2014 -- H 7570

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LC004339

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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 - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Hull, Bennett, Serpa, O'Brien, and McLaughlin

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 40.1-21-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 40.1-21 entitled

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"Division of Developmental Disabilities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     40.1-21-4. Powers and duties of director of mental health, retardation, and hospitals.

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-- (a) The director of mental health, retardation, and hospitals shall be responsible for planning

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and developing a complete, comprehensive, and integrated statewide program for the

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developmentally disabled for the implementation of the program; and for the coordination of the

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efforts of the department of mental health, retardation, and hospitals with those of other state

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departments and agencies, municipal governments as well as the federal government and private

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agencies concerned with and providing services for the developmentally disabled.

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     (b) The director shall be responsible for the administration and operation of all state

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operated community and residential facilities established for the diagnosis, care, and training of

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the developmentally disabled. The director shall be responsible for establishing standards in

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conformance with generally accepted professional thought and for providing technical assistance

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to all state supported and licensed habilitative, developmental, residential and other facilities for

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the developmentally disabled, and exercise the requisite surveillance and inspection to insure

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compliance with standards. Provided, however, that none of the foregoing shall be applicable to

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any of the facilities wholly within the control of any other department of state government.

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     (c) The director of mental health, retardation, and hospitals shall stimulate research by

 

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public and private agencies, institutions of higher learning, and hospitals, in the interest of the

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elimination and amelioration of developmental disabilities, and care and training of the

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developmentally disabled.

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     (d) The director shall be responsible for the development of criteria as to the eligibility

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for admittance of any developmentally disabled person for residential care in any department

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supported and licensed residential facility or agency.

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     (e) The director of mental health, retardation, and hospitals may transfer retarded persons

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from one state residential facility to another when deemed necessary or desirable for their better

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care and welfare.

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     (f) The director of mental health, retardation, and hospitals shall make grants-in-aid and

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otherwise provide financial assistance to the various communities and private nonprofit agencies,

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in amounts which will enable all developmentally disabled adults to receive developmental and

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other services appropriate to their individual needs.

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     (g) The director shall coordinate all planning for the construction of facilities for the

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developmentally disabled, and the expenditure of funds appropriated or otherwise made available

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to the state for this purpose.

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     (h) The director shall adopt a state reimbursement system for community and nonprofit

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agencies that will encourage the hiring and retention of competent, qualified, and caring

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individuals. Effective April 1, 2014, this rate will be increased to thirteen dollars and ninety-

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seven cents ($13.97) per hour. The rate shall be adjusted annually every April 1 by a percentage

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increase to the nearest cent using the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical

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workers (CPI-W) or a successor index for the previous calendar year as calculated for the

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northeast region by the United States Department of Labor.

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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 - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

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     This act requires the director of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and

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Hospitals to adopt a state reimbursement system for community and nonprofit agencies that

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encourages the hiring and retention of competent individuals. This rate will be thirteen dollars

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and ninety-seven cents ($13.97) per hour and will be adjusted annually.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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