2016 -- H 7553

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LC004358

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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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, Slater, Lima, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2016

     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 all state operated

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community and residential facilities governed by this section requiring that all employees shall be

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paid a minimum, effective April 1, 2017, of thirteen dollars and ninety seven cents ($13.97) per

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hour. The rate of compensation shall be adjusted annually every April 1 by a percentage increase

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to the nearest cent using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers

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

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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 would mandate that health employees working for state operated community and

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residential facilities receive a minimum of $13.97 per hour and that such rate would be adjusted

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annually every April 1 by a percentage increase to the nearest cent using the Consumer Price

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Index for Urban wage earners and clerical workers.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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