PART III.  OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM

§453.1.  Definition; establishment of the ombudsman program

A.  The term "ombudsman" shall refer to a person who is trained and certified as required by the Department of Justice.

B.  The ombudsman program is established in the Department of Justice for the purpose of monitoring care received by persons with developmental disabilities residing in state-licensed facilities for persons with developmental disabilities funded through the department excluding state-operated residential care facilities.

C.  The Department of Justice shall adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, dealing with the following:

(1)  The governance of the certification and training program for the establishment of the ombudsman program.

(2)  The required training program shall include all of the following:

(a)  Rights of persons with developmental disabilities.

(b)  Complaint resolutions.

(c)  Community resources.

(d)  An understanding of developmental disabilities.

D.  Certification shall be valid for one year.  An ombudsman may be decertified for misconduct, incompetence, or material neglect of duty.

Acts 2005, No. 128, §1, eff. June 22, 2005.