperson" means the person or persons designated by the governor to carry

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out the powers and duties of the office. That person or persons shall have expertise and

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experience in the fields of social work, long-term care and advocacy and shall be qualified and

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experienced in the provision of support services to adults with developmental disabilities.

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     (12) "Person" means any individual, trust, estate, partnership, limited liability

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corporation, corporation (including associations, joint stock companies and insurance companies),

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state, or political subdivision or instrumentality of the state.

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     (13) "Provider" means any organization that has been established for the purpose of

 

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providing either residential and/or day support services for adults with developmental disabilities

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and which is licensed by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

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hospitals, pursuant to chapter 40.1-24. For the purposes of this section, "provider" shall also

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include any residential and/or day program services operated by the department of behavioral

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healthcare. developmental disabilities and hospitals and the state of Rhode Island.

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     (14) "Services" means those services provided and shall include, but not be limited to,

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developmental services, supportive services and ancillary services.

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     (15) "Shared Living Residence" means the residence and physical premises in which the

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support is provided by the shared living arrangement provider. The home shall be inspected and

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approved by the shared living placement agency.

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     40.1-22.2-4. Developmental disabilities ombudsperson. – The governor shall establish

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and appoint a developmental disabilities ombudsperson for the purpose of advocating on behalf

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of adults with a developmental disability, individuals acting on their behalf or any individual

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organization or government agency that has reason to believe that a facility, organization or

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government agency has engaged in activities, practices or omissions that constitute a violation of

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applicable statutes or regulations or that may have an adverse effect upon the health, safety,

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welfare, rights or quality of life of adults with a developmental disability. The developmental

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disabilities ombudsperson may dismiss a complaint at any stage of an investigation with an

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explanation to the originator(s) of the complaint. The governor shall appoint the developmental

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disabilities ombudsperson from a list of three (3) to five (5) candidates provided by the

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developmental disabilities ombudsperson nominating committee to a term of five (5) years with

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the advice and consent of the senate. The department of administration may operate the office of

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developmental disabilities ombudsperson and carry out the program, directly or by contract or

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other arrangement with any public agency or nonprofit organization. The developmental

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disabilities ombudsperson shall hire additional staff as necessary to carry out the powers and

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duties of the office.

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     40.1-22.2-5. Powers and duties. – The developmental disabilities ombudsperson shall:

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     (1) Identify, investigate, and resolve complaints that:

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     (i) Are made by, or on behalf of, adults with a developmental disability; and

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     (ii) Relate to an action, inaction, or decision that may adversely affect the health, safety,

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welfare, rights, or quality of life of the adults with a developmental disability (including the

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welfare and rights of adults with a developmental disability with respect to the appointment and

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activities of guardians and representative payees and health care and financial powers of attorney,

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and access to hospice care);

 

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     (2) Formulate policies and procedures to identify, investigate and resolve complaints;

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     (3) Represent the interests of adults with a developmental disability before government

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agencies and seek administrative, legal, and other remedies to protect the health, safety, welfare,

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rights, and quality of life of the adults with a developmental disability including, but not limited

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to, rights with respect to the appointment or removal of guardians, representative payees and

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powers of attorney;

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     (4) Receive all reports from the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

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disabilities and hospitals of incidents reported to the office of quality assurance within twenty­

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four (24) hours or by the next business day of the occurrence, in cases of resident abuse, neglect,

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exploitation, hospitalization, death, missing persons, theft, sexual abuse, accidents involving fires,

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elopement and resident-to-resident abuses;

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     (5) Review, and if necessary, comment on any existing and proposed laws, regulations

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and other government policies and actions that affect the parties subject to this statute:

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     (6) Make appropriate referrals of investigations to the department of behavioral

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healthcare developmental disabilities and hospitals, the executive office of health and human

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services and the attorney general and other state agencies:

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     (7) Receive from the department of behavioral healthcare developmental disabilities and

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hospitals all reports of thirty (30) day notices of adults with a developmental disability discharged

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from community residences or shared living residences;

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     (8) Provide referral services to assist adults with developmental disabilities in protecting

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their health, safety, welfare rights and quality of life;

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     (9) Inform adults with developmental disabilities of their rights and advocate on their

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behalf to improve their quality of life and live with dignity and respect; and

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     (10) Offer assistance and training to public and private organizations on long-term care of

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adults with developmental disabilities.

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     40.1-22.2-6. Confidentiality. – The files maintained by the developmental disabilities

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ombudsperson are confidential, and shall be disclosed only with the written consent of the adult

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with a developmental disability, or his or her legal representative/guardian or if any disclosure is

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required by court order. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the disclosure of

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information gathered in an investigation of any interested party, as may be necessary to resolve

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the complaint, or to refer to other appropriate state agencies investigating civil, criminal or

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licensing violations.

