Bill > H131

This bill establishes an independent Office of Quality Assurance for individuals with developmental disabilities, defining "developmental disabilities" as conditions resulting from impaired intelligence that substantially limit a person's ability to learn or adapt, or who are otherwise eligible for services from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). This new office will be independent of other executive branch agencies and will be led by a Director appointed by the State Auditor, Governor, and Attorney General, who must have relevant experience in services for the developmentally disabled and in law. The office's staff and budget will be transferred from existing positions within DDS and the Governor's Commission on Intellectual Disability, with a minimum of 80 full-time equivalent positions. The Office of Quality Assurance will be responsible for monitoring all aspects of service provision for developmentally disabled individuals, including investigating complaints, reviewing records, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, with the authority to access facilities and records. It will also be empowered to make agreements with other agencies and contract with private entities to carry out its functions. A fifteen-member Board of Directors, composed of representatives from advocacy groups, professional associations, and state officials, will advise and assist the Director in holding service providers accountable. The bill also mandates an independent evaluation of the office's effectiveness four years after its establishment to recommend future actions.