R 281
2016 -- S 3048 AS AMENDED
Enacted 06/07/2016

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 INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PLANS

Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Goldin, Miller, Coyne, and Satchell
Date Introduced: May 26, 2016

     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 individual
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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