§ 28-16A-13 — Authorization for providing support and services for

persons with developmental disabilities. A. Subject to the availability of appropriations provided expressly for this purpose, the department may: (1) acquire, provide or coordinate support and services for persons with developmental disabilities; (2) enter into contracts and provider agreements with agencies and persons capable of providing support and services to persons with developmental disabilities; and (3) establish advisory councils and task forces as necessary to guide the development and review of support and services to persons with developmental disabilities. B. Support and services shall be provided based on individual support and service plans developed by an interdisciplinary team. The team is responsible for collectively evaluating a child's or adult's needs and developing an individual support and service plan to meet the needs; provided that the early childhood education and care department shall be responsible for the team that is evaluating a child for family, infant, toddler program services. C. The department or, for children eligible for family, infant, toddler program services, the early childhood education and care department shall: (1) solicit the involvement of consumers, providers, parents, professional organizations and other governmental organizations prior to the adoption or revision of rules concerning the provision of support, services, standards or funding systems. Participants shall be selected in a manner that reflects geographical, cultural, organizational and professional representation across the state; (2) develop rules, including policies and procedures that, to the extent possible, will promote uniformity in reimbursement and quality assurance systems regardless of the source of funding; and (3) convene and maintain a family, infant, toddler interagency coordinating council and a statewide adult support and services task force that shall, at a minimum, address quality assurance.

Legislative History

Laws 1993, ch. 50, § 13; 2021, ch. 61, § 13; 2022, ch. 30, § 11.