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2001 SESSION

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HB 1653 Inspector General for MHMRSAS.

Introduced by: Phillip A. Hamilton | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION: (all summaries)

Inspector General for Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. Clarifies the role and responsibilities of the Inspector General for Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. This bill notes that the Inspector General is to provide inspections of and to make policy and operational recommendations for facilities operated by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and providers in order to prevent problems, abuses and deficiencies in and improve the effectiveness of their programs and services. The Inspector General must report semiannually to the Governor and General Assembly concerning significant problems, abuses and deficiencies, recommend corrective actions and provide progress thereon. Such semiannual reports must be made public within 30 days of their transmission at a reasonable cost. The Inspector General must also report serious problems, abuses and deficiencies immediately to the Governor and the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, and within seven calendar days thereafter to the chairs of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health. Additionally, the Inspector General must notify in a timely manner the attorney for the Commonwealth for the jurisdiction in which a state facility or provider is located and law enforcement, as appropriate, whenever the Inspector General has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of state criminal law. All reports must be transmitted directly to the Governor by the Inspector General. Prior to releasing any reports to the General Assembly, the Inspector General must obtain assurances from the Attorney General that such disclosure will not violate confidentiality laws.Finally, the bill clarifies that the Office of the Inspector General must conduct unannounced inspections to each facility operated by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services at least once annually.


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