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     40.1-22.2-7. Access to records, community residences, adults with a developmental

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disability. – (a) In the course of an investigation, the developmental disabilities ombudsperson

 

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shall:

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     (1) Make the necessary inquiries and obtain information as is deemed necessary;

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     (2) Have access to community residences, residents and staff thereof;

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     (3) Enter provider locations and, after notifying the person in charge, inspect any books,

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files, medical records, or other records that pertain to the investigation;

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     (b) In the ordinary course of the developmental disabilities ombudsperson's duties, the

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developmental disabilities ombudsperson shall have access to residents of a community residence

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to:

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     (1) Visit, speak to and make personal, social and other appropriate services available;

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     (2) Inform them of their rights and entitlements and corresponding obligations under

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federal and state law by distribution of educational materials, discussion in groups, or discussion

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with individuals and their families; and

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     (3) Engage in other methods of assisting, advising, and representing adults with a

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developmental disability to extend to them the full enjoyment of their rights.

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     (c) The office of the developmental disabilities ombudsperson is considered a health

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oversight agency.

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     (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any health oversight agency and its

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employees and agents shall comply with all state and federal confidentiality laws, including, but

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not limited to, chapter 5-37.3 ("Confidentiality of Health Care Communications and Information

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Act"), and specifically § 5-37.3-4(c), which requires limitation on the distribution of information

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which is the subject of this chapter on a "need to know" basis, and § 40.1-5-26 relating to the

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disclosure of confidential information and records.

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     40.1-22.2-8. Retaliation prohibited. – No discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory

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action shall be taken by the provider against any officer or employee of a provider, nor against

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any guardian or family member of any adults with a developmental disability, nor against any

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resident of a community residence, nor against any volunteer for any communication by him or

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her with the developmental disabilities ombudsperson or for any information given or disclosed

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by him or her in good faith to aid the developmental disabilities ombudsperson in carrying out his

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or her duties and responsibilities.

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     40.1-22.2-9. Cooperation required. – (a) The developmental disabilities ombudsperson

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may request from any government agency, and the agency is authorized and directed to provide,

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any cooperation and assistance services, and data that will enable the developmental disabilities

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ombudsperson to properly perform or exercise any of his or her functions, duties and powers

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under this chapter.

 

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     (b) The developmental disabilities ombudsperson shall cooperate and assist other

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government agencies in their investigations, such as the department of health, the office of

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attorney general, the department of human services and any other pertinent departments or

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agencies.

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     40.1-22.2-10. Annual reports. – The developmental disabilities ombudsperson shall

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submit an annual report of the activities of the developmental disabilities ombudsperson program

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and the developmental disabilities ombudsperson's activities concerning facilities and the

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protection of the rights of adults with a developmental disability to the governor, speaker of the

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house, senate president, chairs of the senate and house committee on finance, chair of the senate

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committee on health and human services, chair of the house committee on health, education and

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welfare, general assembly, the secretary of the office of health and human services, the director of

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behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, the chairperson of the Rhode

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Island developmental disabilities council, the chairperson of the governor's commission on

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disabilities, the executive director of the Rhode Island Disabilities Law Center, the director of the

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Paul V. Sherlock center on disabilities, the chairperson of advocates in action, the chairperson of

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the Rhode Island providers network, the state librarian and other appropriate governmental

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entities. The report shall be available to the public.

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     40.1-22.2-11. Immunity from liability. – Any person, institution or official who in good

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faith participates in the registering of a complaint, or who in good faith investigates that

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complaint or provides access to those persons carrying out the investigation, or who participates

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in a judicial proceeding resulting from that complaint, is immune from any civil or criminal

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liability that might otherwise be a result of these actions. For the purpose of any civil or criminal

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proceedings, there is a rebuttable presumption that any person acting pursuant to this chapter did

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so in good faith.

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     40.1-22.2-12. Rules and regulations. – The office of the developmental disabilities

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ombudsperson shall promulgate and, from time to time, revise rules and regulations for the

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implementation and enforcement of the developmental disabilities ombudsperson program

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including. but not limited to, the procedures for the receipt, investigation and resolution of

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complaints, through administrative action.

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     40.1-22.2-13. Interagency cooperation. – Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to

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be a limitation of the powers and responsibilities assigned by law to other state agencies or

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departments. The developmental disabilities ombudsperson shall establish an interagency

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agreement between the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

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hospitals, the department of health, the department of health and human services and the office of

 

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attorney general to ensure a cooperative effort in meeting the needs of adults with a

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developmental disability.

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     40.1-22.2-14. Non-interference. – No person shall willfully interfere with the

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developmental disabilities ombudsperson in the performance of the ombudsperson's official

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duties.

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     40.1-22.2-15. Enforcement. – The attorney general shall have the power to enforce the

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     provisions of this chapter.

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     40.1-22.2-16. Penalty. – Every person who willfully violates the provisions of §§ 40.1-

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22.2-8 or 40.1-22.2-14, shall be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000)

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for each violation of these provisions, in addition to any other remedy provided for in Rhode

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Island law.

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     40.1-22.2-17. Severability. – If any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation

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created under this chapter, or the application of any provision of this chapter to any person or

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circumstance shall be held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the

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chapter, rule or regulation and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances

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shall not be affected thereby. The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any section of

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this chapter shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter and to this end the

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provisions of the chapter are declared to be severable.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND

HOSPITALS - DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OMBUDSPERSON ACT OF 2014

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     This act would create a developmental disabilities ombudsperson program to be

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administratively attached to the department of administration. The developmental disabilities

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ombudsperson would be selected by a committee, named by the governor, and would advocate on

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behalf of adults with developmental disabilities.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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