2016 -- S 3048

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LC006041

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN

SERVICES REVIEW THE STRUCTURAL, PROGRAMMATIC AND POLICY CHANGES

NEEDED TO BEST ADDRESS THE LICENSURE, REGULATION, AND OVERSIGHT OF

STATE-OPERATED GROUP HOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH

INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND ENSURE THAT ALL

RESIDENTS OF SAID GROUP HOMES HAVE UP TO DATE INTEGRATED SERVICE

PLANS

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Goldin, Miller, Coyne, and Satchell

     Date Introduced: May 26, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, The Executive Office of Health and Human Services aims to ensure access

to high quality and cost effective services that foster the health, safety, and independence of all

Rhode Islanders; and

     WHEREAS, The Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and

Hospitals is responsible for planning, providing and administering a community system of

services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island provides community day and residential services

to approximately two hundred individuals through the state-operated Rhode Island Community

Living and Supports (RICLAS), which includes group home arrangements; and

     WHEREAS, RICLAS is licensed and receives oversight by the Office of Facilities and

Program Standards and Licensure, within the Department of Behavioral Healthcare,

Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals; and

     WHEREAS, State-run group homes are run by the same department that provides the

licensure and regulatory oversight of their quality and operation; and

     WHEREAS, Independent and unbiased oversight can ensure that high quality standards

are set and maintained and may highlight any shortcomings in internal regulations; now therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services review the

structural, programmatic and policy change needed to best address the licensure, regulation, and

oversight of state-operated group homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental

disabilities and ensure that all residents of said group homes have up to date integrated service

plans; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests that a report be provided to

the Senate President and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on or before January

4, 2017; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Executive Office of Health and Human

Services and the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.

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LC006041

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